Tasmanian energy credit to be paid before end of financial year

‘Every little bit counts’ when is comes to household bill relief, say Brighton residents Denise and Arthur Blackwell. When you can expect to see the Tasmanian energy credit >>

Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Denise Blackwell at Brighton. Picture: Chris Kidd

For Denise and Arthur Blackwell a one-off $250 energy credit to their power bill will be a big help.

While their Brighton home has solar panels, it is all electric, except for the odd open fire in winter.

They will use the money to upgrade their electrical wiring.

“It is going to be very welcome and it’ll help immensely to do some improvements,” Mr Blackwell said.

“Power bills have always been fairly high.”

Mrs Blackwell welcomed any help for people struggling to pay their power bills.

“Every little bit counts. It will help a lot of people whose bills are just mounting up,” she said.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Energy Minister Nick Duigan visited the Blackwells on Sunday to outline the renewable energy dividend worth $74m to be paid to Tasmanians before the end of the financial year.

Energy Minster Nick Duigan and Premier Jeremy Rockliff with Arthur and Denise Blackwell at Brighton. Picture: Chris Kidd

They say 254,000 Tasmanian households and about 35,000 small businesses will benefit from the “supercharged” dividend.

Mr Rockliff said Tasmanians currently have the lowest regulated electricity prices in Australia but he knew “Tasmanians are feeling the pinch”.

“That’s why we announced our supercharged renewable energy dividend, which will see a one-off $250 dividend delivered to Tasmanian households and $300 to small businesses, this financial year, providing immediate relief for their upcoming winter bills,” he said.

All Hydro dividends - up to $90m per year - are returned to the government, which are then invested in essential services including health and education.

Mr Duigan ruled out means-testing the payment saying Tasmania had “among the highest level of concession payments” for people who required help.

“The $250 one off payment for households, follows the Government’s existing renewable energy dividend that delivers a share back into the pockets of Tasmanians when Hydro return in excess of $90m,” he said.

Despite recent dry weather, Mr Duigan said Hydro storage levels were “well above our prudent storage levels”.