❓ Mr. Day questions the Minister for Energy about the impact of a direction under the Electricity Corporation Act on Western Power customers, particularly regarding contracts. The Minister avoids directly answering if contracts will be broken, stating discussions will occur and customers may request alterations if tariffs are more beneficial.
AnsweredQoN 536Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN POWER, MINISTER’S DIRECTION UNDER SECTION 66(1)
I refer the minister to his direction made under section 66(1) of the Electricity Corporation Act and tabled last week. (1) Can the minister confirm that at least half of the Western Power customers who are affected by this decision are on individual contracts? (2) Does the minister expect Western Power to break these legally binding contracts? Mr RIPPER
I refer the minister to his direction made under section 66(1) of the Electricity Corporation Act and tabled last week. (1) Can the minister confirm that at least half of the Western Power customers who are affected by this decision are on individual contracts? (2) Does the minister expect Western Power to break these legally binding contracts? Mr RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. The issue is that the direction has been given to Wester Power. Changes to regulations now must be initiated by Western Power, and pursuant to the direction, Western Power will go ahead with the drafting of those regulations or by-laws. About half of the customers are directly on tariffs, while the other half are on contracts. I expect that discussions will take place between Western Power and its contract customers, who will no doubt put the position that they would in some cases be better off on the tariff. Western Power has a commercial - Mr Barnett: In other words, it will break the contracts. Mr RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition should not get involved in this issue. As Minister for Energy in the previous Government, he imposed higher power prices for regional businesses. He should hang his head in shame, and should not go to Merredin and talk about his support for the region. He showed what his attitude to the regions was when he put in place the policy the Government has just reversed. Half the customers are on contracts. Western Power is in a commercial relationship with those customers. I expect there will be discussions between Western Power and those customers, in the context of that relationship, and I am sure the customers, if they feel they would be better off on tariffs, will ask Western Power to alter those contracts.
(1) Can the minister confirm that at least half of the Western Power customers who are affected by this decision are on individual contracts? (2) Does the minister expect Western Power to break these legally binding contracts? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. The issue is that the direction has been given to Wester Power. Changes to regulations now must be initiated by Western Power, and pursuant to the direction, Western Power will go ahead with the drafting of those regulations or by-laws. About half of the customers are directly on tariffs, while the other half are on contracts. I expect that discussions will take place between Western Power and its contract customers, who will no doubt put the position that they would in some cases be better off on the tariff. Western Power has a commercial - Mr Barnett: In other words, it will break the contracts. Mr RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition should not get involved in this issue. As Minister for Energy in the previous Government, he imposed higher power prices for regional businesses. He should hang his head in shame, and should not go to Merredin and talk about his support for the region. He showed what his attitude to the regions was when he put in place the policy the Government has just reversed. Half the customers are on contracts. Western Power is in a commercial relationship with those customers. I expect there will be discussions between Western Power and those customers, in the context of that relationship, and I am sure the customers, if they feel they would be better off on tariffs, will ask Western Power to alter those contracts.
(2) Does the minister expect Western Power to break these legally binding contracts? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. The issue is that the direction has been given to Wester Power. Changes to regulations now must be initiated by Western Power, and pursuant to the direction, Western Power will go ahead with the drafting of those regulations or by-laws. About half of the customers are directly on tariffs, while the other half are on contracts. I expect that discussions will take place between Western Power and its contract customers, who will no doubt put the position that they would in some cases be better off on the tariff. Western Power has a commercial - Mr Barnett: In other words, it will break the contracts. Mr RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition should not get involved in this issue. As Minister for Energy in the previous Government, he imposed higher power prices for regional businesses. He should hang his head in shame, and should not go to Merredin and talk about his support for the region. He showed what his attitude to the regions was when he put in place the policy the Government has just reversed. Half the customers are on contracts. Western Power is in a commercial relationship with those customers. I expect there will be discussions between Western Power and those customers, in the context of that relationship, and I am sure the customers, if they feel they would be better off on tariffs, will ask Western Power to alter those contracts.
Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. The issue is that the direction has been given to Wester Power. Changes to regulations now must be initiated by Western Power, and pursuant to the direction, Western Power will go ahead with the drafting of those regulations or by-laws. About half of the customers are directly on tariffs, while the other half are on contracts. I expect that discussions will take place between Western Power and its contract customers, who will no doubt put the position that they would in some cases be better off on the tariff. Western Power has a commercial - Mr Barnett: In other words, it will break the contracts. Mr RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition should not get involved in this issue. As Minister for Energy in the previous Government, he imposed higher power prices for regional businesses. He should hang his head in shame, and should not go to Merredin and talk about his support for the region. He showed what his attitude to the regions was when he put in place the policy the Government has just reversed. Half the customers are on contracts. Western Power is in a commercial relationship with those customers. I expect there will be discussions between Western Power and those customers, in the context of that relationship, and I am sure the customers, if they feel they would be better off on tariffs, will ask Western Power to alter those contracts.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. The issue is that the direction has been given to Wester Power. Changes to regulations now must be initiated by Western Power, and pursuant to the direction, Western Power will go ahead with the drafting of those regulations or by-laws. About half of the customers are directly on tariffs, while the other half are on contracts. I expect that discussions will take place between Western Power and its contract customers, who will no doubt put the position that they would in some cases be better off on the tariff. Western Power has a commercial - Mr Barnett: In other words, it will break the contracts. Mr RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition should not get involved in this issue. As Minister for Energy in the previous Government, he imposed higher power prices for regional businesses. He should hang his head in shame, and should not go to Merredin and talk about his support for the region. He showed what his attitude to the regions was when he put in place the policy the Government has just reversed. Half the customers are on contracts. Western Power is in a commercial relationship with those customers. I expect there will be discussions between Western Power and those customers, in the context of that relationship, and I am sure the customers, if they feel they would be better off on tariffs, will ask Western Power to alter those contracts.
Mr Barnett: In other words, it will break the contracts. Mr RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition should not get involved in this issue. As Minister for Energy in the previous Government, he imposed higher power prices for regional businesses. He should hang his head in shame, and should not go to Merredin and talk about his support for the region. He showed what his attitude to the regions was when he put in place the policy the Government has just reversed. Half the customers are on contracts. Western Power is in a commercial relationship with those customers. I expect there will be discussions between Western Power and those customers, in the context of that relationship, and I am sure the customers, if they feel they would be better off on tariffs, will ask Western Power to alter those contracts.
Mr RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition should not get involved in this issue. As Minister for Energy in the previous Government, he imposed higher power prices for regional businesses. He should hang his head in shame, and should not go to Merredin and talk about his support for the region. He showed what his attitude to the regions was when he put in place the policy the Government has just reversed. Half the customers are on contracts. Western Power is in a commercial relationship with those customers. I expect there will be discussions between Western Power and those customers, in the context of that relationship, and I am sure the customers, if they feel they would be better off on tariffs, will ask Western Power to alter those contracts.
Half the customers are on contracts. Western Power is in a commercial relationship with those customers. I expect there will be discussions between Western Power and those customers, in the context of that relationship, and I am sure the customers, if they feel they would be better off on tariffs, will ask Western Power to alter those contracts.
(1) Can the minister confirm that at least half of the Western Power customers who are affected by this decision are on individual contracts? (2) Does the minister expect Western Power to break these legally binding contracts? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. The issue is that the direction has been given to Wester Power. Changes to regulations now must be initiated by Western Power, and pursuant to the direction, Western Power will go ahead with the drafting of those regulations or by-laws. About half of the customers are directly on tariffs, while the other half are on contracts. I expect that discussions will take place between Western Power and its contract customers, who will no doubt put the position that they would in some cases be better off on the tariff. Western Power has a commercial - Mr Barnett: In other words, it will break the contracts. Mr RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition should not get involved in this issue. As Minister for Energy in the previous Government, he imposed higher power prices for regional businesses. He should hang his head in shame, and should not go to Merredin and talk about his support for the region. He showed what his attitude to the regions was when he put in place the policy the Government has just reversed. Half the customers are on contracts. Western Power is in a commercial relationship with those customers. I expect there will be discussions between Western Power and those customers, in the context of that relationship, and I am sure the customers, if they feel they would be better off on tariffs, will ask Western Power to alter those contracts.
