New energy crisis report damning for Matthew Groom

• Independent report clearly states the critical mistakes made by the Liberal Government

• Energy users slugged for the cost of the crisis

• Decision to sell power station “surprising” given forecasts

• Risk management practices were “below standards”

Matthew Groom has nowhere left to hide following the release of yet another damning report on the energy crisis.

The report from Goanna Energy in partnership with the Tasmanian Small Business Council and the Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council paints a damning picture of Hydro Tasmania’s risk management under the Liberal Government.

“It is concerning that Matthew Groom is still in denial about the direct role he played in the energy crisis,” Labor Leader Bryan Green said.

“The report confirms that as dam levels plummeted, the Government took significant energy security risks in its pursuit of profits”

“…the announcement to sell the Tamar Valley Power Station in August 2015, is further evidence that risk management practices had been forsaken for shorter term commercial gains.” (Page 4, Energy Crisis Market Impact Study, Energy Crisis, or Risk Management Crisis?)

“Those short term commercial gains included the Government’s greedy demand of a $75 million dividend the business couldn’t afford,” Mr Green said.

“This report confirms what Matthew Groom has been denying for months. He put dividends ahead of energy security, profits ahead of people.”

“The report also makes a lie of Matthew Groom’s claim that household energy prices have not increased as a result of the energy crisis.

“Goanna’s independent report confirms that households, small businesses and our biggest employers have shared the cost of the crisis.

“It cost retail consumers $140 a year, small businesses $871 and our major industrials took a combined hit of almost $50 million.

“Matthew Groom cannot ignore the findings of this report which is backed by small business and our major energy users.”

The report can be found here: http://www.goannaenergy.com.au/documents/GoannaEnergyMarketImpactStudyTESTSubmission.pdf
Bryan Green MP Labor Leader