Electricity bills in NSW will rise substantially over the next five years unless the state government establishes a demand management fund to reduce wasteful energy use and lower costs to consumers, Greens energy spokesperson Ian Cohen said today.
“The $8 billion cost of upgrading the inefficient government-owned energy networks will now have to be passed onto consumers because no effort has been made to reduce wasteful energy use,” Mr Cohen said.
“But it is possible to soften the blow to consumers. The government set up a taskforce to investigate a demand management fund in November 2003 but its report has still not been released.
“A demand management fund would save consumers money as it would focus industry and retailers on becoming more efficient in how energy is used. It is something that both IPART and the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has recommended.”
Mr Cohen said $65 million should be allocated initially to a demand management fund to attract serious attention from competing suppliers of demand management services. The fund should be run by an independent, not-for-profit body and guaranteed for at least 10 years so it has a chance to work.
“A small $0.001 per kilowatt-hour (KWh) charge to establish a demand management fund would offset the substantial rises in electricity bills that are to come.”
Mr Cohen said the Greens are seeking amendments to the government’s Electricity Supply Amendment Bill, now in the Upper House, to establish a demand management fund that would include load management and energy efficiency opportunities, such as:
* Load shifting
* Fuel switching (including gas chilling and solar hot water)
* peak period standby generation
* Distributed (renewable) generation (including small scale rooftop solar)
* Interval meters
* Equipment upgrades for more efficient appliances and buildings
* Advanced controls for air-conditioning and lighting
Further Information: Paul Sheridan, 0410 516 656
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