Excess power from Perth's rooftop solar systems will be used to help struggling WA families, with the government estimating it will save some households up to $500 a year.
Key points:
- The WA government is giving more free power to those in "hardship"
- The power will be provided between 9am and 3pm to eligible customers
- The energy minister says more than 9,000 households are eligible
Half of the government's $400 electricity bill relief payment — promised to every household in the state budget to address cost of living pressures — will be distributed today, with the other half scheduled for the end of the year.
Premier Roger Cook has announced additional assistance for some households, with free power being provided between 9am and 3pm to families facing hardship under a new "Community Energy" program.
"These households, our highest hardship customers, will receive free power up to the value of 10 electricity credits," Mr Cook said.
"The measure of any government is the degree to which they stand by those who are doing it tough."
The government estimates the program will save eligible households between $200 to $500 a year — or between 55 cents and $1.37 per day.
WA Council of Social Service CEO Louise Giolitto welcomed the initiative.
"We know that not all households can access and benefit from technologies like solar panels, so this kind of product helps address that inequity," she said.
"When combined with the electricity credit announced in the May budget, Community Energy will have a significant positive impact."
'Most disadvantaged' to benefit: minister
The electricity will come from excess power generated by rooftop solar systems, according to Energy Minister Bill Johnston.
"At the moment Synergy buys all that electricity and sells it into the wholesale market, often at a negative price, so by being able to give it to hardship customers, everybody's benefiting," he said.
There are currently more than 9,000 households deemed in "hardship" that are set to receive the support.
"What we've done is introduce a program of case management for hardship customers, and there's about 9,100 customers that are on that hardship program," Mr Johnston said.
"We're targeting it at just the most disadvantaged."
Mr Johnston encouraged Synergy customers experiencing hardship to apply to join the case management program.
"We also have another program that assists people escaping domestic violence … if you have other problems that are leading you into difficulty please get in touch with Synergy," he said.
Opposition Energy Spokesperson Steve Thomas said the energy bill relief packages did not go far enough, considering WA's huge budget surpluses.
"They fall well short of the level of support the government can afford to provide struggling Western Australian households," he said.
"This is less than a cup of coffee a day saving for desperate people, and there is scope for greater compassion."