Climate change and energy leaders gathered in Adelaide in November to push for a national energy policy which rejects coal and delivers clean, affordable and reliable energy. Leaders discussed concerns about any proposed national energy policy which prioritises coal and punishes renewable energy. South Australia has more renewable energy than any other mainland state, currently 48.9 per cent of the […]
Policy
Queensland’s natural gas industry has welcomed the release of a standalone election policy for the resources sector by the Queensland Liberal National Party (LNP). APPEA Queensland Director, Rhys Turner, said the policy recognises the important role that natural gas and the broader resources sector play in providing jobs, investment and economic growth, particularly in regional communities. “The Queensland gas industry […]
The Victorian Government has released its Energy Efficiency and Productivity Strategy which reflects the Government’s commitment to improving energy efficiency and driving Victoria’s transition to an energy efficient and productive economy. The strategy is backed by a $55 million investment that will capture immediate benefits, build engagement and drive enduring change in key sectors. The Victorian Energy Efficiency and Productivity Strategy includes the following […]
Roundtable to discuss Australian Standards General Conditions of Contract
Utility Journalist News, Policy 0A roundtable discussion will be held between stakeholders to progress work on the project scope for the new Australian Standards for General Conditions of Contract. On 6 November 2017, Standards Australia brought together a group of industry, government, legal and construction sector stakeholders to discuss the development of a new general conditions of contract standard in Australia. Participating stakeholders agreed […]
Powering Queensland’s Future plan released
Utility Journalist Electricity, News, Policy, Renewable Energy 0The Queensland Labor Party has released its renewable energy policies for the upcoming Queensland election in the form of the Powering Queensland’s Future plan. Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said, “Our Powering Queensland’s Future plan sets out actions to make sure we get the balance right, delivering more of the cheapest form of new generation renewables sooner to complement our young and efficient fleet of coal and […]
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has finalised the Government’s new national energy policy, which does not adopt a Clean Energy Target (CET). The government has decided not to adopt a Clean Energy Target, which was recommended by Australia’s Chief Scientist Alan Finkel in his final report of the Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market. The government […]
Gas supply shortfall three times higher than originally estimated
Lauren Cella Gas, News, Policy, Retail, Spotlight 0New reports by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and Australian Competition and Consumer Competition (ACCC) have predicted gas supply shortages will be considerably higher for eastern and south-eastern Australia than what was estimated six months ago. The AEMO’s update to the 2017 Gas Statement of Opportunities, and ACCC’s Gas Inquiry 2017-20 Interim Report focus on likely supply and demand […]
Australia’s first whole-of-government drone strategy open for consultation
Utility Journalist Condition Assessment, Drones, News, Policy, Spotlight 0The Queensland Government will implement Australia’s first whole-government drone strategy to address the business opportunities and regulatory challenges for the drone industry. Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, released the consultation paper on the future of drone technology in Queensland. The Premier is encouraging all Queenslanders to have their say on the Queensland Drones Strategy Consultation Paper, to help direct future policy and […]
Review into Victoria’s electricity and gas retail markets
Utility Journalist Electricity, Gas, News, Policy 0An independent bi-partisan review of Victoria’s electricity and gas retail markets has been released, examining the operation of the state’s electricity and gas retail markets and providing recommendations to improve outcomes for consumers. The independent review panel comprised John Thwaites, who served as Deputy Premier of Victoria from 1999 to 2007, Terry Mulder who served as Minister for Public Transport […]
The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) has warned that restricting gas exports to boost domestic supply is likely to be counterproductive. APPEA Chief Executive, Dr Malcolm Roberts, said the government’s proposed Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism (ADGSM) was a short-term fix and not a long-term solution. The Government has confirmed it has begun the formal process to consider whether […]
Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism consultations begin
Utility Journalist Features, Gas, News, Policy 0Formal notice has been given to liquefied natural gas (LNG) producers of the government’s intent to intervene, if necessary, to ensure the supply of natural gas meets the forecast needs of Australian Consumers, under the new Australian Domestic Gas and Security Mechanism (ADGSM) introduced on July 1. “The Australian Government is focused on ensuring domestic gas users have access to […]
Draft legislation released for Government to take over TasWater
Utility Journalist News, Policy, Water 0The Tasmanian Government has released the draft legislation it will present to Parliament in order to take over TasWater. The legislation aims to lock in cheaper prices, better infrastructure and guarantee payments to councils. In anticipation for the legislation, Tasmanian Treasurer, Peter Gutwein, travelled around Tasmania talking to communities about issues that affect them, including water and sewerage. “It’s clear […]
$26 million for east coast gas project acceleration
Utility Journalist Gas, News, Policy, Projects 0A new $26 million Gas Acceleration Program (GAP) will see The Australian Government work with the States and Territories that are prepared to develop their own gas resources, in order to increase supply to the east coast. At a COAG Energy Council meeting in mid-July 2017, Ministers agreed to work together on the implementation of the GAP. Minister for Resources […]
Energy ministers approve 49 out of 50 Finkel recommendations
Jessica Dickers Electricity, Gas, News, Pipelines, Policy, Renewable Energy, Sustainability 0Australian energy ministers have agreed to implement all but one recommendation of the Final Report of the Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market at the 12th COAG Energy Council Meeting. The review, also known as the Finkel Report, was released by Australia’s Chief Scientist Alan Finkel on 9 June 2017 for government consideration. The government’s response […]
