❓ The question asks the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation to outline how the government supports Western Australians in reducing power bills and how this support compares to previous governments. The Minister's answer details various cost-of-living measures, particularly focusing on the Energy Ahead program, and contrasts current policies with the former Liberal-National government's approach.
AnsweredQoN 332Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Power bills
332. Mrs Lisa O'Malley to
the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to delivering quality services across our state.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house
how this government is supporting Western Australians to reduce their power
bills?
(2) Can the minister advise the house how
this government's support for households compares to previous governments?
332. Mrs Lisa O'Malley to
the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to delivering quality services across our state.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house
how this government is supporting Western Australians to reduce their power
bills?
(2) Can the minister advise the house how
this government's support for households compares to previous governments?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for Bicton for the
question. This government is delivering real cost-of-living support through the
state budget, with a billion dollars' worth of support directly targeted to
households that need the support most. In the energy portfolio, there is a
range of targeted supports, including the $100 fuel voucher for every single
motor licence holder in Western Australia from 1 July. We are continuing the WA
Residential Battery Scheme, one of the most generous and successful schemes across
the nation. We now have more than 20,000 batteries installed by households. That
is delivering real cost-of-living support for households. For a seventh
consecutive year, this government has kept household fees and charges below
inflation. Our nation-leading and awarding-winning Energy Ahead program
provides funding for Synergy and Horizon to deliver targeted support to
vulnerable households experiencing financial hardship. We have expanded this
project to continue for another four years, with a $16 million commitment
in this state budget. The program recently won a national award for supporting
consumers in energy.
Energy Ahead essentially helps
vulnerable Western Australians and households experiencing financial pressure
to lower their energy use and reduce their electricity use through practical
solutions. It is a really comprehensive program that delivers free home energy
audits and phone coaching. Someone comes out and looks at a person's house and talks
to them about how to use their appliances appropriately, such as what time of
day is best and what tariffs work best, and to lower their usage and therefore
lower their bills. They are told how to access more energy-efficient appliances.
A pack is also delivered to the household to help them manage their energy
costs. This budget continues this fantastic program with another $16 million
in funding to 2029, ensuring that more vulnerable households can continue to
receive that targeted support. Of that funding, $12 million will go to Synergy
customers and will support 8,800 participants, and $2.9 million will go to
Horizon customers, supporting around 400 households. Already, about 6,000
households have been supported through this incredible program. The feedback
from users and participants has been outstanding. The coaches are brilliant. I
had the opportunity to meet Natasha, in Secret Harbour last week, who had hit
some financial challenges. She raved about the program from Synergy. All credit
to Synergy and the department for this incredible program. We are very happy to
continue to support it.
We know that the only plan the former Liberal–National
government had for the energy system was to privatise Western Power. It was to
privatise the utilities. It put up power bills and did not care about the
impact on households. The opposition's only plan for the energy system is to
privatise it, just like its only plan for the health system is to privatise it,
and to lose control of the impact on households. This government has shielded
Western Australian households from electricity price rises year on year. We
continue to do that. We will continue to support vulnerable families that are
having financial challenges and stresses with targeted cost-of-living relief
through the WA student assistance payment, through the fuel voucher, through
Energy Ahead and through the KidSport program to make sure that Western
Australians can participate in all the things they need to participate in, pay
their bills and live full and happy lives.
question. This government is delivering real cost-of-living support through the
state budget, with a billion dollars' worth of support directly targeted to
households that need the support most. In the energy portfolio, there is a
range of targeted supports, including the $100 fuel voucher for every single
motor licence holder in Western Australia from 1 July. We are continuing the WA
Residential Battery Scheme, one of the most generous and successful schemes across
the nation. We now have more than 20,000 batteries installed by households. That
is delivering real cost-of-living support for households. For a seventh
consecutive year, this government has kept household fees and charges below
inflation. Our nation-leading and awarding-winning Energy Ahead program
provides funding for Synergy and Horizon to deliver targeted support to
vulnerable households experiencing financial hardship. We have expanded this
project to continue for another four years, with a $16 million commitment
in this state budget. The program recently won a national award for supporting
consumers in energy.
Energy Ahead essentially helps
vulnerable Western Australians and households experiencing financial pressure
to lower their energy use and reduce their electricity use through practical
solutions. It is a really comprehensive program that delivers free home energy
audits and phone coaching. Someone comes out and looks at a person's house and talks
to them about how to use their appliances appropriately, such as what time of
day is best and what tariffs work best, and to lower their usage and therefore
lower their bills. They are told how to access more energy-efficient appliances.
A pack is also delivered to the household to help them manage their energy
costs. This budget continues this fantastic program with another $16 million
in funding to 2029, ensuring that more vulnerable households can continue to
receive that targeted support. Of that funding, $12 million will go to Synergy
customers and will support 8,800 participants, and $2.9 million will go to
Horizon customers, supporting around 400 households. Already, about 6,000
households have been supported through this incredible program. The feedback
from users and participants has been outstanding. The coaches are brilliant. I
had the opportunity to meet Natasha, in Secret Harbour last week, who had hit
some financial challenges. She raved about the program from Synergy. All credit
to Synergy and the department for this incredible program. We are very happy to
continue to support it.
We know that the only plan the former Liberal–National
government had for the energy system was to privatise Western Power. It was to
privatise the utilities. It put up power bills and did not care about the
impact on households. The opposition's only plan for the energy system is to
privatise it, just like its only plan for the health system is to privatise it,
and to lose control of the impact on households. This government has shielded
Western Australian households from electricity price rises year on year. We
continue to do that. We will continue to support vulnerable families that are
having financial challenges and stresses with targeted cost-of-living relief
through the WA student assistance payment, through the fuel voucher, through
Energy Ahead and through the KidSport program to make sure that Western
Australians can participate in all the things they need to participate in, pay
their bills and live full and happy lives.
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