❓ Mr. Barnett questions the government's plans for increasing electricity-generating capacity, specifically regarding the Kwinana Power Station conversion and procurement processes. Mr. Ripper responds by outlining plans for electricity market reform and addressing high electricity prices, but provides limited direct answers to the specific questions.
AnsweredQoN 44Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELECTRICITY-GENERATING CAPACITY
Given that a further 1 000 megawatts of electricity-generating capacity will be required over this decade, and given the need to balance base, mid-merit and peak-load capacity, will the Government - (a) continue with the conversion of the Kwinana Power Station to a high efficiency, combined-cycle gas plant by 2003; (b) conduct a public procurement process for the private sector to build, own and operate a mid-merit plant of 360 megawatts for 2005-06; and (c) conduct a second public procurement process for the supply of base-load generating capacity of 360 megawatts, which could be coal or gas, but which will be required by 2007? Mr RIPPER
Given that a further 1 000 megawatts of electricity-generating capacity will be required over this decade, and given the need to balance base, mid-merit and peak-load capacity, will the Government - (a) continue with the conversion of the Kwinana Power Station to a high efficiency, combined-cycle gas plant by 2003; (b) conduct a public procurement process for the private sector to build, own and operate a mid-merit plant of 360 megawatts for 2005-06; and (c) conduct a second public procurement process for the supply of base-load generating capacity of 360 megawatts, which could be coal or gas, but which will be required by 2007? Mr RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. We have a historic problem in this State: we have very high electricity prices compared with other States. Just before the election, I went to the site of the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd and I saw that our domestic prices are between two and 40 per cent higher than those in other States, depending on which State they are compared with, and our industrial and commercial prices are between 17 and 37 per cent higher than those in other States. We need to resume the process of reform of the electricity industry, which was begun by the last Labor Government but which languished under the previous coalition Government. I am determined that we should move ahead with that reform process. To that aim, I intend to appoint an expert electricity reform task force, as promised in the election campaign. That task force will report on the best way to accomplish Labor’s aim of disaggregating Western Power to allow extra competition in the electricity market, the exact structure of the market to be established and an electricity code, supervised by an independent economic regulator. We have a plan for electricity. Mr Barnett: A summit! A discussion paper! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: We will appoint a task force to guide us in the implementation of that plan. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
(a) continue with the conversion of the Kwinana Power Station to a high efficiency, combined-cycle gas plant by 2003; (b) conduct a public procurement process for the private sector to build, own and operate a mid-merit plant of 360 megawatts for 2005-06; and (c) conduct a second public procurement process for the supply of base-load generating capacity of 360 megawatts, which could be coal or gas, but which will be required by 2007? Mr RIPPER replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. We have a historic problem in this State: we have very high electricity prices compared with other States. Just before the election, I went to the site of the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd and I saw that our domestic prices are between two and 40 per cent higher than those in other States, depending on which State they are compared with, and our industrial and commercial prices are between 17 and 37 per cent higher than those in other States. We need to resume the process of reform of the electricity industry, which was begun by the last Labor Government but which languished under the previous coalition Government. I am determined that we should move ahead with that reform process. To that aim, I intend to appoint an expert electricity reform task force, as promised in the election campaign. That task force will report on the best way to accomplish Labor’s aim of disaggregating Western Power to allow extra competition in the electricity market, the exact structure of the market to be established and an electricity code, supervised by an independent economic regulator. We have a plan for electricity. Mr Barnett: A summit! A discussion paper! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: We will appoint a task force to guide us in the implementation of that plan. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
(b) conduct a public procurement process for the private sector to build, own and operate a mid-merit plant of 360 megawatts for 2005-06; and (c) conduct a second public procurement process for the supply of base-load generating capacity of 360 megawatts, which could be coal or gas, but which will be required by 2007? Mr RIPPER replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. We have a historic problem in this State: we have very high electricity prices compared with other States. Just before the election, I went to the site of the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd and I saw that our domestic prices are between two and 40 per cent higher than those in other States, depending on which State they are compared with, and our industrial and commercial prices are between 17 and 37 per cent higher than those in other States. We need to resume the process of reform of the electricity industry, which was begun by the last Labor Government but which languished under the previous coalition Government. I am determined that we should move ahead with that reform process. To that aim, I intend to appoint an expert electricity reform task force, as promised in the election campaign. That task force will report on the best way to accomplish Labor’s aim of disaggregating Western Power to allow extra competition in the electricity market, the exact structure of the market to be established and an electricity code, supervised by an independent economic regulator. We have a plan for electricity. Mr Barnett: A summit! A discussion paper! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: We will appoint a task force to guide us in the implementation of that plan. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
