Page 1826 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 22 June 2021
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Eligible products that can be purchased under the scheme will be progressively added as the scheme is rolled out. The first products that will be available are household solar and household battery storage. As the scheme progresses, Canberrans will be able to purchase new and used zero-emissions vehicles, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, electric heating and cooling, to replace gas or less efficient systems, hot water heat pumps and energy-efficient household appliances.
The government will also continue to ensure that the transition to renewable energy effectively supports vulnerable Canberra households. That is why we are permanently increasing the utilities concession by a further $50 a year, to provide direct financial support to around 31,000 low income households, expanding access to the utilities concession and providing an additional one-off rebate in the coming fiscal year, bringing the total concession to $800 for fiscal 2021-22. This increased concession will cover a significant proportion of the annual electricity bill for lower and fixed income households in the territory. It is amongst a number of initiatives, totalling almost $10 million over the next four years, that the government announced following the release of the ICRC’s price reset for standing offer retail electricity prices for fiscal 2021-22. The ICRC’s latest decision comes off the back of a period of significantly lower prices.
However, we recognise that the recently announced price increases will be difficult for some Canberra households. That is why we are providing significantly enhanced concessions. Through the combination of a community awareness program and, of course, the recently passed amendments to the utilities bill, which was supported in this place, the government will be able to ensure that households are getting the best energy deals possible. As I observed at the time of the debate on the utilities bill, around 40 per cent of Canberra households have been on standing offer contracts for a long time. There are better deals available; there are lower prices available. That information will be made available to those 40 per cent of Canberra households who are still on the standing offer contracts.
The ACT government is also getting on with the job of delivering the Big Canberra Battery, an ecosystem of distributed, large-scale battery storage systems to harness an important emerging technology. The Big Canberra Battery will provide at least 250 megawatts of battery storage. When complete, it will be one of the biggest battery storage systems in Australia. I am pleased that there has been such significant industry interest in the program, with 42 submissions from interested parties to a recently completed market sounding process. This is an encouraging and clear signal of the industry’s capacity to deliver this ambitious project, which will support the territory’s efforts to reduce emissions and maintain a reliable and efficient energy grid for ACT residents and businesses.
The government’s investment in large-scale storage will not only support household investment in solar; it will also benefit all Canberrans by ensuring the stability of our electricity network through long hot summers as well as also, eventually, providing a revenue source for the territory. As I mentioned earlier, the global battery storage market is predicted to be worth $400 billion by 2030, and the high interest in the territory’s battery project will ensure that we remain at the forefront of this booming sector, supporting new jobs in an emerging industry.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video