The Opposition Leader promised to take “direct action” to lower Victorians’ energy bills, estimating the new power station would deliver savings of $350 for the average household.

He said the bids would be assessed on cost, speed of delivery and environmental concerns. The latest promise from the Coalition comes after the Andrews government announced last week it would increase Victoria’s renewable energy target to 50 per cent by 2030 if it wins the election on November 24.

The Coalition has pledged to scrap the renewable energy target for Victoria.

Opposition energy spokesman David Southwick said independent modelling for the project was based on a gas-fired power station.

“We believe we can get a new power station into the market within a couple of years,” he said.

Mr Southwick said the modelling assumed the Yallourn power station would be closed within two years although current estimates indicate that will happen in 2032.

Mr Southwick promised there would be no taxpayer money used to fund the facility. He said the Latrobe Valley was the ideal place for a new power station to be operating given power generation infrastructure was already in place.

“That’s been the home of cheap and reliable power for decades.”

Mr Southwick said power prices would come down under a Coalition government.