❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding Synergy's green energy products (EasyGreen, NaturalPower, EarthFriendly) and the impact of the carbon tax on these products. The questions cover consumer uptake, revenue, expenditure, and communication regarding the carbon tax.
AnsweredQoN 5651Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Regarding the EasyGreen product, which allows consumers to choose a set dollar amount of renewable energy to be applied to each bill —
(a) in 2011-12 —
(i) how many consumers chose this product;
(ii) could the Minister please express this figure as a percentage of all Synergy's consumers;
(iii) in total, how much did Synergy receive for this product;
(iv) how did Synergy spend that money (please provide full details),
(b) in 2010-2011 —
(i) how many consumers chose this product;
(ii) could the Minister please express this figure as a percentage of all Synergy's consumers;
(iii) in total, how much did Synergy receive for this product; and
(iv) how did Synergy spend that money (please provide full details)?
(2) Regarding the NaturalPower product, which allows consumers to choose a percentage of their electricity that is generated from renewable energy sources —
(a) in 2011-12 —
(i) how many consumers chose this product;
(ii) could the Minister please express this figure as a percentage of all Synergy's consumers;
(iii) in total, how much did Synergy receive for this product;
(iv) how did Synergy spend that money (please provide full details),
(b) in 2010-2011 —
(i) how many consumers chose this product;
(ii) could the Minister please express this figure as a percentage of all Synergy's consumers;
(iii) in total, how much did Synergy receive for this product; and
(iv) how did Synergy spend that money (please provide full details)?
(3) Regarding the EarthFriendly product, which allows consumers to choose a percentage of their electricity emissions that will be offset through greenhouse gas reduction programs —
(a) in 2011-12 —
(i) how many consumers chose this product;
(ii) could the Minister please express this figure as a percentage of all Synergy's consumers;
(iii) in total, how much did Synergy receive for this product;
(iv) how did Synergy spend that money (please provide full details),
(b) in 2010-2011 —
(i) how many consumers chose this product;
(ii) could the Minister please express this figure as a percentage of all Synergy's consumers;
(iii) in total, how much did Synergy receive for this product; and
(iv) how did Synergy spend that money (please provide full details)?
(4) Given the Minister's answer on 22 May 2012 to my question without notice that Synergy was still investigating the intricacies of the impact of the carbon tax on green energy products and had not yet made a decision about whether or not it would pass on carbon tax costs to consumers of its 100 per cent NaturalPower product —
(a) was the Autumn 2012 edition of 'Synergy Life' sent to consumers (including consumers of green energy products) inaccurate in making this statement: 'Following the Federal Government's Clean Energy Future legislation being passed in Parliament late last year, a price on carbon will be included in the cost of your electricity tariff and applied to your electricity account from 1 July 2012'; and
(b) was the telephone advice given by Synergy to a 100 percent NaturalPower product consumer on or around 30 May 2012 confirming that statement incorrect?
(5) How many complaints or queries has Synergy received from its green energy consumers regarding this statement?
(6) How many of these have since been referred to the Energy Ombudsman?
(7) Which of Synergy's green energy consumers will have a carbon tax component added to their electricity accounts from 1 July 2012 (please provide full details identifying the particular product, consumer contribution threshold for inclusion of a carbon tax component, and number of consumers estimated to be affected in 2012-13)?
(8) Regarding the answer to (7) —
(a) in respect of green energy products by which Synergy purports to sell renewable energy as an alternative to carbon-producing energy (particularly the 100 per cent NaturalPower product which purports to sell the consumer only energy generated from renewable energy sources), what is the policy reason for this;
(b) how will the carbon tax component charged by Synergy be calculated (for example, a flat charge, or based on units of electricity consumed, or based on the total dollar amount of the account including the premium paid by the consumer for the green energy product);
(c) what is the policy reason for this calculation method being chosen;
(d) what change if any is expected in 2012-13 in the number of consumers purchasing Synergy's green energy products as a result of this decision;
(e) how does this decision fulfil or progress Synergy's Environmental Policy insofar as it promises —
(i) commitment to work towards a sustainable energy future;
(ii) environmental initiatives that benefit Synergy's customers;
(iii) environmental leadership;
(iv) support for development and commercial introduction of low emission generation technologies;
(v) improvement of Synergy's environmental programs and practices; and
(f) does the funding provided in the 2012-2013 Budget for customer information and billing system take into account any windfall to Synergy from adding a carbon tax component to the bills of its green energy consumers?
