❓ Hon Tim Clifford asks about the Hardship Utility Grant Scheme (HUGS) and electricity disconnections in WA, highlighting concerns about rising power prices. The Minister provides data on HUGS applications and disconnection numbers for Synergy and Horizon Power customers.
AnsweredQoN 611Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
HARDSHIP UTILITY GRANT SCHEME — SYNERGY AND HORIZON POWER
611. Hon TIM CLIFFORD to the minister
representing the Minister for Energy:
I refer to
increasing power prices and the burden this places on families in WA.
(1)
How many applications under the hardship utility grant scheme were exclusively
for electricity bills?
(2)
How many households in WA were disconnected in the previous financial year,
2017–18, and for what reasons?
611. Hon TIM CLIFFORD to the minister
representing the Minister for Energy:
I refer to
increasing power prices and the burden this places on families in WA.
(1)
How many applications under the hardship utility grant scheme were exclusively
for electricity bills?
(2)
How many households in WA were disconnected in the previous financial year,
2017–18, and for what reasons?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)
For the 2017–18 financial year, there were 53 038 applications for the
hardship utility grant scheme. Of these, 41 418 were from electricity
providers. The figures represent the total number of successful applications
and not the total number of individuals who received a HUGS grant. Individuals
can receive more than one grant in a calendar year and therefore may be
represented more than once in the data.
(2)
In the 2017–18 financial year, 33 199 Synergy customers were
disconnected. Of these, 18 854 customers were disconnected for non-payment and
14 345 premises were disconnected for using energy with no application for an
account. Also in that year, 7 663 Horizon Power customers were disconnected,
including business customers. Of these, 1 513 customers were disconnected for
non-payment and 6 150 were disconnected due to vacating the supply address;
that is, residents were moving out.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)
For the 2017–18 financial year, there were 53 038 applications for the
hardship utility grant scheme. Of these, 41 418 were from electricity
providers. The figures represent the total number of successful applications
and not the total number of individuals who received a HUGS grant. Individuals
can receive more than one grant in a calendar year and therefore may be
represented more than once in the data.
(2)
In the 2017–18 financial year, 33 199 Synergy customers were
disconnected. Of these, 18 854 customers were disconnected for non-payment and
14 345 premises were disconnected for using energy with no application for an
account. Also in that year, 7 663 Horizon Power customers were disconnected,
including business customers. Of these, 1 513 customers were disconnected for
non-payment and 6 150 were disconnected due to vacating the supply address;
that is, residents were moving out.
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