❓ Mr Tinley asks about the Cook government's electricity credits for households and small businesses, and how current power prices compare to those under the previous government. The Minister responds by highlighting the credits provided and criticising the previous government's electricity price increases.
AnsweredQoN 842Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COST-OF-LIVING
RELIEF
842. Mr P.C. TINLEY to the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's commitment to support Western Australians facing
cost-of-living pressures.
(1) Can the minister advise the house how this
government's electricity credits are supporting Western Australian households and small businesses?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how power prices under this government compare with
those under the previous Liberal–National government?
RELIEF
842. Mr P.C. TINLEY to the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's commitment to support Western Australians facing
cost-of-living pressures.
(1) Can the minister advise the house how this
government's electricity credits are supporting Western Australian households and small businesses?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how power prices under this government compare with
those under the previous Liberal–National government?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) That is an excellent question. I thank the
member for a good question and I know on behalf of his constituents h ow
determined he is to see everything done to restrain the cost of living here in Western
Australia. I am very pleased to tell members that under the Cook government
every household in Western Australia is receiving at least $400 as a household
electricity credit this year. The first $200 instalment of that was delivered
in July and the second will be delivered in December.
I
note that is in great contrast to the time that the former government put up
electricity prices by 97 per cent. It
did not cut the price of electricity like we are doing it. It put it up by
almost double. We have also directed additional support to those who are
most in need. Of course, in partnership with the Albanese Labor government we
have delivered a $250 credit to the households receiving the energy assistance
payment. These households will receive a further
$250 on 1 December. Households that buy energy from our state- owned
energy companies, which would have been privatised by my friends opposite, will
receive their next instalment automatically, beginning on 1 December. That
means that here in Western Australia, in 2023, more than one million WA
households have received an electricity credit from Synergy or Horizon Power. But that is not end of it. That, of
course, builds on the previous household credits we have given in other years
as well. Unlike the opposition, which put up electricity prices by 97 per cent,
we are putting electricity prices down.
We have gone further that than that.
In partnership with the Albanese government we are also providing support with Western Australian small businesses
and charities. Businesses and charities that consume less than
50-megawatt hours of electricity each year are eligible for a $650 credit,
funded jointly by the state and federal Labor governments. That is 80 000 small
businesses and charities that have already received their first payment and
their second payment of $325 is on its way. We know that not all small
businesses and charities buy their energy from Synergy or Horizon. Those
customers can also receive a $650 credit by the end of this month. They have to
apply for it because, obviously, we do not have a direct relationship with them
through Synergy or Horizon Power.
That includes small businesses in
shopping centres, businesses operating from airports and industrial parks, and small businesses that have a sub meter
linked to a meter controlled by the landlord. Applications are open
until Thursday, 30 November, and can be made online via the Small Business
Development Corporation's website. We want to ensure that every Western
Australian small business that is eligible for this benefit receives its credit. Many already have, over 80 000, because they
are direct customers of either Synergy or Horizon, but we urge all those other
businesses on embedded networks, with sub meters or in other locations where
they are not directly buying their power from Synergy or Horizon, to apply
through the Small Business Development Corporation for their $650 right now.
member for a good question and I know on behalf of his constituents h ow
determined he is to see everything done to restrain the cost of living here in Western
Australia. I am very pleased to tell members that under the Cook government
every household in Western Australia is receiving at least $400 as a household
electricity credit this year. The first $200 instalment of that was delivered
in July and the second will be delivered in December.
I
note that is in great contrast to the time that the former government put up
electricity prices by 97 per cent. It
did not cut the price of electricity like we are doing it. It put it up by
almost double. We have also directed additional support to those who are
most in need. Of course, in partnership with the Albanese Labor government we
have delivered a $250 credit to the households receiving the energy assistance
payment. These households will receive a further
$250 on 1 December. Households that buy energy from our state- owned
energy companies, which would have been privatised by my friends opposite, will
receive their next instalment automatically, beginning on 1 December. That
means that here in Western Australia, in 2023, more than one million WA
households have received an electricity credit from Synergy or Horizon Power. But that is not end of it. That, of
course, builds on the previous household credits we have given in other years
as well. Unlike the opposition, which put up electricity prices by 97 per cent,
we are putting electricity prices down.
We have gone further that than that.
In partnership with the Albanese government we are also providing support with Western Australian small businesses
and charities. Businesses and charities that consume less than
50-megawatt hours of electricity each year are eligible for a $650 credit,
funded jointly by the state and federal Labor governments. That is 80 000 small
businesses and charities that have already received their first payment and
their second payment of $325 is on its way. We know that not all small
businesses and charities buy their energy from Synergy or Horizon. Those
customers can also receive a $650 credit by the end of this month. They have to
apply for it because, obviously, we do not have a direct relationship with them
through Synergy or Horizon Power.
That includes small businesses in
shopping centres, businesses operating from airports and industrial parks, and small businesses that have a sub meter
linked to a meter controlled by the landlord. Applications are open
until Thursday, 30 November, and can be made online via the Small Business
Development Corporation's website. We want to ensure that every Western
Australian small business that is eligible for this benefit receives its credit. Many already have, over 80 000, because they
are direct customers of either Synergy or Horizon, but we urge all those other
businesses on embedded networks, with sub meters or in other locations where
they are not directly buying their power from Synergy or Horizon, to apply
through the Small Business Development Corporation for their $650 right now.
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