Western Australia’s Cook Labor Government has released an energy affordability plan that includes a target for renewables to account for 75% of electricity generation on the Southwest Interconnected System (SWIS) by the 2030-31 financial year.
The Plan for Affordable Energy aims to limit electricity price increases for businesses while supporting the state’s transition away from coal-fired power generation, which is scheduled to be retired by 2030.
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Modelling by the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification, assured by Boston Consulting Group, indicates that industrial electricity costs could rise by 89% by 2032 without the proposed measures.
The plan includes the AU$150 million (US$98 million) Made in WA Energy Affordability Investment Program, which is open for applications. The programme will offer low-interest loans of up to AU$15 million to manufacturers installing solar and battery systems or upgrading equipment to take advantage of lower-cost energy.
“Every Western Australian with rooftop solar knows that renewable energy is the cheapest form of energy. Our Plan for Affordable Energy is about getting more renewables onto the grid, so that all Western Australians can benefit from secure, more affordable energy,” said Cook.
“Our plan is about delivering affordable, reliable, Made in WA energy that will power the next generation of economic growth and job creation. By delivering more renewable energy backed by battery storage and flexible WA gas, we’re building a State of Energy and putting downward pressure on power prices.”
Other measures include continued support for household solar, batteries and electric vehicles, alongside support for the state’s domestic gas reservation policy and a future gas security strategy. The government also plans transitional measures to prevent consumers from overpaying for reserve capacity.
The government said the plan was developed in response to industry feedback on rising energy costs associated with ageing coal-fired power stations and changing energy markets. It is designed to increase renewable generation alongside battery storage and flexible gas-fired generation.
Additionally, Cook said the government would build on its Residential Battery Scheme by offering low-interest loans to Western Australian manufacturers to install solar, battery storage and energy-efficient equipment to help reduce energy costs while renewable generation expands.
He added that keeping energy affordable for manufacturers was important not only for supporting local manufacturing jobs but also for lowering the cost of WA-made goods, including food, and easing cost-of-living pressures on households.
Western Australia has increased renewables’ share of its energy mix from 14% in 2017 to 40% in 2025, according to the government. It has also invested AU$2.5 billion in Clean Energy Link transmission infrastructure and delivered more than 1,400MW of grid-scale battery storage.
The plan is intended to support the state’s energy transition while maintaining electricity reliability and limiting costs for households and businesses as state-owned coal-fired generation is phased out.
