Hydro Tasmania

Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Energy spokesperson

Almost two years after it began, the public still doesn’t know how much money the Basslink crisis cost Tasmanians. Basslink lost at least $40 million due to the rupture of the cable, while its only customer, Hydro Tasmania, spent tens of millions of dollars on diesel generators and other measures to stave off an energy emergency.

Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Energy spokesperson

Almost two years after it began, the public still doesn’t know how much money the Basslink crisis cost Tasmanians. Basslink lost at least $40 million due to the rupture of the cable, while its only customer, Hydro Tasmania, spent tens of millions of dollars on diesel generators and other measures to stave off an energy emergency.

Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Energy spokesperson

Tasmania’s energy crisis gave Matthew Groom the chance to show leadership and guide Tasmanians through a very difficult time.  Instead, Hydro Tasmania’s Annual Report shows it was a $64 million wasted opportunity.

The energy crisis cost Tasmanians $126 million.  Despite using the Minister’s diesel generators for just a few weeks and generating only a small amount of electricity, the cost of hiring, installing and running them came to $64 million.

Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Energy spokesperson

Basslink's third quarter financial report has painted an alarming picture of the state of their finances.  There's a real risk Basslink may go into liquidation, and the costs of the energy crisis to Tasmanians becomes even more unknown.

At the moment, all that we do know is that Basslink are in default to their creditors, and Hydro Tasmania have not paid them a facility fee since September.

Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Energy spokesperson

Hydro Tasmania will struggle to maintain our state’s hydro-electricity network under its existing maintenance budget over the next decade. The current maintenance crisis is the result of underspending by successive governments on our energy security.

Our hydro-electric infrastructure is built to last, but proper maintenance has to be continued.

Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Energy spokesperson

The news Hydro Tasmania is unable to keep up with their maintenance schedule is an indictment on the Hodgman Government.

Our electricity infrastructure is under serious threat. This comes on top of summer's energy crisis, and will leave Tasmanians worrying once again about the security of their power.

Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Energy spokesperson

Tasmanians have serious reservations about Hydro's self-assessment of the impact of cloud seeding activities on the severe June flooding. They won't be reassured by the Energy Minister Matthew Groom's comments in Parliament today.

Minister Groom ignored the community's suspicion of Hydro's self assessment and flatly refused to conduct an independent investigation.

People in flood affected communities, mayors, Upper House members and opposition parties have all called for an independent inquiry.

Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Energy spokesperson

The Minister for Energy needs to step in and reassure the community that cloud seeding activities in Tasmania are being conducted safely, as well as efficiently. The only way to do that is an independent investigation into the cloud seeding activities in early June.