Hide message
Key Points
- EnergyAustralia is providing good supply into the system.
- We believe demand will be softer this weekend.
- We continue to provide support for customers facing difficulties.
Statement attributed to Mark Collette, Managing Director at EnergyAustralia:
“EnergyAustralia is providing good supply into the system. Mt Piper power station in New South Wales has both units in operation and continues to supply over 10 per cent of the state’s daily maximum electricity demand. There are three units online at Yallourn power station in Victoria with one expected to come offline tonight for routine maintenance. Our gas assets are running seven times the volume compared with the same period last year.
“We believe demand will be softer this weekend, however cold weather lingers across population centres, which will see higher demands in the evening peak.
“We continue to work with the Australian Energy Market Operator on the availability of our generating assets across Australia."
“While flood waters are abating in some areas of NSW, there are customers facing a loss of power because of the flooding. It’s important for customers who need a continuous supply of power for their life support equipment to have their back-up plans ready to go if the power in their area does go off.
“Guidance can be found on our website and if customers want to speak to someone directly, they can call our EnergyAssist team on 1800 120 084."
“Right now, our job as a generator and a retailer is to keep pumping power into the system to support our 2.4 million customer accounts and to help anyone, residential or small business, who may be doing it tough.
“We’ve automatically suspended issuing energy bills and paused collection activities in areas that have been evacuated by the NSW State Emergency Service.
“We are sending customers an SMS to let them know if their energy bill has been put on hold. We will give them the choice to recommence billing if they prefer.
-ends-
Media Contact: Anne Pearson, Head of Reputation, 0412 325 244, anne.pearson@energyaustralia.com.au
Background
Supporting customers
EnergyAustralia’s EnergyAssist program means the power won’t be disconnected and debt collection activities won’t be initiated. Residential customers on the program also have access to tailored payment plans, energy audits, information on grant programs and advice on energy usage.
Through Rapid Business Assist, specialist advisors can discuss ways for EnergyAustralia’s small and medium-sized business customers to lower energy consumption, the government energy relief subsidies available, and options for tailored payment schedule.
Payment assistance
- Eligible South Australians on low or fixed incomes can apply for help with the cost of energy bills for their principal place of residence. If you receive the energy concession, you could also be eligible for the SA Concessions Energy Discount Offer.
- The Victorian Government is giving a once-off $250 payment for all Victorian households that use the Victorian Energy Compare website, found at https://compare.energy.vic.gov.au/psb-faq
- Queenslanders will receive a $175 Cost of Living Rebate on their next power bill. Electricity providers will automatically apply the credit, so Queenslanders don’t have to apply.
- NSW residents are eligible for Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) $50 vouchers. See Apply for Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) vouchers for more information.
EnergyAustralia recent energy announcements:
- investment in a 350MW, 4-hour battery at Wooreen;
- construction of Australia’s first hydrogen/gas peaking power station, Tallawarra B, with over 300MW capacity; all greenhouse gas emissions to be fully offset over its operational life;
- introduction of Solar Home Bundle in NSW where EnergyAustralia arranges the selection and installation of a solar and battery system at their home, with no upfront cost. After seven years, the customer owns the system outright;
- our storage services agreement for the 250MW Kidston pumped storage hydro project in Queensland; and
- underpinning the Darlington Point and Riverina batteries for a combined 90MW in NSW.
Image below: Completing planned maintenance on a mill feeder at Mt Piper in NSW that supplies coal to the boiler. Both generating units at Mt Piper are equipped with seven mills.
