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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-05-15 Daily Xml
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Virtual Power Plant

Ms COOK (Hurtle Vale) (15:32): Prior to the election, our Labor government had announced the rollout of a virtual power plant program that could save up to 30 per cent of a participant's energy bills and take the pressure off our grid—a program that has been canned by the new Premier within days of coming into office. For what reason?

In 1998, the now Liberal Treasurer was the then treasurer in the Olsen Liberal government. Under that administration, ETSA was sold, and with it went our energy security and any control that we had over our pricing. It is now 20 years on, and it is only because of our previous Labor government that we own any electricity assets at all.

Following the storm-related statewide blackout in late 2016, and that disgraceful load shedding event early last year, the then premier, Jay Weatherill, and energy minister, Tom Koutsantonis, announced an energy plan to take back control of the energy future. This included the world's largest battery, the Renewable Energy Fund, a state-owned emergency power plant, increased powers so as to direct the market in emergencies, and mechanisms to increase competition. Incentivised gas exploration was also on the cards and an energy security target. The energy plan is already delivering and is predicted by the independent national regulator to deliver $300 in annual price reductions to householders over the next couple of years as a minimum.

In February, the then premier, Jay Weatherill, announced that a total of 50,000 solar panel and storage units would be networked to form the world's largest virtual power plant. Five-kilowatt solar panel systems with 13.5-kilowatt Tesla Powerwall 2 batteries were to be installed at no charge to the householder to 1,100 SA Housing properties as a trial to begin with. I understand that the 1,100 units that were contracted are underway, which means that the Liberal government will honour their completion. But what does that mean for the remaining 48,900 systems? We know that this network of 50,000 systems was very different from the 40,000 subsidised battery systems announced late last year by the Liberal Party.

The Liberal plan would cost the state $100 million and cost householders around $8,000 each, with the plan subsidising an average of $2,500 dollars per battery unit. To be eligible, the home would have to already have solar in place. This Marshall plan targets only those who can afford it. The Labor plan costs the taxpayer the cost of the initial $2 million grant and a further $30 million loan from the Renewable Technology Fund. The remaining $800 million was from private sector investment. The Labor plan targeted those who needed it the most, with 25,000 of the participating homes being Housing SA stock.

Steven Marshall must end the uncertainty for thousands of low income households across this state by committing to the full rollout of these household solar power and battery kits on Housing Trust properties and then to the general public. About 25,000 Housing Trust properties would receive free household solar and batteries if Mr Marshall committed to the world's biggest virtual power plant. This virtual power plant is expected to lower energy bills for the participating households by 30 per cent. SACOSS rated the initiative as the most likely to benefit the broadest number of households on lower incomes.

This call comes as Mr Marshall had made this sudden about-turn on renewable energy, taking part in a media opportunity to plug Australia's largest solar panel installation on shopping centres in South Australia. If Mr Marshall now supports large-scale rollouts of renewable energy technology for businesses, he must commit to this continued rollout of the virtual power plant and end uncertainty for thousands of vulnerable South Australians. Mr Marshall's sudden support of renewable energy follows an embarrassing backflip regarding the virtual powerplant project with, on the first day, Mr Marshall trying to kill off the project.

The SPEAKER: The member will refer to members by their electoral name or their title.

Ms COOK: Sorry about that. I got carried away with myself. Thank you for your advice. The Premier told ABC's RN Breakfast program that former premier Jay Weatherill 'was doing it for Housing Trust homes in South Australia…that's not part of our plan'. He was then forced to backtrack on those comments, saying that he would honour any contracts entered into by the former government. Well, keep going, Mr Marshall. Prove that you can care about social issues—

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: Point of order: the member is ignoring your ruling.

The SPEAKER: I think the minister will—

Ms COOK: —and reinstate the program.

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