Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens' Energy spokesperson
From this financial year until the end of 2018/19, Tasmania’s dependence on importing electricity from Victoria is projected to cost every Tasmanian household on average $523.
The Australian Energy Market Commission '2016 Residential Electricity Price Trends' reported the large decreases in TasNetworks' charges will be wiped out by increases in wholesale electricity costs.
Tasmania's over-reliance on importing power from Victoria has wasted an opportunity to dramatically reduce power bills from the significant decrease in Network Tariffs.
This is set to add $79 to the average Tasmanian’s power bill this year, with $261 in 2017/18 and $190 in 2018/19 to follow.
This is a substantial sum for Tasmanians on low incomes. That's over $50 that could be saved on each quarterly power bill, which is a huge saving for households already struggling to make ends meet.
Tasmania has been overexposed to increasing wholesale electricity prices because of our dependence on importing electricity via Basslink, with the increases over the next two years attributed to the closure of the Hazelwood power station in Victoria.
The Liberals' continual spruiking of a second Basslink interconnector is irresponsible. By cementing Tasmania's reliance on mainland power, they are cementing a vulnerability in energy supply and expecting Tasmanians to pay the price.
The Hodgman Government is failing to tackle one of the biggest increases to cost of living pressures facing Tasmanians. They are failing to make the long-term decisions needed to invest in renewables to make us 100% self-sufficient, and ease the pressure on disadvantaged Tasmanians.