VIC: Power restrictions lifted

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2000
VIC: Power restrictions lifted

MELBOURNE, Feb 11 AAP - Victorian power restrictions were lifted today as Premier Steve
Bracks expressed anger over the sale of excess power to New South Wales and the fact that
he was not informed.

Meanwhile, talks to end the dispute between Yallourn Energy and unions which had forced
the closure of the Yallourn power plant were making progress.

Electrical Trades Union secretary Dean Mighell said unions had secured agreements with
Yallourn Energy over compensation for lost shift entitlements and increased wages.

Mr Mighell said the key outstanding issue of the use of contractors by Yallourn Energy
was still to be resolved but he said talks had been positive.

A cool change which swept across Victoria overnight would reduce demand on power supply,
allowing the government to end restrictions on users between 1pm and 7pm since Monday.

Mr Bracks said restrictions were unlikely next week, despite forecasts of temperatures
in the 30s, and the government would work to avoid a similar situation in the future.

He was angry that the national power authority, the National Electricity Market Management
Company (NEMMCO), had not told the government of the sale of surplus power to NSW earlier
in the week.

The first he heard of it was on the ABC's 7.30 Report last night which revealed that
"a small amount" of surplus power was sold to NSW while Victorians were enduring restrictions.

"I'm very distressed and disturbed about it," Mr Bracks said.

"All I'm doing is asking to be informed. I think that's reasonable for a state premier
and for a state government and a cabinet ..."

Mr Bracks defended the government's decision to impose restrictions, saying the state
would have otherwise faced blackouts.

And he criticised the privatised power system created by the Kennett government.

"This privatised power system we've inherited rewards private companies with profits
at the expense of the community who are under restraint," he said.

But Yallourn Energy chief executive Mike Johnston said the surplus power sold to NSW
would not have been enough to meet demand in Victoria.

Yallourn Energy was now operating at almost 50 per cent capacity while the Hazelwood
B generator, which failed last week, had been repaired.

"I want to also absolutely thank Victorians for the restraint they've shown in complying
pretty well to the letter of the law with the restrictions," Mr Bracks told reporters.

"I understand the pain and difficulty that they've gone through."

AAP ljm/tsc/jlw/lw/bwl

KEYWORD: YALLOURN SECOND DAYLEAD

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