One-fifth of Victoria's new energy generation will come from the renewables-only State Electricity Commission by 2035.
Responding to questions about re-establishing the electricity commission to build renewable energy projects in Victoria, Energy Minster Lily D'Ambrosio told the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee that projects would contribute roughly 4.5 gigawatts of the 25 gigawatts of new energy capacity added to the grid by 2035.
The Nationals MP for the coal heartland of Gippsland, Danny O'Brien, questioned whether it was enough to sway prices.
"So you'll be like a fifth of the new generation?" Mr O'Brien asked.
"So not even close to dominating the landscape, literally a fifth. How's that going to make any difference in prices going forward?"
Ms D'Ambrosio denied Mr O'Brien's assertion.
"Well, it will make a lot of difference, because the fact is ... we can't do any of this alone," Ms D'Ambrosio told the panel.
"The more we can actually see downward pressure on people's power bills ... that is really critical."
She confirmed that while the revamped SEC could potentially become an energy retailer, there was no intention for it to enter transmission and distribution.
Mr O'Brien also quizzed the minister and interim SEC chief executive Chris Miller about a planned office in Morwell, the heart of Victorian coal-fired energy generation for decades.
"The mandate we've been given is to establish a presence in Morwell," Mr Miller told the panel.
The SEC's implementation office is currently on Nicholson St in East Melbourne, with 29 staff as of April 30.
Mr Miller said it has received initial seed capital of $1 billion to establish the commission.
Responding to a question from Greens MP Ellen Sandell, Ms D'Ambrosio confirmed the SEC would only be investing in renewable energy projects and would not include fossil-fuel projects coupled with carbon capture and storage.
"Investing in anything other than renewables is not an option for the SEC," she said.
"It can't be an option and it won't be an option."
