The political poles and wires of two Illawarra MPs have crossed again – this time over a move by government-run electricity distributors to challenge spending cuts.
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Shellharbour MP Anna Watson said the decision by Networks NSW – the state-government arm that runs Ausgrid, Essential Energy and Endeavour Energy – to appeal the Australian Energy Regulator’s final determination showed Liberal support for higher electricity prices.
Ms Watson said the move was in contrast to public statements from Liberal MPs, including Member for Kiama Gareth Ward, who supported the AER determination to lower electricity prices.
“Mr Ward can’t now have it both ways,’’ she said.
“He can’t say he supports lower electricity prices one minute and then support an appeal to the AER determination, which will lower prices, the next.’’
Mr Ward pulled the plug on Ms Watson’s claims, saying the government was committed to delivering a safe, reliable electricity supply ‘‘at the lowest sustainable cost’’.
‘‘The Member for Shellharbour knows full well that this was not a decision made by the Premier, myself or any member of the Baird government,’’ Mr Ward said.
‘‘It is quite extraordinary for the Labor Party to start slinging mud when electricity prices rose by 60 per cent in the last five years of their former failed government.’’
Mr Ward said the government’s Network Reform Program had delivered $3 billion in savings for NSW customers since 2012 and the government ‘‘looks forward to further savings being delivered’’.
Ms Watson claimed the AER determination meant the government would be unable to raise the $20 billion anticipated from the long-term lease of the state’s electricity network, and infrastructure projects like the Albion Park Rail bypass were at risk as a result.
The bypass statement made Ms Watson ‘‘the laughing stock of Illawarra MPs’’, Mr Ward said.
‘‘Labor failed to commit to this project in their 10-year infrastructure strategy, which they took to the last election,’’ he said.
‘‘Labor would have been happy for a decade to go by without a solution to congestion at Albion Park Rail. We have a plan to fund and build this project.’’
Networks NSW will appeal average annual cuts of $324 million to operating expenditure due to the impact on vegetation and bushfire risk mitigation programs across the state, along with the AER’s decision not to provide a workable transition plan to implement continuing efficiency improvements.