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Households need help to manage the transition to emissions trading

ASX/Media Releases

15 Jul 2008

In anticipation of the Government’s Green Paper to be delivered this week, Origin Energy has reinforced the importance of support for Australian households with the Government’s introduction of an emissions trading scheme.

“As we look at the various options for reducing Australia’s carbon footprint, we need to seriously consider the impact on Australian households and how families will adjust to increased energy costs under an emissions trading scheme,” said Karen Moses, Origin Energy Chief Operating Officer.

“As Australia’s number one green energy provider, Origin supports plans to introduce a broad-based and comprehensive emissions trading scheme to help deliver much needed emissions reductions for Australia,” she said.

Origin strongly endorses the recommendation of the Draft Report of the Garnaut Review that assistance should be provided to households, particularly those suffering financial hardship, through revenue raised from auctioning carbon permits under an emissions trading scheme.

“While we are committed to a comprehensive emissions trading scheme being implemented in Australia we are aware that this will come with increased costs to businesses – including ours – as well as to households,” said Ms Moses.

“To navigate this transition, households will look to the Government and industry for support.”

Origin believes that it has a role to play in managing this transition by empowering households with information to help them understand their energy usage and by offering products to help households reduce their carbon footprint (household emissions).

In addition to financial support, Origin believes that some of the strain households will feel can be mitigated by changing the patterns of energy use around the home.

“We offer a comprehensive energy efficiency advice service to our customers to help them reduce their carbon footprint both at home and in the office,” she said.

Origin looks forward to seeing the provisions set out in the Green Paper to assist households.

Origin delivers its own program to assist households suffering financial pressure by offering payment solutions to customers, energy efficiency advice and household energy audits.

“We are dedicated to keep developing our low-carbon energy generation capacity into the future as well as to helping our consumers adjust to this new environment. We are working to increase the low carbon solutions we offer our customers which includes installing energy efficient appliances, solar panel systems, both gas and solar hot water systems and water tanks,” s aid Ms Moses.

Media – Origin Energy
Michelle Hindson
Acting General Manager, Corporate Communications
Ph: 02 8345 5217
Mobile: 0414 207 049

For Investors – Origin Energy
Angus Guthrie
Manager Investor Relations
Ph: 02 8345 5558
Mobile: 0417 864 255

About Origin Energy
Origin Energy is Australasia’s leading integrated energy company focused on gas and oil exploration and production, power generation and energy retailing. Listed in the ASX top 50 the company has over 3,500 employees, is the largest holder of gas reserves in eastern Australia and is the second largest energy retailer in Australia, servicing over 3 million electricity, natural gas and LPG accounts. Origin’s strategic positioning and portfolio of assets provides flexibility, stability and significant opportunities for growth in the ever changing energy industry. Origin is also the major shareholder in Contact Energy of New Zealand. The company has a strong focus on ensuring the sustainability of its operations and in 2007 the company received the Ethical Investor 2007 Sustainable Company of the Year award.