1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: Together due to see, we have got new rules that 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:05,080 Speaker 1: are being touted as bringing down our power bills. They're 3 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: going to force the electricity gen tailors to sell power 4 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: to their retail arms at the same rate that they 5 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: sell power to everyone else, bringing basically banning discounts to themselves. 6 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: Simon Watts is the energy minister Home Minister. 7 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 2: Good a here, how are you? 8 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:19,600 Speaker 1: I'm well, thank you. Won't this actually make the power 9 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: that they provide more expensive because they're charging themselves more. 10 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:26,639 Speaker 3: No, the purpose of the changes is to mean that 11 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 3: when they they aren't going to be able to sell 12 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 3: it to themselves at a cheaper rate than what they 13 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:35,479 Speaker 3: provide it to other independent players. What we've heard from 14 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,160 Speaker 3: a number of participants in the market is is that 15 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 3: you know the fact that these big gen tailors can 16 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,520 Speaker 3: in effect cross subsidize themselves means that the smaller players 17 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:48,479 Speaker 3: aren't getting a fair deal. These rules will stop them 18 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 3: doing that and as a result we'll see more competition. 19 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 3: And more competition in the market means downward pressure on prices, 20 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 3: which is a major driver of cost of living at 21 00:00:57,120 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 3: the moment. 22 00:00:57,520 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: This announcement today this come about as a result of 23 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: meeting last night. 24 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 2: We've had a number of discussions. 25 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 3: Actually, as Minister, I announced that we're going to do 26 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 3: this work probably four weeks into my role, and as 27 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:13,759 Speaker 3: a result of announcements today we're basically doing it. 28 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 2: So you know, it's an important step. 29 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: Ignored my question as if I didn't answer, no, I did. 30 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 1: Is this announcement today as a result of the meeting 31 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 1: last night? Did you talk about it at the meeting 32 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: last night? 33 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:27,400 Speaker 2: Well, I have a lot of meetings. I'm a parliamental tennis. 34 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 2: Still ignoring my minister. 35 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, now listen, I mean, I you know whatever, This 36 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 1: is fine that you made this announcement. This is not 37 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: going to fix the electricity market. If you're having meetings 38 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 1: like the one you had last night, where's the actual plan. 39 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 1: We're two winters in with you guys. 40 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 3: It is important that we take the steps that we're 41 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 3: taking around improving competition and particularly around the gene Taylor's. 42 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 3: We said we were going to do that and what 43 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 3: we're doing today is a become on. 44 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 1: But Simon, you know, and I appreciate that you're making 45 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: an effort, but you know, and I know that you're 46 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: tinkering here right. You need to do something massive to 47 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:01,639 Speaker 1: fix the electricity market. Where is that plan? 48 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 3: So that plan is currently being considered by cabinet and 49 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 3: we will we make it. 50 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,920 Speaker 1: Is it being considered? Is it really being considered by cabinet? 51 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 2: It is going to be considered in the coming week. 52 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 1: Hold on, is it dinner or is it because you 53 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: said to me before, it is being considered by cabinet. 54 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: It is not being considered by cabinet? Is it? 55 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 2: It will be considered by cabinet? 56 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 1: Yes, Okay, how long is it going to take you 57 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 1: to come You haven't got a plan at the minute, 58 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:29,799 Speaker 1: so how long is it going to take you to 59 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: come up with this plan. 60 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 3: We're currently working through the plan and the decision and 61 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 3: Cabinet will consider that in short order, and as I've 62 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 3: said previously, I expect to make announcements of that in September. 63 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,399 Speaker 1: My frustration about this is Simon that what is going 64 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: on with electricity and energy in this country is one 65 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: of the biggest problems that we are facing, to the 66 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 1: point of it being a crisis. We are two winters 67 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 1: in with you guys, and we're about to go into 68 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 1: a third in a few months time, and there is 69 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:58,080 Speaker 1: no plan. So are you going to have a plan 70 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 1: for something as big as this before we go into 71 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: the next winter with. 72 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 3: You, we're currently working on a plan to deal with 73 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 3: the root cause issues that we're facing in the energy. 74 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 1: Market, and will we have it before very. 75 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 3: Yes, we will have that before next winter because we're 76 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 3: working through that. But as you know, this is a 77 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 3: complex and challenging area. I know that people want this yesterday, 78 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 3: but we are working through it very methodically to make 79 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 3: sure that we get it right. If we do something, 80 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 3: we need to make sure it deliversy outcomes that have 81 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:30,639 Speaker 3: been identified, and that is a major focus and priority 82 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 3: for me. 83 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: I think you're being unfair saying we wanted it yesterday, 84 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 1: but this is the second winter with you guys like 85 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: you guys, it's not I mean, I don't think that 86 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: that people asking for a plan now is being unreasonable. 87 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 1: I think probably your delays have been unreasonable, don't you think. 88 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 2: I don't think it's unreasonable. 89 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 3: I think it's to acknowledge the fact that actually the 90 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 3: solutions to the problems are complex and are challenging, and 91 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 3: so we've got to work through that in a thoughtful manner. 92 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 1: But you know what you've got. You commissioned here's the problem. 93 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 1: You commissioned the Frontier report. You have got the Frontier 94 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: Reports sitting on your desk. It has been on your 95 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: desk for months and you've done nothing with it. So 96 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 1: when's that coming out? 97 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 3: Well, no, I don't agree that we've done nothing with it. 98 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 3: We're working through how you would turn those recommendations into 99 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 3: an implementation plan to actually action and be sure that 100 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 3: that will derive the outcomes. That takes time and it 101 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:19,279 Speaker 3: takes a number of experts. 102 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 2: To be able to work through that. 103 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: When's that reports coming out? 104 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:26,040 Speaker 3: We'll be publishing that when we make announcements following Cabinet's decisions, 105 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 3: which I expect will be in September. 106 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: Excellent. Hey, thank you very much, Simon. I appreciate your time. 107 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: That's Simon. What's the Energy Minister? 108 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 2: For more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive. Listen live to 109 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 2: news talks. 110 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 3: The'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast 111 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:40,240 Speaker 3: on iHeartRadio.