Master Electricians Australia (MEA) is urging the South Australian Labor Government to engage local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to assist in delivering what will be the world’s largest virtual power plant, saying it will help drive the local economy.

The South Australian Government has announced that it is partnering with Elon Musk’s Tesla to install a minimum 50,000 solar panels and batteries in a bid to cut power prices.

MEA CEO Malcolm Richards said the scheme was a good initiative and had the potential to stimulate the local economy.

“MEA has long said that Australia is on the verge of a battery boom and that it is the sort of technology we need to be looking at to ensure power is both reliable and affordable,” Mr Richards said.

“The scheme announced yesterday by the South Australian Government is a good one, but the government now needs to reach out to local SME contractors to assist in delivering the program.

“This presents a great opportunity to turbo drive the local economy in South Australia and we urge the Government to reach out to the local industry to install the 50,000 solar panels and batteries.

“This program has the potential to deliver on two fronts – cutting power prices for ordinary South Australians and providing work for South Australian sparkies to deliver this ambitious project.”

Under the scheme all 50,000 solar systems and batteries will be delivered free of charge and analysis by Frontier Economics indicates that participating households will see their electricity bills slashed by 30 per cent.

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Malcolm Richards is available for interview. Please phone The SAS Group on 07 3221 9222 or 0467 792 013.