❓ Dr. Pettitt questions the disparity in electricity supply allocation (amps) between Perth and rural areas for solar energy access. The Minister's response explains historical reasons and cost differences, while expressing expectation for continued solar panel uptake in regional areas.
AnsweredQoN 771Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SOUTH WEST INTERCONNECTED SYSTEM — SOLAR ENERGY
771. Hon Dr BRAD PETTITT to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Energy:
I have a few of these questions, so
apologies for the repetition.
I refer to solar energy access for
regional and rural households on the south west interconnected system.
(1) Why is the
supply allocation 63 amps in Perth when rural properties are left with a significantly
lower supply allocation of 32 amps?
(2) Does the minister expect that
the uptake of solar panels in regional properties will decrease?
771. Hon Dr BRAD PETTITT to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Energy:
I have a few of these questions, so
apologies for the repetition.
I refer to solar energy access for
regional and rural households on the south west interconnected system.
(1) Why is the
supply allocation 63 amps in Perth when rural properties are left with a significantly
lower supply allocation of 32 amps?
(2) Does the minister expect that
the uptake of solar panels in regional properties will decrease?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. The following information has been provided to me by the
Minister for Energy.
(1) Customers
have paid for the supply allocation they receive. The State Energy Commission
adopted the standard supply definition in the 1950s and 60s when many rural
towns had their own generation and the state government provided the country
town assistance scheme to subsidise the higher cost of electricity supply. Many
of the electricity systems in these areas were developed by local governments,
and the electricity supply allocation reflects these regional network
configurations. Western Power's cost per connection in regional areas
significantly exceeds that of metropolitan Perth.
(2) There is no
technical reason for the installation of solar panels in regional areas to
decrease, and the government expects
customers to continue to install distributed energy resources. However, the
government cannot presuppose the actions of private companies.
of the question. The following information has been provided to me by the
Minister for Energy.
(1) Customers
have paid for the supply allocation they receive. The State Energy Commission
adopted the standard supply definition in the 1950s and 60s when many rural
towns had their own generation and the state government provided the country
town assistance scheme to subsidise the higher cost of electricity supply. Many
of the electricity systems in these areas were developed by local governments,
and the electricity supply allocation reflects these regional network
configurations. Western Power's cost per connection in regional areas
significantly exceeds that of metropolitan Perth.
(2) There is no
technical reason for the installation of solar panels in regional areas to
decrease, and the government expects
customers to continue to install distributed energy resources. However, the
government cannot presuppose the actions of private companies.
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