Parliamentary Questions

HORIZON POWER — AIR CONDITIONING REBATE

1212. Hon WILSON TUCKER to the minister representing the Minister for Energy:

I refer to the air conditioning rebate for eligible households in areas of high heat discomfort.

(1) How is an area of high heat discomfort defined, and what are these areas?

(2) What is the average rebate annually, and how is it calculated?

(3) Across Horizon Power's network, how many residential customers receive the rebate in each service region?

Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:

I thank the member for the question. The following information has been provided by the Minister for Energy.

(1) The air conditioning rebate is delivered by Horizon Power and Revenue WA on behalf of the Department of Finance. The Department of Finance defines an area of high heat discomfort as one that is located north of the twenty-sixth parallel of south latitude and/or north of the 50-day relative strain index line. The 50-day relative strain index identifies whether 50 days of discomfort are caused by climatic variables in one year. This is calculated through a relative strain index formula, which takes into account temperature, humidity, air movement, metabolic heat rate, net radiation and insulation of clothing. I table an appendix listing the eligible towns.

[See paper 1003.]

(2) In the 2020–21 financial year the average payment made was $340.42. The total value of the payment varies according to location. The monthly value of the subsidy payment is currently $65.05. The total value of the payment is calculated by multiplying the monthly subsidy by the number of eligible months for the location of the household, which is included in the tabled paper.

(3) Across Horizon Power's network, the following residential customers receive the air conditioning rebate. There is a table that I seek leave to have incorporated into Hansard.