Solar Energy

Dr HARVEY (Newland) (14:30): My question is to the Minister for Energy and Mining. Can the minister please update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is improving access to solar energy for concession holders and cutting their energy bills?

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart—Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:30): Yes, I can. It was a pleasure to be with the member for Newland in his electorate just over a week ago to share this information with local people. We went to the last election with a very firm commitment to reduce the cost of electricity, to reduce the number of blackouts and to continue to reduce emissions from electricity generation, and we are doing that: $303 so far since the last election.

However, we do recognise that many of our policies are in partnership with industry and in partnership with consumers and that very often they require an investment from consumers: an investment in solar, an investment in home batteries, an investment in other opportunities. We are incredibly aware, on this side of the house, that not every household has the opportunity, not every household has the capacity, to make that investment, but we are determined to make sure that the advantages that we provide for South Australian electricity consuming households are there for as many households as possible.

So not only are we reducing the cost of electricity for households that just draw their electricity from the grid but we have a pilot program for 1,000 homes to be able to swap their cost-of-living and energy concessions in return for being given free solar on their homes. The modelling shows that households will be net better off between $157 and $525 per year per household. That is akin to voluntarily surrendering a $450 concession—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Hurtle Vale!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —in return for a $600 to $1,000 per year return. The way this works is that we are doing it in a pilot group of suburbs. We've got about 300 of these opportunities taken up already.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hurtle Vale is called to order.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: They are going extremely well. We are also finding that those households that participate get greater savings than the original modelling. We have done the modelling to have an estimate of what the savings will be. The reality so far is that those participating are receiving even greater savings. When we finish this one year, 1,000 home trial, we will be able to assess whether we can roll this out further.

Let me just reiterate: it is voluntary. We are sending information out to all the households that would be eligible in the suburbs that apply to the trial. If they would like to, then they approach the government, they get the information and they actually get a personalised assessment—look at their electricity bills, look at their roof, look at their electricity usage and their own personal circumstances, a tailored assessment of what their savings would be—and then they can choose whether they want to go forward. This is a fantastic program.

The shadow minister for energy and mining called this cruel and unfair: cruel and unfair to give people the option to volunteer to choose this money if they would like to, cruel and unfair to be given a 4.4 kilowatt solar system—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hurtle Vale is warned.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —if they choose, cruel and unfair to get additional electricity savings on top of the savings that the government is already offering them. If that's what those opposite think, if they think that's cruel and unfair, well—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Hurtle Vale!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —let them have that opinion. We have this offer. It is absolutely outstanding. The results are tremendous. It is voluntary. If people choose to stay as they are, they are welcome to stay as they are. If they would like to sign up, surrender their concessions in return for even greater annual savings, they just need to get in touch with us for a tailored quote to find out exactly how good this is.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The time for answering the question has expired. Before I call the member for Kaurna, I call to order the member for Giles. I call to order the member for Playford.