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In stark contrast to last year’s costly energy crisis, Tasmania was in an excellent position to manage energy requirements into the future, Energy Minister Matthew Groom told the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia.

Mr Groom delivered the keynote speech at last month’s CEDA conference in Hobart, outlining the measures the state had taken to protect Tasmanians from the high wholesale prices being experienced nationally.

“We have acted decisively to intervene and cap power price increases for regulated customers, which will result in a saving of around $300 for the average Tasmanian household,” he said.

So in Tasmania, while regulated prices will increase by around two per cent from the 1st of July, mainland customers in the ACT, SA and NSW will experience price increases of around 16 to 20 per cent.

“This is an important outcome in mitigating cost of living pressures for Tasmanians.”

Just a month after the Federal Government announced studies into Tasmania’s future as the “battery” to power the nation with new pumped Hydro projects, Mr Groom said the government was committed to seeing the state cement its reputation as the country’s renewable energy powerhouse.

“We recently announced the $300 million Wild Cattle Hill wind farm that will add nearly 50 per cent to the existing wind generation in Tasmania and create up to 150 jobs during construction. Further wind projects such as the Granville Harbour proposal are currently being progressed and I look forward to having more to say about this soon.”

Aurora Energy and Goldwind have reached an in-principle agreement for the 49-turbine wind farm in the Central Highlands, with work expected to start on site as early as September.

The government expects the wind farm to be complete by 2020 and would generate 144 MW –  enough to power over 60,000 homes.

The Granville Harbour proposal is still in the negotiation stage but involves a $270 million project to provide 99 megawatts of power.