WA government scraps energy office

6th Jan 2012

The Western Australia government has announced an agency overhaul, with the Office of Energy to be replaced by a new Public Utilities Office.

The new office is to be established within the state's Department of Finance and the new arrangement is due to be implemented by the end of March.

According to premier Colin Barnett, the Public Utilities Office will provide advice to the state government on energy policy, eventually taking on the responsibility of water and waste management policy.

"The decision to establish a new Public Utilities Office is a recommendation of the Economic Audit Committee," he said.

"Establishing a Public Utilities Office with an initial focus on energy markets will enable, through economies of scale, the development of appropriate policy capacity and capability to ensure the government is able to draw on independent, high quality advice to inform its provision of essential services."

The premier stated that the new Public Utilities Office will report to energy minister Peter Collier – through the director general of the Department of Finance – on industry and policy issues.

Speaking to the ABC, opposition leader Eric Ripper said that the announcement was simply a rebranding exercise.

"This is a verdict on Peter Collier's stewardship of the energy portfolio," he said.

"The Office of Energy completely mishandled the solar feed in tariff program so we've had unsafe installations and a huge cost blowout and this is what's happened to them."

The news follows an announcement in December that additional funding had been allocated to the state's already over-budget solar panel rebate scheme after the treasurer's mid-year economic review.

Despite a cap being placed on the program in August, a further $46 million in funding was to be used over the next three years, bringing the total cost of the initiative to $180 million – six times more than the original estimate.

Treasurer Christian Porter used the mid-year review to announce an audit to determine whether any of the applications received in the months of May and June were incorrectly approved.

"The suspicion that we have in Treasury is that there are applications that said they met the requirements, but didn't," Mr Porter told WA Today (December 29).

"There's been a cost overrun, there clearly has been … but the money is not wasted, the money has been spent delivering clean electricity and incentivising the product of photovoltaics."

Posted by Bob Dawson – News editor

All solar power news categories

Government Rebate & Regulations
Solar Power & Technology


More Government Rebate & Regulations

The election that could cast a deep shadow on solar power
This just in: You are nothing but a means to profit for big utilities and NSW government
The Tongans know a bad solar deal when they see one
Solar feed-in tariffs: Who's getting screwed?
Australian government at a solar power crossroads
WA government admits fault in solar rebate debacle
WA Government saves millions while solar customers are up in arms
SA's solar feed-in scheme costs to rise higher
CEC slams FIT deregulation in SA
Carbon tax announcement 'just a ripple'
Industry reactions to Rudd carbon price changes
New government 'must be made aware of renewable achievements'
Solar features prominently in ARENA funding plans
Calling all solar panel installers - 'save clean technology grants'
Manufacturers set to see bright side of economic slump?
Coalition government 'could spell bad news for solar'
'Not FIT for purpose' - ACT government on tariffs
QLD government under fire for negative solar stance
China's first trading emissions scheme begins
Details of the Queensland solar controversy
Solar panel reprieve for Queensland
Tasmania's solar future no longer too uncertain
Renewable energy funding on the brink
The Clean Energy Council calls for more renewables
Reactions to renewable energy decisions from the 2013-14 federal budget
Federal budget announcement offers a mixed bag
The impact of the carbon tax
Govt energy efficiency success
Renewable Energy Target achievements
New funding for solar panels
Australia and China further carbon cutting collaboration
Examining Australia's environmental efforts
Renewable Energy Target survives its review
Solar powered cinema a possibility
New licensing will make it easier for solar installers to work across states
Renewable recommendations for WA
Renewable energy target hangs in the balance
Deadline approaching for QLD PV installations under 44 cent solar tariff
Electricity emissions down since carbon tax introduced
Reactions to RET review final report mixed
CCA: RET on track to achieve goals
Experts slam Solar Credits decision
Government support 'needed for commercial solar development'
Shadow ministers slam ARENA withdrawal
Industry expert lauds solar PV impact
Australian Solar Council chief hits back at CCA review suggestion
Australian Solar Council debuts solar electorate map
CCA report 'victory for common sense'
Productivity Commission draft 'good for solar'
SA solar campaign reaches government level
 To get your quotes, please enter your postcode: