Power prices: NSW Treasurer Matt Kean accused of ditching promises despite slamming Labor’s Federal Budget

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean has been vocal about Labor’s Federal Budget abandoning promises to slash rising power bills but now stands accused of ditching his own energy road map.

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean has been accused of walking back from a power price pledge, after claiming that his renewable energy road map would leave families $130 better off, on average, each year.

While Mr Kean has pledged to demand extra cost of living relief from his federal counterpart, the NSW Treasurer is under fire over what the state government will do to cut power bills.

The Daily Telegraph can also reveal that in this financial year alone, the NSW Government will spend $17 million of taxpayers’ money promoting various cost of living relief measures – including the Dine and Discover vouchers which expired in June.

That’s almost double the $9 million spent in 2021-22.

While Mr Kean has declared his federal counterpart Jim Chalmers has left families to “fend for themselves” in Tuesday’s budget, NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns has taken aim at Mr Kean’s own promises.

Matt Kean stands accused of ditching his own power promises despite criticising Federal Labor for doing the same. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

In 2020 Mr Kean said that his renewable energy road map would “save households $130 a year and businesses $430 a year, on average, on their electricity bills between 2023 and 2040,” in an opinion piece in the Australian Financial Review.

Labor Leader Chris Minns accused Mr Kean of abandoning that promise.

“We’re very concerned about the forecast increases in power and gas prices over the next few years,” he said.

“But Matt Kean and the NSW Liberals have spent the last 12 years making the situation in the NSW energy market worse,” he said.

NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns says the NSW Coalition is making power bills worse. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

“The Federal Government has been upfront with the people of Australia about the challenges with electricity prices. It’s a shame Matt Kean and the NSW Government has not,” he said.

But Mr Kean stood by the pledge on Thursday.

“Households will save an average of $130 a year across the period between 2023 and 2040 under the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap compared to if no action was taken to replace retiring power stations,” a spokeswoman said.

Meanwhile, analysis by Labor found that at least $265 million in NSW Government energy rebates remained unclaimed last year, with an average take up of just 51 per cent.

The state government undertakes advertising to promote various cost of living relief programs including various vouchers for families.

Since 2018, the $32 million has been spent on advertising the measures, including $17 million this financial year.

That money “is promoting more than 70 rebates and savings as well as business support like Dine and Discover and Stay vouchers,” departmental officials said in answers to questions on notice.

A ServiceNSW spokesman told The Telegraph that no money was allocated “specifically” to advertise Dine and Discover vouchers this financial year, after they ended in June.

“This is money earmarked for cost of living relief. It should be used to help families under pressure – not to promote the NSW Government,” Mr Minns said.