Synergy Competition Can’t Come Soon Enough

Infinite Energy has welcomed today's announcement by the Minister of Energy Dr Mike Nahan that the WA Residential Electricity Market will be opened up to competition.

Infinite Energy Managing Director Aidan Jenkins said, "Whilst the opening up the residential electricity market to competition is a positive step, we would encourage the government to accelerate the time frame for 'Full Retail Contestability'. We believe we could be competitive in the residential market now and bring down electricity costs for households".

Infinite Energy's Electricity Retailing Business already offers small businesses, commercial and industrial customers substantial discounts on electricity tariffs in the contestable market in Perth and the South West of Western Australia.

Dr Nahan announced a range of measures as part of the State Government's response to the WA Electricity Market Review including moving regulation of Western Power from the Economic Regulation Authority to the east coast based Australian Energy Regulator. Whilst the move makes sense in a lot of ways Infinite Energy urged caution, "Western Power's network charges make up the largest portion of electricity tariffs in WA and any resultant increase from a change in methodology by which these network charges are set has the potential to undo all the other positive measures announced as part of this review", Jenkins said.

Infinite also welcomed the announcement by Dr Nahan of a Renewable Energy position paper to be released by the State Government in mid 2015. Infinite hopes that this paper will address some of the structural issues holding back uptake of Solar PV by businesses in WA particularly the challenges of connecting larger solar power systems to Western Power's network.

Background information on Synergy Competition

• Western Australia currently has a contestable electricity market for businesses consuming over 50 MWhrs per year.
• Infinite Energy's Electricity Retail Arm Blue Star Energy currently holds an Electricity Retailers License (ERL 22) covering Perth and the South West of Western Australia.
• Currently households and those businesses consuming less than 50 MWhrs per year have no choice of electricity retailer and must buy electricity from Synergy.
• Infinite Energy has an arrangement with Kleenheat Gas to offer its residential gas product to the market in WA. 

For further information contact:
Aidan Jenkins
Managing Director
Infinite Energy
Suite 3, Level 3, 85 South Perth Esplanade, South Perth WA 6151
1300 074 669