(c) conduct a second public procurement process for the supply of base-load generating capacity of 360 megawatts, which could be coal or gas, but which will be required by 2007? Mr RIPPER replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. We have a historic problem in this State: we have very high electricity prices compared with other States. Just before the election, I went to the site of the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd and I saw that our domestic prices are between two and 40 per cent higher than those in other States, depending on which State they are compared with, and our industrial and commercial prices are between 17 and 37 per cent higher than those in other States. We need to resume the process of reform of the electricity industry, which was begun by the last Labor Government but which languished under the previous coalition Government. I am determined that we should move ahead with that reform process. To that aim, I intend to appoint an expert electricity reform task force, as promised in the election campaign. That task force will report on the best way to accomplish Labor’s aim of disaggregating Western Power to allow extra competition in the electricity market, the exact structure of the market to be established and an electricity code, supervised by an independent economic regulator. We have a plan for electricity. Mr Barnett: A summit! A discussion paper! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: We will appoint a task force to guide us in the implementation of that plan. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
Mr RIPPER replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. We have a historic problem in this State: we have very high electricity prices compared with other States. Just before the election, I went to the site of the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd and I saw that our domestic prices are between two and 40 per cent higher than those in other States, depending on which State they are compared with, and our industrial and commercial prices are between 17 and 37 per cent higher than those in other States. We need to resume the process of reform of the electricity industry, which was begun by the last Labor Government but which languished under the previous coalition Government. I am determined that we should move ahead with that reform process. To that aim, I intend to appoint an expert electricity reform task force, as promised in the election campaign. That task force will report on the best way to accomplish Labor’s aim of disaggregating Western Power to allow extra competition in the electricity market, the exact structure of the market to be established and an electricity code, supervised by an independent economic regulator. We have a plan for electricity. Mr Barnett: A summit! A discussion paper! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: We will appoint a task force to guide us in the implementation of that plan. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. We have a historic problem in this State: we have very high electricity prices compared with other States. Just before the election, I went to the site of the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd and I saw that our domestic prices are between two and 40 per cent higher than those in other States, depending on which State they are compared with, and our industrial and commercial prices are between 17 and 37 per cent higher than those in other States. We need to resume the process of reform of the electricity industry, which was begun by the last Labor Government but which languished under the previous coalition Government. I am determined that we should move ahead with that reform process. To that aim, I intend to appoint an expert electricity reform task force, as promised in the election campaign. That task force will report on the best way to accomplish Labor’s aim of disaggregating Western Power to allow extra competition in the electricity market, the exact structure of the market to be established and an electricity code, supervised by an independent economic regulator. We have a plan for electricity. Mr Barnett: A summit! A discussion paper! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: We will appoint a task force to guide us in the implementation of that plan. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
Mr Barnett: A summit! A discussion paper! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: We will appoint a task force to guide us in the implementation of that plan. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: We will appoint a task force to guide us in the implementation of that plan. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
Mr RIPPER: We will appoint a task force to guide us in the implementation of that plan. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
(a) continue with the conversion of the Kwinana Power Station to a high efficiency, combined-cycle gas plant by 2003; (b) conduct a public procurement process for the private sector to build, own and operate a mid-merit plant of 360 megawatts for 2005-06; and (c) conduct a second public procurement process for the supply of base-load generating capacity of 360 megawatts, which could be coal or gas, but which will be required by 2007? Mr RIPPER replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. We have a historic problem in this State: we have very high electricity prices compared with other States. Just before the election, I went to the site of the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd and I saw that our domestic prices are between two and 40 per cent higher than those in other States, depending on which State they are compared with, and our industrial and commercial prices are between 17 and 37 per cent higher than those in other States. We need to resume the process of reform of the electricity industry, which was begun by the last Labor Government but which languished under the previous coalition Government. I am determined that we should move ahead with that reform process. To that aim, I intend to appoint an expert electricity reform task force, as promised in the election campaign. That task force will report on the best way to accomplish Labor’s aim of disaggregating Western Power to allow extra competition in the electricity market, the exact structure of the market to be established and an electricity code, supervised by an independent economic regulator. We have a plan for electricity. Mr Barnett: A summit! A discussion paper! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: We will appoint a task force to guide us in the implementation of that plan. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
(b) conduct a public procurement process for the private sector to build, own and operate a mid-merit plant of 360 megawatts for 2005-06; and (c) conduct a second public procurement process for the supply of base-load generating capacity of 360 megawatts, which could be coal or gas, but which will be required by 2007? Mr RIPPER replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. We have a historic problem in this State: we have very high electricity prices compared with other States. Just before the election, I went to the site of the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd and I saw that our domestic prices are between two and 40 per cent higher than those in other States, depending on which State they are compared with, and our industrial and commercial prices are between 17 and 37 per cent higher than those in other States. We need to resume the process of reform of the electricity industry, which was begun by the last Labor Government but which languished under the previous coalition Government. I am determined that we should move ahead with that reform process. To that aim, I intend to appoint an expert electricity reform task force, as promised in the election campaign. That task force will report on the best way to accomplish Labor’s aim of disaggregating Western Power to allow extra competition in the electricity market, the exact structure of the market to be established and an electricity code, supervised by an independent economic regulator. We have a plan for electricity. Mr Barnett: A summit! A discussion paper! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: We will appoint a task force to guide us in the implementation of that plan. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
