The Carroll Labor Government’s publicly owned SEC is slashing electricity bills for Victorian public schools.
The SEC has already found an estimated $440,000 in annual savings across 21 schools by reviewing their electricity network charges and moving them onto better tariffs.
Schools are saving thousands of dollars each year, freeing up funds to improve schools and support students.
The biggest savings include $75,000 a year at Wulerrp Secondary College, more than $64,000 at Balambalam Primary School in Clyde North and $62,000 at Kuyim Primary School in Pakenham.
The SEC found some schools were paying for more electricity network capacity than they needed, while others were on tariffs that did not suit how they used power.
It worked with electricity distributors to reduce unnecessary charges and move schools onto better tariffs.
Network charges make up around 45 per cent of an electricity bill on average, meaning getting schools onto the right tariff can deliver significant savings.
Now the SEC is taking the work statewide, launching a new Network Tariff Optimisation Tool to identify potential savings across thousands of government sites at once.
Around 1,400 Victorian government schools are currently having their network tariffs reviewed, helping find more savings that can be invested back into schools.
The SEC is supplying 100 per cent renewable electricity to 4,400 Victorian government sites and operations.
Labor brought back the SEC after it was sold off by the Kennett Liberal Government, putting a publicly owned energy company back to work for Victorians.
While Labor is delivering more renewable energy to bring down power bills, Jess Wilson’s One Nation-Liberal Coalition wants to rip up renewable projects – risking higher bills and blackouts.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy and Resources Jaclyn Symes
“Our publicly owned SEC is saving schools hundreds of thousands of dollars on their power bills – with those savings going back into improving our schools and supporting students.”
“The Liberals sold off the SEC under Jeff Kennett, and they’ll do it again – ripping up renewable energy projects and putting Victorians at risk of higher power bills and blackouts.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Education Gabrielle Williams
“Every dollar we save schools on their power bills is money they can put towards better classrooms, more resources and giving Victorian kids a great education.”