WA Independent Power Association wants energy policy to support small business
There is increasing pressure on the McGowan Government to open the electricity market up to make pricing more competitive, as the State’s peak body for independent power providers claims business would benefit from the support.
WA Independent Power Association chair Richard Harris claimed the issues of businesses being unable to access competitive electricity was widespread.
He explained that smaller businesses who are directly connected to the grid do not get a say in who they purchase their power from. The businesses who consume less than 50MWh each year must purchase electricity from Synergy.
“Customers who use 50MWh or more per annum are typically the larger, more energy intensive businesses such as supermarkets and manufacturers. It’s too high a margin and a totally arbitrary line put in the sand 15 years ago. We’ve always been suggesting anything above 20MWh should be open to competition,” Harris added.
Mr Harris explained that the WA gas market was de-regulated and noted that the electricity market was not far from it but “never quite made it.”