STATE-owned energy retailer Aurora came under the microscope at government business scrutiny hearings in Hobart on Wednesday morning.
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In its first full year of being a retail arm only, the company made a profit of $31.5 million, and reduced operating costs by $9 million.
Opposition Leader Bryan Green came out swinging early on, asking Energy Minister Matthew Groom whether he could look Aurora management in the eyes and apologise for a ''botched'' sale process of the company's customer list.
Mr Green said Mr Groom was ''venomous and hateful'' towards Aurora in opposition.
''Your process was botched, yes,'' Mr Groom replied.
''You're a very bitter person,'' he said.
Mr Groom said the government was currently not proceeding with the sale of Aurora's customer list, but the sale remained open.
''We will only do so in circumstances that are in the best interests of Tasmanians,'' Mr Groom said.
Mr Groom said the ''threat of competition'' had seen Aurora's operations improve.
''It's not by accident that improvements have been made,'' Mr Groom said.
Mr Green said after nearly two years in government the Liberals had done nothing to stimulate competition to put downward pressure on power prices.
