News of power rationing talks with big industry, Hydro storage levels down to 19 per cent, Basslink off line until March, diesel generators being imported to prop up the power grid, and that we were importing 40 per cent of our power needs across the Basslink cable prior to it breaking down, give cause for concern.

That the Basslink cable fault is still illusive is cause for even greater concern. Energy Minister Matthew Groom should give a full breakdown on what power is being accessed, from where and how much is it costing.

We have so much in the way of diversified power - hydro, Basslink, natural gas, Tamar Valley Power Station, wind power and even solar as well as an uptake from industry when we are desperate, and still we are vulnerable.

Although much of it is nature based, this is a poor signal for potential investors, on how we manage our energy usage. For years we were able to boast a stable supply, at cheap rates for major industrial users.

There are many questions to be answered. Hydro ran down its storages to export power because the carbon tax made a killing for us on the energy market and helped prop up very average state budgets.

How prudent was this? Why did Hydro want to sell the Tamar Valley Power Station when it was bought in 2009 to avoid precisely what we are facing; power rationing?

How could Basslink suffer such a catastrophic failure, and is this related in any way to the excessive use leading up to the failure?

There are many questions. No doubt some can be easily answered, but we would prefer an inquiry some time this year, to make sure we can avoid future perfect storms.