Victorian water corporations have released their water strategies, identifying the actions needed to ensure water availability for Melbourne and surrounding growth areas like Melton and Sunbury over the next 50 years. City West Water, South East Water, Yarra Valley Water and Western Water have released their Urban Water Strategies, along with the Melbourne Water System Strategy by Melbourne Water. The […]
The Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism (ADGSM) is now in effect, allowing the Government to intervene, if necessary, to ensure adequate gas is available for Australians. The Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Matt Canavan, will use assessments, including from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), the ACCC and industry to determine later this year whether 2018 will be a […]
A report by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), confirms that there is no need for the Commonwealth to restrict Queensland’s LNG exports. The Energy Supply Outlook (ESO) is the first integrated assessment of gas and electricity supply adequacy for eastern and south-eastern Australia. Reflecting on both the government and market response following the March 2017 release of the Gas […]
New pricing determination for regional NSW
Utility Journalist News, Policy, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has released the WaterNSW Rural Bulk Water Services Pricing Determination, confirming that significant operating cost efficiencies delivered by WaterNSW over the last two years have reduced costs for most licence holders on regulated rivers across NSW. Streamlined operations combined with innovation and rigorous scrutiny of all spending outlay has resulted in a 25 […]
Industry leaders welcome Finkel Report
Utility Journalist Asset management, Demand management, Electricity, News, Policy, Renewable Energy, Solar, Stakeholder Engagement, Sustainability 0Government and industry leaders have welcomed the findings of the Finkel Report, commenting that its recommendations were necessary to secure the future of Australia’s energy. The final report, prepared by an Expert Panel and chaired by Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel AO, was released on 9 June 2017 and recommends action to create a reliable and affordable energy system, […]
What the Finkel report means for Australia’s energy
Utility Journalist Electricity, Features, News, Policy 0A Clean Energy Target and a NEM-wide integrated grid plan, and increased notice for generator closure, are among the recommendations handed down by Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel, in the final report of the Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market. The review was commissioned by federal and state energy ministers in 2016, following concerns […]
The Victorian Government has proposed new gas market reforms in an attempt to drive down prices, protect jobs and preserve the supply of gas to Victorian homes and businesses. A new gas export mechanism announced in early June 2017 would place a cap on the total allowable gas that major companies can export in order to protect domestic needs. Minister […]
The CSIRO has released a Low Emissions Technology Roadmap, outlining a range of possible future technology pathways. The Federal Government tasked the CSIRO to develop a Low Emissions Technology Roadmap to highlight areas of potential growth in Australia’s clean technology sector, map the development of new emissions reduction technologies, and identify opportunities to be part of future global energy supply […]
Government investment to lower electricity prices in QLD
Utility Journalist Electricity, News, Policy, Retail 0The Queensland Government is set to invest $770 million in an attempt to lower energy prices for consumers in response to an increase in regional electricity prices set by the independent Queensland Competition Authority (QCA). Queensland Treasurer, Curtis Pitt, said the QCA’s final determination on regulated retail electricity prices for regional Queensland in 2017-18 is unacceptable and the Queensland Government […]
The Federal Government will lift a legislative prohibition on the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) in order to allow them to invest in carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. Federal Minister for the Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg said access to finance is one of the barriers to investment in CCS and a change to CEFC legislation will provide a […]
A Federal Court has decided to reject all but one of the appeals brought by the Australian Energy Regulator against the Australian Competition Tribunal’s determination for Jemena Gas Networks, for the period of 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2020. Jemena’s Executive General Manager of Customer and Markets, Shaun Reardon, said the decision reinforces the importance of being able to […]
Australian Competition Tribunal’s findings backed by Federal Court
Utility Journalist Electricity, Policy, Sustainability 0The Federal Court has upheld the Australian Competition Tribunal decision to set aside key aspects of the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) original 2014-2019 revenue determination for NSW and ACT Networks. By law, the Tribunal cannot overturn decisions unless it results in a better outcome for customers. The relevant energy networks will work closely with the AER following the Federal Court’s […]
The hidden cost in wastewater discharge non-compliance
Lauren Cella News, Policy, Retail, Sponsored Editorial, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0Wastewater discharge non-compliance can be costly – not only will it affect your bottom line profitability through increased charges, fines and increased monitoring costs, it can make future negotiations with your water authority, at best, ‘testy’. If you are discharging wastewater to an EPA-controlled water body, the cost may be substantially higher. One piece of negative media coverage of just […]
The Grattan Institute has published a report highlighting the need for urgent action to be taken to reduce the risk of power blackouts and restrictions. Powering through: how to restore confidence in the National Electricity Markets says the state-wide blackout in South Australia in September 2016 and a series of smaller outages and incidents over 2016-17 exposed weaknesses in the […]
The COAG Energy Council has asked the AEMC to review parts 8-12 of the National Gas Rules to address concerns that consumers are overpaying for gas pipeline services, as part of its larger commitment to deliver comprehensive gas reforms. The review will include consideration of whether rules need to be changed so that any non-contestable pipeline services are subject to […]
Balancing act: future-proofing Australia’s electricity network
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