Electricity Trust of South Australia

Wheadon in the meantime created plans for a new coal-fired power station on the corner of Grenfell Street and East Terrace, with the main buildings fronting Grenfell Street designed by South Australian architect Alfred Wells in a single-storey design.

[5] The main building of the old power station (including the offices facing Grenfell Street) remained in the ownership of the company, being leased out for use as a TAFE college for some time.

[9] In 1989 the building was acquired by the state and federal governments for the creation of Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute.

[4] The boilers in the Osborne station initially used black coal imported from New South Wales, which, until 1946, held a monopoly over electricity supplies in Adelaide.

Playford responded by requesting Commonwealth funds to nationalise the company, which was provided by Labor Prime Minister Ben Chifley.

[4] The LCL suffered a split in its ranks because of the nationalisation, and the state legislation passed only with the support of ALP and independent members of parliament.

The use of large excavating machines and efficient mining equipment at Leigh Creek, together with the rebuilding of a railway line between Leigh Creek and Port Augusta by the Commonwealth Railways, resulted in economic production and delivery of coal to the power station.

However, after being re-elected, the government proceeded with privatisation plans citing the dire financial situation, with new information such as a warning from the State Auditor General and the introduction of the Australian National Electricity Market.

Following the 1997 state election, the Olsen Liberal government needed the support of an additional two non-Liberal upper house members to pass legislation, with the Australian Democrats retaining the balance of power on three seats.

However, defectors from Labor in the upper house, Terry Cameron and Trevor Crothers, brought independent member Nick Xenophon in to play.

[16] The privatisation involved the disaggregation of the vertically integrated business, with the generation, transmission, distribution and retail assets taken up by distinct investors.

Also, the Government introduced a regime of industry regulation, calculated to ensure that the public interest was protected and that safety standards are maintained.

[citation needed] Although the state's fiscal situation was substantially improved with funds derived from the sell-off, debate continued as to whether ETSA's privatisation has been to the benefit of the South Australian community.

It was estimated that with higher electricity prices, the net loss from ETSA would total between $2 and 3 billion over a ten-year period.

[17] ETSA participated in the post-war growth and industrialisation of the South Australian economy, including providing modern and reliable power for regional areas.

[18][19] With the closure of South Australia’s coal plants there was a rapid increase in solar and wind energy, backed by large-scale batteries.