Dominic Perrottet announces $250 bonus to help families find cheaper electricity

Families across NSW will be given a bonus payment to encourage them to find a cheaper energy contract, as the Premier unveils his first campaign ad. See how you could get $250 cash with a couple of clicks.

Families across NSW will be given a $250 bonus payment from the state government to seek a cheaper power contract under a half-a-billion-dollar plan to put downward pressure on bills.

In the biggest Coalition election commitment to date, NSW households would get a $250 payment directly off energy bills if they use the Service NSW website to check that they are getting their best energy deal.

The one-off payment — to be rolled out from July 1 this year — would be made even if a switch to another energy provider was not made, given the pressure providers would be under to offer better deals.

With about 2 million households expected to participate, the NSW Energy Bill Saver initiative is expected to cost around $500 million.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the $250 payment was on top of the savings households would also make into the future by switching to a cheaper deal.

Premier Dominic Perrottet wants families to find cheaper energy providers. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Damian Shaw

“We know families are feeling the pinch right now and that’s why we will provide immediate bill relief as well as help them get a better energy deal,” he said.

“This is $250 in short-term savings while at the same time ensuring NSW households can slash their bills into the future by switching to a cheaper deal.

“This is all part of the Liberal and Nationals’ long-term economic plan to support NSW families and keep our state moving forward.”

The cost-of-living measure would apply to everyone, ­including those already on a rebate.

The website would be run through Service NSW and include information on offers from all electricity providers in the state.

Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the initiative would also help develop habits to help households, beyond the $250 payment.

“This program isn’t just for right now, it’s a simple way families right across NSW can save money long-term, by assessing their provider,” he said.

Treasurer Matt Kean said the government was ­modernising the energy system with a landmark $32 billion road map that would “deliver cheap energy for generations to come”, something that he said Labor would put at risk if elected.

“Labor’s talk of nationalising the network is a ‘lights out’ policy that will spook the industry and drive up prices,” he said.

The government anticipates households would make an additional saving of up to $400 per year by switching from the default market offer to a cheaper deal.

Without intervention, the average power bill could rise by up to 20 per cent this financial year and 30 per cent by 2023-24.

In December last year, Mr Perrottet and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese struck a landmark renewable energy deal to connect the NSW Renewable Energy Zones and Snowy Hydro 2.0 into the energy grid, in a bid to bring down household ­energy prices.

LIBS ROLL OUT THEIR ELECTION SLOGAN

Premier Dominic Perrottet will ask voters to “keep NSW moving forward” when the ­Coalition launches the first of its election ads tonight.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that will be the official slogan the Coalition hopes will win it a historic fourth term.

However, the Premier will also highlight how he has taken “a different approach” since taking on the top job — including first-homebuyer reform and enabling pharmacists to offer greater healthcare services — and how this will continue if he is elected in March.

A still from the Liberals’ election ad campaign, which will launch on Sunday night.

“When I became Premier a year ago, I was determined to end politics as usual,” Mr Perrottet says. “And that’s why I’m taking a different approach.

“Like … fixing stamp duty to help first-homebuyers, and standing up to powerful ­interest groups.”

While the ad is positive overall, Mr Perrottet does ­allude to the ongoing challenges of rising interest rates and cost-of-living pressures, claiming the Coalition is better placed to tackle them.

“There are serious challenges ahead and we can’t ­afford for NSW to stall or go backwards,” he says.

“Over the coming weeks, you’ll hear more about our long-term plan to keep NSW moving forward.”

The ads will go head-to-head with NSW Labor’s, which will also roll out the first of its campaign on Sunday.

Described as being “overall positive”, the ads will launch after Opposition Leader Chris Minns delivers his speech to the party faithful at a campaign rally being held in the marginal Liberal seat of Penrith.

It is understood Mr Perrottet’s slogan was adopted after consultation with multiple stakeholders.

A Liberal source said the slogan was a combination of a sense of momentum and “the fear that change risks all that”.

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