Power-saving pledge probed for detail
The South Australian Government has promised to trim the electricity bills of rural and remote residents, but the Opposition says it has not explained how.
Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis says savings of up to $45 per year (based on average consumption of 5,000 kilowatt hours) are on the way.
He says adjustments will be based on residential and small business standing offers for Adelaide customers, which will then define the tariffs for remote communities.
Coober Pedy Mayor Steve Baines says it is great for residents who are powered by “off-grid” supplies.
“It's great to see that the Labor Party has come out with a firm written commitment that our residents and businesses will pay no more for power than on-grid customers in Adelaide,” he said.
“This is something that we've been asking both major parties for.”
Opposition energy spokesperson Martin Hamilton-Smith wants to know how Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis will fund it.
“There's an unspecified amount of money,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.
“Maybe he'll [Mr Koutsantonis] try and get their power prices on parity with the grid... all that is a little bit of gobbledygook, it seems to me. I want to see a dollar sign,” he said.
“If the Government has budgeted an amount of dollars to fix their mess then the Liberal Party will match it.”
The South Australian Liberals also have power price cuts as a promise in the upcoming election.
They have pledged to review the Remote Areas Energy Supply Scheme in 13 remote towns and 10 Aboriginal communities which are currently off-grid, if they win the election.
In other south Australian power supply news; approval has been given for the $1.5 billion Ceres wind farm project on the Yorke Peninsula. It will feature 197 turbines to power the equivalent of 225,000 homes via an under-sea transmission cable.