(a) in 2011-12 —
(i) how many consumers chose this product;
(ii) could the Minister please express this figure as a percentage of all Synergy's consumers;
(iii) in total, how much did Synergy receive for this product;
(iv) how did Synergy spend that money (please provide full details),
(b) in 2010-2011 —
(i) how many consumers chose this product;
(ii) could the Minister please express this figure as a percentage of all Synergy's consumers;
(iii) in total, how much did Synergy receive for this product; and
(iv) how did Synergy spend that money (please provide full details)?
(2) Regarding the NaturalPower product, which allows consumers to choose a percentage of their electricity that is generated from renewable energy sources —
(a) in 2011-12 —
(i) how many consumers chose this product;
(ii) could the Minister please express this figure as a percentage of all Synergy's consumers;
(iii) in total, how much did Synergy receive for this product;
(iv) how did Synergy spend that money (please provide full details),
(b) in 2010-2011 —
(i) how many consumers chose this product;
(ii) could the Minister please express this figure as a percentage of all Synergy's consumers;
(iii) in total, how much did Synergy receive for this product; and
(iv) how did Synergy spend that money (please provide full details)?
(3) Regarding the EarthFriendly product, which allows consumers to choose a percentage of their electricity emissions that will be offset through greenhouse gas reduction programs —
(a) in 2011-12 —
(i) how many consumers chose this product;
(ii) could the Minister please express this figure as a percentage of all Synergy's consumers;
(iii) in total, how much did Synergy receive for this product;
(iv) how did Synergy spend that money (please provide full details),
(b) in 2010-2011 —
(i) how many consumers chose this product;
(ii) could the Minister please express this figure as a percentage of all Synergy's consumers;
(iii) in total, how much did Synergy receive for this product; and
(iv) how did Synergy spend that money (please provide full details)?
(4) Given the Minister's answer on 22 May 2012 to my question without notice that Synergy was still investigating the intricacies of the impact of the carbon tax on green energy products and had not yet made a decision about whether or not it would pass on carbon tax costs to consumers of its 100 per cent NaturalPower product —
(a) was the Autumn 2012 edition of 'Synergy Life' sent to consumers (including consumers of green energy products) inaccurate in making this statement: 'Following the Federal Government's Clean Energy Future legislation being passed in Parliament late last year, a price on carbon will be included in the cost of your electricity tariff and applied to your electricity account from 1 July 2012'; and
(b) was the telephone advice given by Synergy to a 100 percent NaturalPower product consumer on or around 30 May 2012 confirming that statement incorrect?
(5) How many complaints or queries has Synergy received from its green energy consumers regarding this statement?
(6) How many of these have since been referred to the Energy Ombudsman?
(7) Which of Synergy's green energy consumers will have a carbon tax component added to their electricity accounts from 1 July 2012 (please provide full details identifying the particular product, consumer contribution threshold for inclusion of a carbon tax component, and number of consumers estimated to be affected in 2012-13)?
(8) Regarding the answer to (7) —
(a) in respect of green energy products by which Synergy purports to sell renewable energy as an alternative to carbon-producing energy (particularly the 100 per cent NaturalPower product which purports to sell the consumer only energy generated from renewable energy sources), what is the policy reason for this;
(b) how will the carbon tax component charged by Synergy be calculated (for example, a flat charge, or based on units of electricity consumed, or based on the total dollar amount of the account including the premium paid by the consumer for the green energy product);
(c) what is the policy reason for this calculation method being chosen;
(d) what change if any is expected in 2012-13 in the number of consumers purchasing Synergy's green energy products as a result of this decision;
(e) how does this decision fulfil or progress Synergy's Environmental Policy insofar as it promises —
(i) commitment to work towards a sustainable energy future;
(ii) environmental initiatives that benefit Synergy's customers;
(iii) environmental leadership;
(iv) support for development and commercial introduction of low emission generation technologies;
(v) improvement of Synergy's environmental programs and practices; and
(f) does the funding provided in the 2012-2013 Budget for customer information and billing system take into account any windfall to Synergy from adding a carbon tax component to the bills of its green energy consumers?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 August 2012
Responded by
Minister for Energy
Response time
63 days
(1)(a)(i) 972
This is an estimated figure as an audit has not been completed for calendar year 2011.
