❓ The Minister for Energy responds to questions about electricity charges, highlighting government initiatives to keep prices low and comparing WA's situation favourably to the eastern states.
AnsweredQoN 159Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELECTRICITY — FEES AND CHARGES
159. Ms A.E. KENT to the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's commitment
to limit cost-of-living pressures for Western Australian households.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this government is delivering on its election
commitment to keep household electricity charges to the rate of inflation?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how Western Australians' electricity charges
compare with those experienced in the eastern states?
159. Ms A.E. KENT to the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's commitment
to limit cost-of-living pressures for Western Australian households.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this government is delivering on its election
commitment to keep household electricity charges to the rate of inflation?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how Western Australians' electricity charges
compare with those experienced in the eastern states?
AnswerView source ↗
What an excellent question from an excellent member!
(1)–(2)
Over the period we have been in government, we have rejected the former
government's manner of operating by increasing electricity prices by 97
per cent. We are not following down that pathway. As a result of the strong
financial management that the Premier has brought to this government, we have
delivered a $600 household electricity credit, followed by a further $400
electricity credit—and that is on top
of the extra $318 paid in the energy assistance payment. This is very
significant assistance to consumers in Western Australia that has meant
we have kept electricity prices below, in net terms, what they were when we
came to government.
We have kept our electricity
corporations in public hands, we have retained government control of the
electricity prices for households as well as small businesses and we have the
lowest maximum cap at $290 here in the Western Australian wholesale market
compared with $15 500 in the national electricity market. We have our domestic gas reservation policy, which keeps
low-cost gas—the lowest cost gas in the OECD—to support
our consumers. We now see these benefits coming through here in Western Australia.
The Australian Energy Regulator,
which sets the default market offer for the east coast, has recently announced
its offer from 1 July this year. Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide are facing price
hikes of 20 per cent. That will see an
electricity bill in Sydney be $300 above the same bill here in Western Australia;
a consumer in Brisbane will see $120 to $140 above a bill here in Western Australia;
and, in Adelaide, where it is 100 per cent privatised and there is no
government control, they will be $800 worse off than an average consumer here
in Western Australia.
I also note that the National
Australia Bank recently published a report on cost-of-living pressures across
Australia for the December quarter, and it noted how much better energy prices
are in Western Australia compared with those on the east coast, and that the
number of Western Australians with challenges paying their electricity bill is
nearly half that of the national average. In other words, there are about twice
as many people on the east coast in bill distress than is the case here.
We always know that the work is never
done—there are always more people to help, and there is always more
that the government will do. But, on energy, we know that the results are in.
The Western Australian energy system is providing reliable power at a lower
cost than anywhere else in the country.
(1)–(2)
Over the period we have been in government, we have rejected the former
government's manner of operating by increasing electricity prices by 97
per cent. We are not following down that pathway. As a result of the strong
financial management that the Premier has brought to this government, we have
delivered a $600 household electricity credit, followed by a further $400
electricity credit—and that is on top
of the extra $318 paid in the energy assistance payment. This is very
significant assistance to consumers in Western Australia that has meant
we have kept electricity prices below, in net terms, what they were when we
came to government.
We have kept our electricity
corporations in public hands, we have retained government control of the
electricity prices for households as well as small businesses and we have the
lowest maximum cap at $290 here in the Western Australian wholesale market
compared with $15 500 in the national electricity market. We have our domestic gas reservation policy, which keeps
low-cost gas—the lowest cost gas in the OECD—to support
our consumers. We now see these benefits coming through here in Western Australia.
The Australian Energy Regulator,
which sets the default market offer for the east coast, has recently announced
its offer from 1 July this year. Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide are facing price
hikes of 20 per cent. That will see an
electricity bill in Sydney be $300 above the same bill here in Western Australia;
a consumer in Brisbane will see $120 to $140 above a bill here in Western Australia;
and, in Adelaide, where it is 100 per cent privatised and there is no
government control, they will be $800 worse off than an average consumer here
in Western Australia.
I also note that the National
Australia Bank recently published a report on cost-of-living pressures across
Australia for the December quarter, and it noted how much better energy prices
are in Western Australia compared with those on the east coast, and that the
number of Western Australians with challenges paying their electricity bill is
nearly half that of the national average. In other words, there are about twice
as many people on the east coast in bill distress than is the case here.
We always know that the work is never
done—there are always more people to help, and there is always more
that the government will do. But, on energy, we know that the results are in.
The Western Australian energy system is providing reliable power at a lower
cost than anywhere else in the country.
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