Greens Leader and Energy spokesperson Kim Booth MP today described calls from TasNetworks CEO Lance Balcombe as a distraction to the real reasons for current power price increases now and into the future.
"The real reason that Tasmanians are paying high electricity prices is the lack of wholesale competition, the $93 million annual cost of Basslink and the loss of over $70 million per year from the Liberals tearing up the carbon price," Mr Booth said.
"Blaming solar owners is just a smokescreen and to alter the tariff arrangements for those already connected and committed would be a massive betrayal of trust."
"There is a strong case for a sliding scale in tariff pricing to pay higher tariffs where solar PV adds value to the network and defers or removes the need for transmission upgrades, sadly another important reform that both Labor and Liberal failed to understand."
"Household Solar PV with battery storage will become the norm as consumers switch to electric vehicles and the government should be encouraging the industry,” Mr Booth said.