[Greens-Media] Power need forecasts kick hole in case for sell-off and new stations

[John Kaye]

Power need forecasts kick hole in case for sell-off and new stations
 
Media release: 1 September 2010
 
The annual forecast of electricity supply and demand issued by the Australian Energy Market Operator shows yet again that NSW does not need new coal-fired power stations or privatisation to keep the lights on, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye. ('Southern states better off than Queensland in power forecast', SMH Business Day 1 September p.3, http://bit.ly/smh100901)
 
Dr Kaye said: "While the Keneally government blunders ahead with electricity privatisation in order to build new baseload generators, the latest forecast from the body in charge of the national grid shows that the state will be well provided with supply capacity for the foreseeable future.
 
"For the third year running, the forecast pushes the date of shortages of supply off by another 12 months.
 
"The Keneally government is clinging to the Owen Inquiry report which has now been thoroughly discredited.
 
"Based on the 2007 forecast of relatively small shortages by 2013-14, Professor Owen erroneously argued  the lights would go out without new baseload power stations which could not be built without selling the generators and retailers to the private sector.
 
"The last three years of forecasts show that the shortage continues to recede into the future. 
 
"The Market Operator is predicting that the existing generators will handle demand until  2016-17.
 
"Energy management and efficiency programs can cost effectively keep the lights after that date.
 
"Treasurer Eric Roozendaal is wedded to the power sell-off scheme despite the justification being cut to pieces.
 
"It is time the NSW government faced reality and  abandoned plans for the new baseload power stations and its electricity privatisation scheme. 
 
"If they continue down this path, power bills will rise even further and the state will be unable to rein in its greenhouse gas emissions," Dr Kaye said. 
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: john.kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000