Marshall Liberal Government delivering cheaper electricity for South Australians

15 Feb 2021

The Marshall Liberal Government is delivering on its promise of more affordable electricity for South Australian households, with analysis of the latest retail price offers from the Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA) showing a further $111 drop from the middle of last year.

This follows an average annual fall of $96 dollars in 2019-2020 and $62 in 2018-19, resulting in a $269 reduction in the average retail offer since coming to government.

“This is proof that our policies are working – delivering cheaper, cleaner and more reliable electricity,” said the Minister for Energy and Mining, Dan van Holst Pellekaan.

“We are putting hundreds of dollars back into the pockets of hardworking South Australians, which stimulates the economy and creates jobs.

“We’re delivering cheaper electricity, whilst also delivering the most ambitious agenda on climate action and renewable energy of any South Australian government – 100% net renewable energy generation by 2030.

“The former Labor Government oversaw 16 years of skyrocketing electricity costs, including a $422 increase in their last two years in office, and left a legacy of energy insecurity and blackouts.

"They left the state relying on dirty diesel generators at a cost of over $600 million.

“SA Labor opposes to our plans for cheaper, cleaner, more reliable electricity, but this latest data shows they’re working for all South Australians.

“With these cheaper offers available, it’s important that customers make sure they are on the best deal – so go to energymadeeasy.gov.au to compare offers and providers.

“The critical SA-NSW interconnector will only increase these savings, and also unlock billions of dollars of investment in major renewable energy projects, creating jobs in regional areas and stimulating the state’s economy as we recover from the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s time for the South Australian Labor Party to admit they are wrong to oppose this critical project.

“Peter Malinausakas opposes policies which are delivering energy security and affordability as well as the growth of renewables in SA. SA Labor has not learned from its failures.

“Even the Federal Labor Party has publicly expressed support for the interconnector. “Our world’s largest Home Battery Scheme is reducing power costs for both the households that install the subsidised batteries and all other South Australian consumers.

“Our decision to convert 276MW of back-up diesel generation into gas-fired generation for use in the market on a daily basis will increase competition and drive down electricity prices.“

The State Government’s $50 million Grid Scale Storage Fund and our Demand Management policies are also helping drive down electricity prices in South Australia.

Every year, the Essential Services Commission provides an annual comparison report on energy retail price offers available to South Australian residential and small business customers. This report is a supplementary mid-year update.