Origin Energy takes a $2.2b hit as green shift, coal costs bite We’re sorry, this service is currently unavailable. Please try again later. Dismiss Normal text size Advertisement Energy giant Origin has slashed $1.5 billion from the value of its business as the rapid influx of renewables drives down wholesale electricity prices and increasing coal and gas costs pummel the profitability of its generation fleet. Origin, one of the nation’s top power and gas suppliers, issued the writedown warning on Friday along with a further $669 million one-off hit for a deferred tax liability at its Asia Pacific LNG joint venture, which produces natural gas in Queensland.