Thursday, 18 August 2022

Power saving bonus program

Mr FOWLES (Burwood) (17:29): (6505) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Energy, and the action I seek is for the minister to join me in the east to meet constituents who are taking advantage of the biggest support package of any state government when it comes to reducing people’s energy prices. Like many Victorian families, I understand the cost-of-living pressures we are facing at the minute with rising electricity prices. We are getting on and delivering the targeted cost-of-living support that families need, whether it be free TAFE, free kinder or the $250 power saving bonus. For context, we have invested in three rounds of the PSB program. The first two rounds were great successes, with the second round representing a $1.25 million package of support for Burwood pensioners and concession card holders alone.

We know that electricity retailers make their money when we do not shop around, so it is all about making better deals more accessible and rewarding people in the process. That is the great thing about the power saving bonus—it is now available to all Victorian households. It is delivering critical cost-of-living support and also driving people to the Victorian Energy Compare website, which is delivering cheaper electricity plans right across the state. It is not just a concept; it is a reality. Victorians who use the free and independent Victorian Energy Compare website save an average of $300 on their power bills over the first year alone.

But we know that lowering power bills is about much more than just a better deal; it is important to support the uptake of renewables as well. Indeed our record investment in renewables means that Victorians are better protected from rising prices. We are supporting families and businesses to produce their own solar power as well as delivering Australia’s first coordinated decarbonisation plan for the gas sector, putting us on the path to achieving a 50 per cent emissions reduction by 2030—all of this while introducing cheaper energy into the grid. It is win, win, win.

We know that not everyone has access to the internet to apply for the $250 payment. That is why my office has held booths within local community hubs such as neighbourhood houses to help newly arrived migrants as well as senior Victorians fill out their applications. In fact I recently had the pleasure of hosting a power saving bonus booth with the Premier and the member for Mount Waverley down at Ashburton Seniors Centre. There we were able to help local constituents, including Joan and Jack, who were in search of a new energy provider. There were many smiles and laughs to be shared, and we would be honoured to have the minister join us during one of these sessions. I thank the minister for her ongoing commitment to lower energy prices and cost-of-living relief for households and look forward to her response.