STATE BUDGET — ELECTRICITY CREDIT —
HORIZON POWER
500. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I
refer to the Premier's media statement of Thursday, 12 May 2022, titled
''Strong surplus delivers all WA households a $400 electricity credit'', and to remote
Aboriginal communities where individuals have to purchase prepaid power
cards from their local store.
(1) How will the $400 credit be
provided to individuals who have to purchase prepaid power cards?
(2) If there is a
provision to provide this $400 credit to Aboriginal households using prepaid
power cards, how will this information be provided to the communities?
(3) If there is
no provision to provide the $400 credit to Aboriginal households using prepaid
power cards, why not?
(4) If there is
no provision to provide this credit to Aboriginal households using prepaid
power cards, will this now be rectified?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The $400 household electricity credit will be
automatically applied as a credit on all eligible Horizon Power
accounts, including those using its prepaid products. This is consistent with
the delivery of the $600 HEC in 2020. Top-up cards are no longer used for
prepaid accounts; instead, any payments are directly added to accounts,
providing up-to-date balance information for customers.
(2) Horizon Power is communicating directly with its
customers regarding the HEC, including through printed materials in communities with prepaid meters.
Information about the HEC will be provided to all points of sale for prepaid
accounts. I note that the household electricity credit does not commence until
1 July 2022.
(3)–(4) Not applicable.