SEC and Electricity
Energy prices and supply, the state-owned SEC, the Victorian Default Offer, and the contest over renewables/gas/coal/nuclear.
What it is
nergy prices and supply, the state-owned SEC, the Victorian Default Offer, and the contest over renewables/gas/coal/nuclear. Labor: keep VNI West, expand SEC, VDO cuts. Coalition: scrap VNI West, more gas, extend coal, "technologically agnostic" firm-generation auction. One Nation: scrap net-zero, cancel VNI West/WRL, reverse gas ban, repeal nuclear ban, explore new coal/nuclear (1(;2 ;3 ).
Evidence
VDO fell 5% (households -$84) and 6% (small business -$241) from 1 July 2026 (4); SEC "Easy Electric" claims savings up to $1,900-2,230/yr, with $303m expansion and >1GW portfolio (5). Energy Minister Symes: Coalition/One Nation plans will lift bills "astronomically" (6); modelling suggests VNI West cancellation adds ~$500/yr (7). FY2025-26 mix: coal 52.5%, renewables 45.1%, gas 2.4%; Yallourn (14.8% of supply) closes 2028 (1).
Where it bites
Latrobe Valley/Gippsland (Yallourn, coal jobs), Wimmera/western Victoria (VNI West, renewable energy zones), metro (solar parks, SEC savings).
Who owns it
Labor owns lower bills/VDO and renewables; Coalition and One Nation own VNI West opposition and gas/coal/nuclear — a straight regional-vs-metro trade-off. Experts warn the opposition's plan is "fanciful" on gas supply (1).
- ABC News — Labor and the Coalition offer two very different plans for Victoria's energy supply (2026-08-23) ↩
- ABC News — One Nation provides energy policy preview in Marnoo ahead of formal launch at Yallourn on Monday (2026-08-30) ↩
- ABC News — One Nation pledges law-and-order investment while taking axe to SRL, Treaty and climate policies (2026-10-03) ↩
- Essential Services Commission (Victoria) — Regulator reduces Victorian default electricity prices (2026-05-25) ↩
- Premier of Victoria — The SEC is powering up and helping you save (2026-05-26) ↩
- Australian Financial Review — Energy bills will rise 'astronomically' under One Nation, Coalition (2026-09-14) ↩
- Brisbane Times / The Age — Power struggle: Coalition pledge to scrap towers sparks bill warning (2026-08-22) ↩
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