❓ Dr. Honey questions the Minister for Energy regarding a significant increase in Synergy customer debt and payment delays, suggesting that energy price increases and poorly targeted rebates are harming struggling families. The Minister's response is simply 'No'.
AnsweredQoN 291Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SYNERGY —
CUSTOMER DEBT
291. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Energy:
The last Economic Regulation
Authority report on customer debt to Synergy showed that it had increased from
an average of $396 under the last Barnett coalition government in 2017 to $766
in 2021–22, a 93 per cent increase, or almost double. Furthermore, in
part 2 of the Auditor General's 2021–22 state government
financial audit, the Auditor General reported that the number of customers
having difficulty paying their bills on time increased by 104 000, a 25 per cent increase. In addition, the
latest published Synergy quarterly report shows a further deterioration in the doubtful debt position of our main energy retailer.
(1) Are these
substantial increases in customer debt and delays in payment not an indication
that the minister's energy price increases are simply harming already
struggling Western Australian families?
(2) Is the
continued substantial increase in customer debt not proof that his poorly
targeted electricity rebates are not helping those most in need?
CUSTOMER DEBT
291. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Energy:
The last Economic Regulation
Authority report on customer debt to Synergy showed that it had increased from
an average of $396 under the last Barnett coalition government in 2017 to $766
in 2021–22, a 93 per cent increase, or almost double. Furthermore, in
part 2 of the Auditor General's 2021–22 state government
financial audit, the Auditor General reported that the number of customers
having difficulty paying their bills on time increased by 104 000, a 25 per cent increase. In addition, the
latest published Synergy quarterly report shows a further deterioration in the doubtful debt position of our main energy retailer.
(1) Are these
substantial increases in customer debt and delays in payment not an indication
that the minister's energy price increases are simply harming already
struggling Western Australian families?
(2) Is the
continued substantial increase in customer debt not proof that his poorly
targeted electricity rebates are not helping those most in need?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) No.
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