❓ Hon Alison Xamon questions Synergy about discrepancies in the advertised renewable energy contribution of their EasyGreen product, specifically regarding kilowatt hour figures and how customer payments are handled when exceeding their consumption. Synergy admits to an error on their website and provides clarification on calculations.
AnsweredQoN 5934Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Synergy's EasyGreen renewable electricity product. On 18 January this year, Synergy advised customers that a $20 EasyGreen payment would be used to purchase renewable energy certificates (RECs) equal to 328kWh ($20 at 6.1 cents per kilowatt hour) of renewable energy from nationally accredited GreenPower renewable energy sources, equal to around 31 per cent of an average household's consumption for the same period, which over a whole year, would ensure a greenhouse gas emission saving comparable to taking an average car off the road for 7 months. But, as of today, 21 August 2012, Synergy's website advises that a $20 EasyGreen payment would be used to purchase RECs equal to just 32kWh ($20 at 6.1 cents per kWh) of renewable energy from nationally accredited GreenPower renewable energy sources, again equal to 31 per cent of an average household's consumption for the same period, and over a whole year, ensuring a greenhouse gas emission saving comparable to taking an average car off the road for seven months. I ask —
(1) Which of the two kilowatt hour figures cited above is correct?
(2) Please provide an explanation, including the specifics of how the calculations were arrived at, to show how both figures – 328kWh in January and 32kWh in August – were arrived at.
(3) If a customer making a $20 EasyGreen payment each billing period consumes just 315kWh in the billing period, in other words an amount less than 328kWh, what does Synergy do with the money they have spent on renewable electricity, over and above their electricity consumption?
(4) If a customer making an $80 EasyGreen payment each billing period consumes just 315kWh in the billing period, what does Synergy do with the money they have spent on renewable electricity, over and above their electricity consumption?
(5) Over the most recent billing period for which figures are available, how many EasyGreen customers paid for an amount of renewable electricity that was greater than their electricity consumption for that bill?
(6) What was the total amount of renewable electricity, in kilowatt hours, purchased on behalf of EasyGreen customers for the period 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012?
(7) What was the total amount of renewable electricity, in kilowatt hours, purchased on behalf of all EasyGreen customers for the period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011?
(8) What was the total electricity consumption, in kilowatt hours, by EasyGreen customers for the period 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012?
(9) What was the total electricity consumption, in kilowatt hours, by EasyGreen customers for the period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011?
(1) Which of the two kilowatt hour figures cited above is correct?
(2) Please provide an explanation, including the specifics of how the calculations were arrived at, to show how both figures – 328kWh in January and 32kWh in August – were arrived at.
(3) If a customer making a $20 EasyGreen payment each billing period consumes just 315kWh in the billing period, in other words an amount less than 328kWh, what does Synergy do with the money they have spent on renewable electricity, over and above their electricity consumption?
(4) If a customer making an $80 EasyGreen payment each billing period consumes just 315kWh in the billing period, what does Synergy do with the money they have spent on renewable electricity, over and above their electricity consumption?
(5) Over the most recent billing period for which figures are available, how many EasyGreen customers paid for an amount of renewable electricity that was greater than their electricity consumption for that bill?
(6) What was the total amount of renewable electricity, in kilowatt hours, purchased on behalf of EasyGreen customers for the period 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012?
(7) What was the total amount of renewable electricity, in kilowatt hours, purchased on behalf of all EasyGreen customers for the period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011?
(8) What was the total electricity consumption, in kilowatt hours, by EasyGreen customers for the period 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012?
(9) What was the total electricity consumption, in kilowatt hours, by EasyGreen customers for the period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 September 2012
Responded by
Minister for Energy
Response time
21 days
1) The 328 kWh figure was correct, before the recent change to the NaturalPower premium.
$0.0545 per kilowatt hour is the current NaturalPower premium.
At the $0.061 rate an equivalent of 328 units had the NaturalPower premium applied for a $20 EasyGreen commitment.
At the $0.0545 rate an equivalent of 367 units would have the NaturalPower premium applied for a $20EasyGreen commitment.
The 32kWh figure was incorrect and has since been amended. Synergy apologises for the errors relating to EasyGreen on its website.
2) The equation to calculate the amount of units purchased with the NaturalPower premium applied to EasyGreen customers is: Contribution level / NaturalPower premium.
3) Customers who opt for the EasyGreen product are made aware of the percentage contribution they have made each bill, and this percentage can exceed 100 per cent.
4) See answer to question 3.
5) Synergy does not produce a report which provides this data.
6) GreenPower REC audits are performed on a calendar year basis and 2012 data will not be available until February 2013.
7) 1,498MWh
8) Synergy does not produce a report which provides this data.
9) Synergy does not produce a report which provides this data.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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$0.0545 per kilowatt hour is the current NaturalPower premium.
At the $0.061 rate an equivalent of 328 units had the NaturalPower premium applied for a $20 EasyGreen commitment.
At the $0.0545 rate an equivalent of 367 units would have the NaturalPower premium applied for a $20EasyGreen commitment.
The 32kWh figure was incorrect and has since been amended. Synergy apologises for the errors relating to EasyGreen on its website.
2) The equation to calculate the amount of units purchased with the NaturalPower premium applied to EasyGreen customers is: Contribution level / NaturalPower premium.
3) Customers who opt for the EasyGreen product are made aware of the percentage contribution they have made each bill, and this percentage can exceed 100 per cent.
4) See answer to question 3.
5) Synergy does not produce a report which provides this data.
6) GreenPower REC audits are performed on a calendar year basis and 2012 data will not be available until February 2013.
7) 1,498MWh
8) Synergy does not produce a report which provides this data.
9) Synergy does not produce a report which provides this data.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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