Wednesday, 18 June 2025

Ministers statements: State Electricity Commission

Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:40): I rise to update the house on how the SEC is back and delivering for Victorians. As we know, the SEC has had three chapters in its life: it was sold off, it was shut down and now it is back serving Victorians again, because the third time is the charm, absolutely. Good things do come in threes, which is why the SEC is guided by and delivering on its three pillars: accelerating the energy transition, helping households go electric to save money on their bills and building a renewable energy workforce. Construction is underway on two huge projects – that is, three minus one equals two. The Melbourne renewable energy hub, one of the largest batteries in the world, is made up of over three big battery components with over 1100 people having worked on the site so far, and up in Horsham the new SEC renewable energy park is coming along at pace.

In less than three weeks the SEC will be powering Victoria once again, for the first time since it was sold off three decades ago. It will power classrooms, hospitals, police stations and fire stations across the state and some iconic sites like the Melbourne Zoo, the NGV, the Melbourne Museum and more. And of course we are delivering the SEC’s one-stop shop, providing (1) free, (2) trusted and (3) simple advice to help families save money on their energy bills.

Jeff Kennett sold off the SEC with his then assistant the member for Bulleen, the original cuts guy, sending power bills skyrocketing and slashing jobs. Some things really do come in threes: privatisation, higher energy bills and the member for Bulleen.