(2) Does the minister expect Western Power to break these legally binding contracts? Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. The issue is that the direction has been given to Wester Power. Changes to regulations now must be initiated by Western Power, and pursuant to the direction, Western Power will go ahead with the drafting of those regulations or by-laws. About half of the customers are directly on tariffs, while the other half are on contracts. I expect that discussions will take place between Western Power and its contract customers, who will no doubt put the position that they would in some cases be better off on the tariff. Western Power has a commercial - Mr Barnett: In other words, it will break the contracts. Mr RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition should not get involved in this issue. As Minister for Energy in the previous Government, he imposed higher power prices for regional businesses. He should hang his head in shame, and should not go to Merredin and talk about his support for the region. He showed what his attitude to the regions was when he put in place the policy the Government has just reversed. Half the customers are on contracts. Western Power is in a commercial relationship with those customers. I expect there will be discussions between Western Power and those customers, in the context of that relationship, and I am sure the customers, if they feel they would be better off on tariffs, will ask Western Power to alter those contracts.
Mr RIPPER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. The issue is that the direction has been given to Wester Power. Changes to regulations now must be initiated by Western Power, and pursuant to the direction, Western Power will go ahead with the drafting of those regulations or by-laws. About half of the customers are directly on tariffs, while the other half are on contracts. I expect that discussions will take place between Western Power and its contract customers, who will no doubt put the position that they would in some cases be better off on the tariff. Western Power has a commercial - Mr Barnett: In other words, it will break the contracts. Mr RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition should not get involved in this issue. As Minister for Energy in the previous Government, he imposed higher power prices for regional businesses. He should hang his head in shame, and should not go to Merredin and talk about his support for the region. He showed what his attitude to the regions was when he put in place the policy the Government has just reversed. Half the customers are on contracts. Western Power is in a commercial relationship with those customers. I expect there will be discussions between Western Power and those customers, in the context of that relationship, and I am sure the customers, if they feel they would be better off on tariffs, will ask Western Power to alter those contracts.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. The issue is that the direction has been given to Wester Power. Changes to regulations now must be initiated by Western Power, and pursuant to the direction, Western Power will go ahead with the drafting of those regulations or by-laws. About half of the customers are directly on tariffs, while the other half are on contracts. I expect that discussions will take place between Western Power and its contract customers, who will no doubt put the position that they would in some cases be better off on the tariff. Western Power has a commercial - Mr Barnett: In other words, it will break the contracts. Mr RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition should not get involved in this issue. As Minister for Energy in the previous Government, he imposed higher power prices for regional businesses. He should hang his head in shame, and should not go to Merredin and talk about his support for the region. He showed what his attitude to the regions was when he put in place the policy the Government has just reversed. Half the customers are on contracts. Western Power is in a commercial relationship with those customers. I expect there will be discussions between Western Power and those customers, in the context of that relationship, and I am sure the customers, if they feel they would be better off on tariffs, will ask Western Power to alter those contracts.
Mr Barnett: In other words, it will break the contracts. Mr RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition should not get involved in this issue. As Minister for Energy in the previous Government, he imposed higher power prices for regional businesses. He should hang his head in shame, and should not go to Merredin and talk about his support for the region. He showed what his attitude to the regions was when he put in place the policy the Government has just reversed. Half the customers are on contracts. Western Power is in a commercial relationship with those customers. I expect there will be discussions between Western Power and those customers, in the context of that relationship, and I am sure the customers, if they feel they would be better off on tariffs, will ask Western Power to alter those contracts.
Mr RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition should not get involved in this issue. As Minister for Energy in the previous Government, he imposed higher power prices for regional businesses. He should hang his head in shame, and should not go to Merredin and talk about his support for the region. He showed what his attitude to the regions was when he put in place the policy the Government has just reversed. Half the customers are on contracts. Western Power is in a commercial relationship with those customers. I expect there will be discussions between Western Power and those customers, in the context of that relationship, and I am sure the customers, if they feel they would be better off on tariffs, will ask Western Power to alter those contracts.
Half the customers are on contracts. Western Power is in a commercial relationship with those customers. I expect there will be discussions between Western Power and those customers, in the context of that relationship, and I am sure the customers, if they feel they would be better off on tariffs, will ask Western Power to alter those contracts.
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