(c) conduct a second public procurement process for the supply of base-load generating capacity of 360 megawatts, which could be coal or gas, but which will be required by 2007? Mr RIPPER replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. We have a historic problem in this State: we have very high electricity prices compared with other States. Just before the election, I went to the site of the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd and I saw that our domestic prices are between two and 40 per cent higher than those in other States, depending on which State they are compared with, and our industrial and commercial prices are between 17 and 37 per cent higher than those in other States. We need to resume the process of reform of the electricity industry, which was begun by the last Labor Government but which languished under the previous coalition Government. I am determined that we should move ahead with that reform process. To that aim, I intend to appoint an expert electricity reform task force, as promised in the election campaign. That task force will report on the best way to accomplish Labor’s aim of disaggregating Western Power to allow extra competition in the electricity market, the exact structure of the market to be established and an electricity code, supervised by an independent economic regulator. We have a plan for electricity. Mr Barnett: A summit! A discussion paper! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: We will appoint a task force to guide us in the implementation of that plan. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
Mr RIPPER replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. We have a historic problem in this State: we have very high electricity prices compared with other States. Just before the election, I went to the site of the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd and I saw that our domestic prices are between two and 40 per cent higher than those in other States, depending on which State they are compared with, and our industrial and commercial prices are between 17 and 37 per cent higher than those in other States. We need to resume the process of reform of the electricity industry, which was begun by the last Labor Government but which languished under the previous coalition Government. I am determined that we should move ahead with that reform process. To that aim, I intend to appoint an expert electricity reform task force, as promised in the election campaign. That task force will report on the best way to accomplish Labor’s aim of disaggregating Western Power to allow extra competition in the electricity market, the exact structure of the market to be established and an electricity code, supervised by an independent economic regulator. We have a plan for electricity. Mr Barnett: A summit! A discussion paper! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: We will appoint a task force to guide us in the implementation of that plan. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. We have a historic problem in this State: we have very high electricity prices compared with other States. Just before the election, I went to the site of the Electricity Supply Association of Australia Ltd and I saw that our domestic prices are between two and 40 per cent higher than those in other States, depending on which State they are compared with, and our industrial and commercial prices are between 17 and 37 per cent higher than those in other States. We need to resume the process of reform of the electricity industry, which was begun by the last Labor Government but which languished under the previous coalition Government. I am determined that we should move ahead with that reform process. To that aim, I intend to appoint an expert electricity reform task force, as promised in the election campaign. That task force will report on the best way to accomplish Labor’s aim of disaggregating Western Power to allow extra competition in the electricity market, the exact structure of the market to be established and an electricity code, supervised by an independent economic regulator. We have a plan for electricity. Mr Barnett: A summit! A discussion paper! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: We will appoint a task force to guide us in the implementation of that plan. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
Mr Barnett: A summit! A discussion paper! The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: We will appoint a task force to guide us in the implementation of that plan. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: We will appoint a task force to guide us in the implementation of that plan. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
Mr RIPPER: We will appoint a task force to guide us in the implementation of that plan. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
Mr RIPPER: One would not think members opposite had presided over these very high electricity prices. It is costing this State jobs. Why would a business want to expand or locate in Western Australia with our comparatively high electricity prices? I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
I turn now to power procurement. The first stage of Kwinana B is proceeding. That matter was set in train by the previous minister. Western Power does not have approval to proceed beyond the first stage of the Kwinana B repowering. With regard to the rest of the power procurement program announced by the previous Minister for Energy, I received some representation to the effect that the power procurement program should be delayed. However, I am not - Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
Mr Barnett: Buy your candles and torches now! Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
Mr RIPPER: The representations have come from people who have expertise in the field. I am not saying that I am convinced that those representations are correct. I remain unconvinced on the issue of any delay to the power procurement program. It is also important that the power procurement program be managed in a way that is consistent with the competition reform that will occur in the electricity industry. We would not want the power procurement program to get in the way of the competition reform program; neither would we want competition reform to in any way endanger reliability, safety or security of supply. Those issues are just as important to electricity consumers as cheaper prices.
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