Overview

The Remote Areas Energy Supplies (RAES) subsidy scheme is a Government-funded program with two major objectives:

1. the provision of a reliable and quality electricity supply to remote off grid communities in South Australia where the provision of such electricity would not be commercially viable.
2. the provision of a subsidy to off grid communities such that the cost of reasonable quantities of electricity is affordable.

In 1995 the management and administration of the RAES Scheme was transferred to the Office of Energy Policy (now Energy Division). Since then a capital works program and new operational arrangements has greatly increased the availability and reliability of power generation and distribution in remote areas of South Australia.

The Scheme presently consists of nine power stations overseen by Energy Division using contracted service providers. The District Council of Coober Pedy and two private operators (Andamooka and Yunta) receive a subsidy under the Scheme based on their annual reporting. Cockburn is also subsidised under the scheme and is supplied from NSW. The subsidy is paid as the difference between the cost of power generation and the revenue received from electricity customers provided this can be accommodated within overall budgetary constraints.

21 kW of photovoltaic panels were added to the Parachilna site in August 2002. This renewable energy now augments the energy provided by the diesel generators at Parachilna.  For more information, see the Parachilna Power Station webpage.

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Locations

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Tariffs

The RAES subsidy is shared among various remote area communities by the following means:

• A base tariff is maintained at the grid price plus 10% for domestic customers. An increasing tariff reflects the real cost of production for commercial customers and those domestic customers who consume above the base allowance.
• Similar tariffs are applied to customers of the District Council of Coober Pedy, the private operations of Yunta and Andamooka. These operators receive an annual subsidy.
• Tariff schedules are approved by the Minister for Energy.

RAES Tariff excluding Coober Pedy
Effective from 1 Jan 2003
Inclusive of GST

RAES Tariff for Coober Pedy
Effective from 1 Jan 2003
Inclusive of GST

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