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Category: State Parliament / States and Territories / Alternative Energy / Electricity Energy and Utilities

Tasmania's energy crisis to take centre stage as State Parliament resumes

Tuesday, 8 Mar 2016 03:42:41

It is still not known when the broken BassLink undersea cable between Tasmania and Victoria will be fixed. (ABC News)

Tasmania's Energy Minister will use the first sitting of State Parliament this year to unveil the next steps in the Government's response to the ongoing energy crisis.

Key points:

  • Long-term plan may include financial incentives for household solar panels
  • Situation "highlights the need for second interconnector" Mr Groom says
  • Hydro dam levels at record low of 15.5 pc
  • Opposition will grill Energy Minister in first sitting of Parliament for 2016

Minister Matthew Groom indicated the longer term plan could include financial incentives for households to install solar panels and a proposal to build a second Basslink interconnector.

Hydro Tasmania has already been forced to ship in 200 diesel generators, fire up the Tamar Valley Power Station and strike deals with major industrials, to ensure the state does not run out of power before May when it is hoped rain will ease pressure on dams.

"It will include some additional steps that are proposed by the Government, in response to this situation," Mr Groom said.

Mr Groom's statement followed meetings between the Premier, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and himself in Canberra to discuss the crisis, including the need for a second Basslink interconnector.

"From our perspective we think the present circumstances have reinforced the case for a second interconnector, it's highlighted the energy security aspect of a second interconnector," he said.

Dam levels are now at 15.5 per cent, below the previous low of 16.5 per cent, as Basslink continues to search for the fault in the cable that has prevented the state importing any power since December.

Energy Minister to face grilling over crisis

The Energy Minister is not ruling out increasing the solar feed-in tariff after it was slashed in 2013, or requesting other assistance from the Commonwealth in the short term.

Opposition Leader Bryan Green believes the Federal Government could help pay for an increase to the solar feed-in tariff.

"That's a long-term cost associated with energy coming back into the grid," Mr Green said.

Mr Green will use the first Question Time this year to grill Mr Groom.

"In the end we need to understand how it is that we got ourselves into this situation."

The energy crisis is also the priority for Greens leader Cassy O'Connor.

"There are so many questions and we know for a fact surely that this is not the brighter future that Will Hodgman promised us," Ms O'Connor said.

Energy analyst calls points to NZ power-savings campaign

Energy analyst Phil Harrington believes Tasmania should look overseas at energy efficiencies, such as New Zealand which relies heavily on hydro power.

In 2008, electricity companies banded together to run a domestic power-savings campaign asking householders to switch off lights and appliances.

The six-week campaign resulted in savings of 5 per cent in household use.

"Those campaigns have been very effective. They're backed up by some very high quality information that's been put out to the community about what they should do and when they should do it," Mr Harrington said.

However, Energy Minister Matthew Groom said he was not interested in following New Zealand's example.

"There's no requirement for mandatory energy savings measures," he said.

"But as I have consistently said Tasmanians are very prudent with their energy use obviously for budget reasons and the government continues to encourage Tasmanians to be sensible."

AustraliaPlus


 

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