Media release – Guy Barnett, Minister for Energy and Renewables, 3 June 2022

Keeping downward pressure on electricity prices

The Tasmanian Government will continue to put downward pressure on power prices because we understand the cost of living challenges being faced by Tasmanians.

Our energy policy since 2018 has been clear.

While Dean Winter and Labor have no plans for energy and no plans to address the cost of living, they couldn’t even produce an alternative budget with a single policy or financial commitment.

Labor simply wants to re-write history where we saw a regulated power price increase by 65 per cent under their so called leadership.

Last year, Tasmanian households received a 7.11 per cent reduction in regulated electricity prices, and small businesses received an 11 per cent drop and over the past seven years, in real terms, regulated energy prices have decreased by 18 per cent for residential customers and decreased by over 27 per cent for small business customers.

I’ll repeat it again for Mr Winter, in 2018, following our election commitment and during a period of volatile mainland energy prices, the Government fulfilled its promise and effectively delinked from mainland wholesale market volatility through legislated, capped regulated power prices and the Commercial and Industrial rebate scheme. These measures ensured that wholesale impacts being experienced by mainland customers did not immediately impact on Tasmania.

This occurred over three years from 2017-18 through to 2019-20, mitigating the impact on Tasmanian consumers.

Following that period, wholesale electricity prices stabilised and the Tasmanian Energy Regulator has set the prices for the past two years.

We are now in a historic period for the National Electricity Market, with the retirement of coal and the disruption of the war in the Ukraine. This is being seen across the country and I will be meeting with my fellow Energy Ministers across the country early next week to discuss these collective challenges.

In the current environment, we must be considered in how we respond again to energy prices and the Tasmanian Government remains ready to assess further concessions and supports that may be needed.

Instead of playing politics, I’d urge Mr Winter to inform himself of the facts and ensure we work together to assist Tasmanians during this upcoming period.

Media release – Dean Winter MP, Shadow Minister for Energy, 4 June 2022

Guy Barnett must come clean on failure to deliver key energy policy

Energy Minister Guy Barnett has serious questions the answer about the decision to ditch the Liberal Party’s Energy Policy.

In Estimates next week Minister Barnett will need to outline whether he misled Parliament last year when he claimed the government had ‘effectively de-linked’ from the National Electricity Market.

It had not. It has not and now the Premier has admitted it won’t.

The Tasmanian Liberal Government has broken its promise to de-link from the National Electricity Market.

As national prices surge, Tasmanians brace themselves for a massive hit to their energy bills during a cost of living crisis.

Media release – David O’Byrne MP, Member for Franklin, 6 June 2022

Energy bill relief exposed as cynical pre-election ploy

The Premier has today refused to reintroduce energy bill supplements similar to those offered before the last two state elections, despite looming energy price increases that could threaten businesses and households budgets.

In Budget Estimates today, Franklin MP David O’Byrne pressed the Premier about his government’s track record of only implementing temporary energy bill assistance right before a state election.

“The Premier provided no explanation as to why the government justified paying an energy supplement in in 2018 and 2021 but don’t think one is justified now,” said Mr O’Byrne.

“Every indication is that household energy bills are about to increase significantly from next month as a direct result of this government’s refusal to shield Tasmania from mainland energy prices.

“True to form, the Premier has refused to rollout energy bill assistance in the likely scenario that energy prices in Tasmania skyrocket, which could have dire consequences for industries, businesses and households alike.

“The only rational explanation of this government’s refusal to offer energy bill help is that this year is not a state election year.

“The only way Tasmanians will see an energy bill supplement will be if the Premier calls an election.

“Tasmanian households don’t need a continuation of this government’s cynical ploy to buy votes. They need assurance that the Premier is prepared to act on escalating cost of living pressures.”

Media release – TasCOSS, 6 June 2022

Government confirms higher electricity costs for 130,000 Aurora Energy customers

Today’s Legislative Council Estimates Committee hearing has revealed the Tasmanian Government’s decision to maintain the $40 aurora+ product fee will impose higher electricity charges on 130,000 Tasmanian households and small businesses.

TasCOSS CEO Ms Adrienne Picone said the aurora+ product fee remains a barrier for tens of thousands of households seeking to benefit from better managing their energy usage and costs.

“In the midst of a cost of living crisis, we should be pulling all possible levers to help households lower their electricity bills,” Ms Picone said.

“How can the Government argue on one hand the aurora+ product is an important tool for Tasmanians to address cost of living pressures, better understand and manage their power usage and mitigate bill shock, yet at the same time request Aurora maintains the $40 fee to access theses benefits?” [1]

“The very customers who most need the help to manage their energy usage and guard against rising costs are the ones being disadvantaged by the Government’s decision.

“Aurora’s pricing submission to the Tasmanian Economic Regulator acknowledged the product fee is a barrier to customers accessing aurora+ and projected 130,000 customers would be using the product after the fee is removed.

“Charging a product fee is out of step with customer expectations and is locking out an additional 90,000 Tasmanian households and small businesses from accessing the benefits of aurora+.

“The Government’s intervention to overrule the independent Regulator’s decision is against the advice provided to the Regulator by Aurora and consumer advocates including TasCOSS, COTA Tasmania and the Tasmanian Small Business Council.

Ms Picone said the Government was acting against the best interests of households struggling with energy bills and rising cost of living pressures.

“With Tasmania’s CPI climbing to 5.8% and consumers bracing for a spike in electricity prices coming into winter, is is questionable how charging customers an additional $40 per year to better manage their energy usage and lower their bills will help with cost of living pressures.”

[1] The Hon Guy Barnett MP, Minister for Energy and Renewables, media release, 29 April 2022.