Ellis introduces Bill to compensate for extended power outages

Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis has used the first sitting week back from the winter break to introduce a Private Members Bill that seeks to better compensate households and businesses for extended power outages.

This action follows on from the power outage of 14 March 2025 that lasted in the vicinity of 20 hours and caused significant financial loss for thousands of consumers across the Yorke Peninsula, through no fault of their own.

The legislation – the National Energy Retail Law (Small Compensation Claims Regime) Amendment Bill 2025 -- amends the National Energy Retail Law (South Australia) Act 2011 to recognise any unplanned supply interruption of more than 8 hours attributable to a transmission or distribution network service provider as a claimable incident under the existing Small Claims Compensation Scheme.

“Currently, the Small Claims Compensation Scheme only compensates for loss attributed to voltage variation,” Mr Ellis said.

“I can’t think of any good reason why loss from ‘voltage variation’ would be compensable but loss from extended unplanned power outages would not.

“If you are a small business or a household which has lost money on account of an electrical fault then in the interest of fairness and accountability you are just as entitled to compensation as someone who has had a voltage variation.

“What is the difference for a power consumer if they lose their stock or have equipment damaged as a result of a surge or an outage?”

Mr Ellis has taken steps to introduce this Private Members Bill because of complete inaction from the Government and Opposition.

“I spoke on this topic in the chamber in March and again in April and will not let this one go.

“I suspect there this is a view on North Terrace that regional issues will eventually go away if they’re ignored long enough.

“It is a basic human right in 2025 to have a consistent power supply and we were let down badly in March. We pay the highest prices in the world and should receive a reliable service.”

Mr Ellis will now be seeking feedback and input on the Bill.

“With the introduction of this Bill today, I now welcome all feedback from providers, community, the Government and the Opposition”, Mr Ellis said.

“I also pre-emptively refute any argument from power companies that this scheme will necessitate power bill rises.

“We already pay the highest prices in the world and should receive a reliable service."