❓ The Minister for Energy outlines the McGowan Labor government's solar incentive scheme for remote communities, highlighting partnerships with Horizon Power and Indigenous Business Australia to reduce reliance on diesel and lower electricity costs. The scheme addresses tenure issues and aims for more reliable power supply.
AnsweredQoN 1011Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
REGIONAL ELECTRICITY
SUPPLIES — SOLAR INCENTIVE SCHEME
1011. Ms J. FARRER to the Minister for Energy:
Can the minister outline to the
house how the McGowan Labor government is helping residents and community
groups in our remote communities save money on their power bills through the
solar incentive scheme; and can the minister advise the house how the scheme
will help reduce the subsidy for regional electricity supplies?
SUPPLIES — SOLAR INCENTIVE SCHEME
1011. Ms J. FARRER to the Minister for Energy:
Can the minister outline to the
house how the McGowan Labor government is helping residents and community
groups in our remote communities save money on their power bills through the
solar incentive scheme; and can the minister advise the house how the scheme
will help reduce the subsidy for regional electricity supplies?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kimberley for
that very good question. I am often asked by people who travel around Western Australia
why they do not see solar energy being made more use of in remote Aboriginal
communities all over Western Australia. I am pleased to say that Horizon Power
has recently installed two commercial-grade solar systems for the communities
of Djarindjin and Lombadina on the Dampier Peninsula. They are 100 per cent
diesel communities, so that will make a significant impact on their diesel
bills—not just the community costs, but also the costs to Horizon Power
of supplying that diesel.
As a result of a partnership that
Horizon Power has entered into with Indigenous Business Australia, Horizon has
now launched its solar incentive scheme. At this time it is offering only a small
amount to six different communities: Bidyadanga, Beagle Bay, Ardyaloon, Warmun,
Looma and Kalumburu. Horizon will effectively pick up 30 per cent of the cost
of installation and the partnership with Indigenous Business Australia will
fund the other 70 per cent.
This, of course, has the potential
to cut many thousands of dollars from the cost of running those communities
primarily with diesel. Why has this not happened before? Why has it been so
difficult to get solar uptake in those communities? Usually it is because of
tenure issues. As the member for Kimberley knows, they can include issues
around who actually owns the housing. A lot of the time the housing is owned by
either a community body or a third-party organisation. This initiative will cut
through that and provide communities, particularly large remote communities,
with a significant opportunity to cut their ongoing operating costs in respect
of diesel.
Another thing that the member for
Kimberley will be very well aware of is that when there is a big wet, it can be
very difficult to get diesel into some of those communities, so this will also
provide them with an opportunity for a more reliable supply of power. I am very
pleased with this program and I am pleased with the work that Horizon has done.
Warmun has just taken up the offer, and I am hopeful that the remaining five
communities will also take it up in the very near future, because I think it
will provide much more reliable and less costly—for the communities and
for Horizon—provision and service of energy to those communities.
that very good question. I am often asked by people who travel around Western Australia
why they do not see solar energy being made more use of in remote Aboriginal
communities all over Western Australia. I am pleased to say that Horizon Power
has recently installed two commercial-grade solar systems for the communities
of Djarindjin and Lombadina on the Dampier Peninsula. They are 100 per cent
diesel communities, so that will make a significant impact on their diesel
bills—not just the community costs, but also the costs to Horizon Power
of supplying that diesel.
As a result of a partnership that
Horizon Power has entered into with Indigenous Business Australia, Horizon has
now launched its solar incentive scheme. At this time it is offering only a small
amount to six different communities: Bidyadanga, Beagle Bay, Ardyaloon, Warmun,
Looma and Kalumburu. Horizon will effectively pick up 30 per cent of the cost
of installation and the partnership with Indigenous Business Australia will
fund the other 70 per cent.
This, of course, has the potential
to cut many thousands of dollars from the cost of running those communities
primarily with diesel. Why has this not happened before? Why has it been so
difficult to get solar uptake in those communities? Usually it is because of
tenure issues. As the member for Kimberley knows, they can include issues
around who actually owns the housing. A lot of the time the housing is owned by
either a community body or a third-party organisation. This initiative will cut
through that and provide communities, particularly large remote communities,
with a significant opportunity to cut their ongoing operating costs in respect
of diesel.
Another thing that the member for
Kimberley will be very well aware of is that when there is a big wet, it can be
very difficult to get diesel into some of those communities, so this will also
provide them with an opportunity for a more reliable supply of power. I am very
pleased with this program and I am pleased with the work that Horizon has done.
Warmun has just taken up the offer, and I am hopeful that the remaining five
communities will also take it up in the very near future, because I think it
will provide much more reliable and less costly—for the communities and
for Horizon—provision and service of energy to those communities.
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