RESIDENTS in the remote South Australian settlement of Innamincka will have free electricity for the rest of their lives.
The small Outback town, 1065km northeast of Adelaide, has always relied on expensive diesel generators, which are switched off for up to 10 hours a day because of high costs.
But at the end of this year, free geothermal technology will power the town.
Emerging power company Geodynamics – which is developing hot rock technology in Innamincka – declared it would trial the technology at the town before looking to expand its operations across the state and throughout Australia.
Geodynamics executive director Doone Wyborn has promised to eliminate the annual $200,000 power bill for Innamincka's 12 permanent residents for the life of the hot rocks mine, likely to be at least 50 years.
"By the end of this year, we expect to have a one megawatt power station up and running which will provide Innamincka with electricity," he said.
"We are providing that to the existing population of the town for free for as long as it runs."
Innamincka resident John Osborne, 70, said he spent about $9000 running three generators for his home each year.
He said the town was excited about the move and hopes it will boost tourism, which has continued to decline since the 1980s.
"There will be big savings for everybody," said Mr Osborne, who maintains the town's infrastructure.
"It may help to increase the population of the town which has been a big problem."
Premier Mike Rann, who visited the Geodynamics operation during the weekend, said the move would make the legendary Outback tourist town even more well known.
"Innamincka is one of the iconic locations so it will be on the map big time because we are talking about this being the world centre for emission free geothermal energy," he said.
"They are going to go to totally free power so that will be a big boost for the residents and a big boost for tourists.
"I reckon there will be a big party in the Innamincka pub the night the free power is turned on."
