The government has dismissed as “reckless fear-mongering” concerns by Labor about Tasmania’s energy storage levels.
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Labor energy spokesman David O’Byrne said Energy Minister Guy Barnett, should explain why Tasmania’s water storages had fallen “below safe management levels for the first time since the energy crisis”.
He said it was concerning that after a period of prolonged dry and bushfire conditions, Hydro Tasmania had not been more conservative with water management.
“Hydro Tasmania has been exporting heavily to chase profits from energy sales to the mainland, without apparent consideration for the new prudent water management level,” Mr O’Byrne said.
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“Astonishingly, the Tamar Valley Power Station is now running to preserve water storages, just a few years after the Liberals claimed it wasn’t needed for energy security.
“The Liberals have clearly learned nothing from the 2016 energy crisis and are continuing to put dividends in front of energy security.”
Mr Barnett said Mr O'Byrne’s comments proved he had "learnt nothing about water storage levels since running them to the ground during the Labor-Green Government disaster".
“As of February 11, storage levels are at 34.2%, which allows Hydro Tasmania to easily maintain supply to meet Tasmania’s demand for electricity," he said.
"These levels put Tasmania in a comfortable position, more than 10 per cent above the high reliability level, despite the dry weather."
He said at no time had Tasmania’s water storage levels been below safe levels.
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