Page 2361 - Week 06 - Thursday, 10 May 2012
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MS BRESNAN: Supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Bresnan.
MS BRESNAN: Minister, what other measures is the government taking or will it be taking to support the continued installation of micro and medium renewable energy systems?
MR CORBELL: The government’s policy position on this is quite clear. The government has indicated that its emphasis now in terms of price support is large-scale renewable generation. That is why we are proceeding with the large-scale renewable energy projects I have just been speaking about. The government at this stage has no plans in relation to micro or medium scale generation beyond the existing scheme, which is already operating in place for those who have gained eligibility under it.
Energy—efficiency
MR HARGREAVES: My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development. Can the minister please tell the Assembly what the ACT community can expect from the new energy efficiency programs which will be delivered by electricity retailers in the ACT?
MR CORBELL: I thank Mr Hargreaves for the question. The community will be seeing a range of benefits from the rollout of the government’s new energy efficiency scheme as a result of the Energy Efficiency (Cost of Living) Improvement Act which was passed by the Assembly last week. The community will see benefits at an individual level, as ACT residents who choose to participate will see immediate reductions on their power bills, and also for all Canberrans, who will see a reduction in overall energy consumption, which is good in terms of demand management and good in terms of greenhouse gas reduction.
In the lead-up to the start date of 1 January next year, Canberrans will see the first offers to customers being advertised and marketed by ACT electricity retailers. The exact nature of what will be available to ACT consumers is up to retailers as this is a market-based scheme, within the wide range of eligible activities specified under the legislation.
This scheme is new to the ACT but it is modelled on successful schemes in other states, especially the residential energy efficiency scheme, or REES, in South Australia and the Victorian energy efficiency target or VEET scheme. Both have achieved real and substantial savings for participants in terms of their electricity bills, as well as saving hundreds of thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
ACT consumers who choose to take part are likely to first have an energy audit which will identify what sorts of eligible energy efficiency activities might be available to them through their supplier, based on their particular circumstances in their home. They might be offered something as simple as the installation of a “smart power
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