(ii) 0.0009%
(iii) $84,000
This is an estimated figure as an audit has not been completed for calendar year 2011.
(iv) Synergy purchases Renewable Energy Certificates in addition to its Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) requirements with the funds it collects from EasyGreen customers, and Synergy is audited by the nationally accredited GreenPower scheme on an annual basis.
(b)(i) 973
This is an estimated figure as the audit is completed by a calendar year not financial.
(ii) 0.001%
(iii) $88,000
This is an estimated figure as the audit is completed by a calendar year not financial.
(iv) Synergy purchases Renewable Energy Certificates in addition to its Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) requirements with the funds it collects from EasyGreen customers, and Synergy is audited by the nationally accredited GreenPower scheme on an annual basis.
(2)(a)(i) 4,419
This is an estimated figure as an audit has not been completed for calendar year 2011.
(ii) 0.004%
(iii) $1,960,000
This is an estimated figure as an audit has not been completed for calendar year 2011.
(iv) Synergy purchases Renewable Energy Certificates in addition to its Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) requirements with the funds it collects from NaturalPower customers, and Synergy is audited by the nationally accredited GreenPower scheme on an annual basis.
(b)(i) 5,631
This is an estimated figure as the audit is completed by a calendar year not financial.
(ii) 0.005%
(iii) $2,400,000
This is an estimated figure as the audit is completed by a calendar year not financial.
(iv) Synergy purchases Renewable Energy Certificates in addition to its Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) requirements with the funds it collects from NaturalPower customers, and Synergy is audited by the nationally accredited GreenPower scheme on an annual basis.
(3)(a)(i) 600
This is an estimated figure as an audit has not been completed for calendar year 2011.
(ii) 0.0006%
(iii) $76,000
This is an estimated figure as an audit has not been completed for calendar year 2011.
(iv) Synergy purchases accredited carbon offset certificates with the funds it collects from EarthFriendly customers, and Synergy is audited by the nationally accredited NCOS scheme on an annual basis.
(b)(i) 663
This is an estimated figure as the audit is completed by a calendar year not financial.
(ii) 0.0006%
(iii) $95,000
This is an estimated figure as the audit is completed by a calendar year not financial.
(iv) Synergy purchases accredited carbon offset certificates with the funds it collects from EarthFriendly customers, and Synergy is audited by the nationally accredited NCOS scheme on an annual basis.
(4)(a) No
(b) No
(5) It is not possible to ascertain precisely how many complaints concerned any particular statement, as opposed to the application of the carbon tax to GreenPower products in general.
(6) Synergy has not had any complaints in relation to the treatment of GreenPower products referred to it by the Energy Ombudsman.
(7) All Synergy customers who opt to purchase GreenPower products will be affected by the carbon tax. The carbon tax will be passed through to consumers via tariffs, and the GreenPower premiums they pay will continue to contribute to the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates in the market, supporting the development of large scale renewable energy projects.
(8)(a) Synergy has always provided access to marketing materials relating to GreenPower products explaining the intricacies involved. The 100 per cent NaturalPower product results in Synergy purchasing RECs for the equivalent amount of renewable energy that the customer consumes from the grid.
(b) Synergy will pass through carbon tax costs to consumers by integrating the cost into tariffs, hence the carbon tax will be passed through on a "per unit" basis.
(c) Synergy is passing through carbon tax costs as per Federal Clean Energy Future legislation.
(d) Synergy anticipates some customers will opt to discontinue their subscription to GreenPower products following the introduction of the Federal carbon tax, however has not forecast a specific number.
(e)(i) By continuing to provide GreenPower products, Synergy is empowering WA consumers to contribute to market demand for RECs, in turn allowing them to support investment in large scale renewable energy projects.
(ii) See answer to (8)(e)(i).
(iii) See answer to (8)(e)(i).
(iv) See answer to (8)(e)(i).
