SA Power Networks

The Hon. T.R. KENYON (Newland) (15:21): My question is to the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy. Can the minister update the house on the Australian Energy Regulator's preliminary decision on SA Power Networks' regulatory proposal for the period 2015-20?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (15:21): South Australians demand and deserve reliable and affordable energy, and across much of the nation the rising cost of power is putting increased pressure on household budgets. When members opposite privatised ETSA, they denied the people of this state from exacting any control over their electricity infrastructure. Despite having no control over our electricity assets, this government makes every effort to craft policy that strengthens consumer protection and encourages people to manage their energy requirements efficiently.

Ms Sanderson interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The government is committed to working with industry and our community to ensure that South Australia—

The SPEAKER: The member for Adelaide is warned a second and final time.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —remains a place where people and business thrive. Late last year, SA Power Networks submitted its 2015-20 regulatory proposal to the Australian Energy Regulator, which proposed a significant increase in both capital and operating expenditure. Submissions were invited and the government called on the regulator to identify any opportunities for real decreases in electricity prices. Last week, the regulator released a preliminary decision to allow SA Power Networks to recover $3.2 billion over the 2015-20 regulatory period. That is a substantial reduction from the $4.7 billion that SA Power Networks are proposed to recover for that period. This is a win for all South Australian households. It will reduce power bills by an expected $197 or 9.8 per cent in 2015-16.

I am also confident that the member for Finniss will welcome the regulator's support for replacement of Kangaroo Island's undersea cable, and I am sure he is grateful to this government for supporting the new undersea cable in our submission.

Mr KNOLL: Point of order, Mr Speaker. Every piece of information that the minister has spoken about is in the preliminary decision to SA Power Networks' determination, as displayed on the AER's website, including all of the submissions by all of the parties and all of the outcomes that the minister is talking about.

The SPEAKER: I will listen carefully to what the minister has to say and the member for Schubert can email that to me.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Thank you, Mr Speaker. This new cable to the island will secure electricity supply in the long term and mitigate the possibility of early failure to the existing cable.

I also urge retailers to pass on these savings to households and to encourage consumers to shop around for the best market offer available. They can go to our website at energymadeeasy.gov.au to make sure that they receive their maximum benefit. We can take heart that householders can take advantage of increased competition between retailers by shopping around for a better offer as a result of price deregulation by this government in February 2013. I encourage members opposite, like the member for Schubert, to get onto energymadeeasy.gov.au to get a better offer; if he does not get one, to call his retailer and ask his retailer to pass on that saving; and, if they will not, to move retailers.