(v) See answer to (8)(e)(i).
(f) There is no windfall to Synergy as a result of the implementation of the carbon tax.
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
This is an estimated figure as an audit has not been completed for calendar year 2011.
(ii) 0.0009%
(iii) $84,000
This is an estimated figure as an audit has not been completed for calendar year 2011.
(iv) Synergy purchases Renewable Energy Certificates in addition to its Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) requirements with the funds it collects from EasyGreen customers, and Synergy is audited by the nationally accredited GreenPower scheme on an annual basis.
(b)(i) 973
This is an estimated figure as the audit is completed by a calendar year not financial.
(ii) 0.001%
(iii) $88,000
This is an estimated figure as the audit is completed by a calendar year not financial.
(iv) Synergy purchases Renewable Energy Certificates in addition to its Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) requirements with the funds it collects from EasyGreen customers, and Synergy is audited by the nationally accredited GreenPower scheme on an annual basis.
(2)(a)(i) 4,419
This is an estimated figure as an audit has not been completed for calendar year 2011.
(ii) 0.004%
(iii) $1,960,000
This is an estimated figure as an audit has not been completed for calendar year 2011.
(iv) Synergy purchases Renewable Energy Certificates in addition to its Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) requirements with the funds it collects from NaturalPower customers, and Synergy is audited by the nationally accredited GreenPower scheme on an annual basis.
(b)(i) 5,631
This is an estimated figure as the audit is completed by a calendar year not financial.
(ii) 0.005%
(iii) $2,400,000
This is an estimated figure as the audit is completed by a calendar year not financial.
(iv) Synergy purchases Renewable Energy Certificates in addition to its Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) requirements with the funds it collects from NaturalPower customers, and Synergy is audited by the nationally accredited GreenPower scheme on an annual basis.
(3)(a)(i) 600
This is an estimated figure as an audit has not been completed for calendar year 2011.
(ii) 0.0006%
(iii) $76,000
This is an estimated figure as an audit has not been completed for calendar year 2011.
(iv) Synergy purchases accredited carbon offset certificates with the funds it collects from EarthFriendly customers, and Synergy is audited by the nationally accredited NCOS scheme on an annual basis.
(b)(i) 663
This is an estimated figure as the audit is completed by a calendar year not financial.
(ii) 0.0006%
(iii) $95,000
This is an estimated figure as the audit is completed by a calendar year not financial.
(iv) Synergy purchases accredited carbon offset certificates with the funds it collects from EarthFriendly customers, and Synergy is audited by the nationally accredited NCOS scheme on an annual basis.
(4)(a) No
(b) No
(5) It is not possible to ascertain precisely how many complaints concerned any particular statement, as opposed to the application of the carbon tax to GreenPower products in general.
(6) Synergy has not had any complaints in relation to the treatment of GreenPower products referred to it by the Energy Ombudsman.
(7) All Synergy customers who opt to purchase GreenPower products will be affected by the carbon tax. The carbon tax will be passed through to consumers via tariffs, and the GreenPower premiums they pay will continue to contribute to the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates in the market, supporting the development of large scale renewable energy projects.
(8)(a) Synergy has always provided access to marketing materials relating to GreenPower products explaining the intricacies involved. The 100 per cent NaturalPower product results in Synergy purchasing RECs for the equivalent amount of renewable energy that the customer consumes from the grid.
(b) Synergy will pass through carbon tax costs to consumers by integrating the cost into tariffs, hence the carbon tax will be passed through on a "per unit" basis.
(c) Synergy is passing through carbon tax costs as per Federal Clean Energy Future legislation.
(d) Synergy anticipates some customers will opt to discontinue their subscription to GreenPower products following the introduction of the Federal carbon tax, however has not forecast a specific number.
(e)(i) By continuing to provide GreenPower products, Synergy is empowering WA consumers to contribute to market demand for RECs, in turn allowing them to support investment in large scale renewable energy projects.
(ii) See answer to (8)(e)(i).
(iii) See answer to (8)(e)(i).
(iv) See answer to (8)(e)(i).
(v) See answer to (8)(e)(i).
(f) There is no windfall to Synergy as a result of the implementation of the carbon tax.
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
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.