WA Energy Minister, Bill Johnston, has announced the establishment of a new Energy Transformation Taskforce that will be responsible for implementing the Government’s Energy Transformation Strategy. An independent chairperson of the taskforce has also been appointed.
The strategy aims to deliver a cleaner, affordable and more reliable electricity supply to Western Australian households and businesses for decades to come.
Former Horizon Power Chairperson, Stephen Edwell, who is an economist with extensive experience in energy sector regulation, market design, policy and utility reform, will chair the taskforce.
Mr Johnston said he was confident that Stephen Edwell’s abilities and experience will be instrumental in progressing the Government’s Energy Transformation Strategy.
“Mr Edwell was the inaugural chairperson of the Australian Energy Regulator and has successfully led major reform projects in Western Australia and Queensland, including creating WA’s electricity market.
“I look forward to working with the taskforce, industry and consumer stakeholders to deliver on our vision of a cleaner and more resilient power system,” Mr Johnston said.
The taskforce will report directly to the WA Minister for Energy and will be supported by the Energy Transformation Implementation Unit, a new unit within the Department of Treasury.
The taskforce will deliver the Energy Transformation Strategy’s Whole of System Plan to facilitate a more co-ordinated approach for the power system of the future.
It will also produce a Distributed Energy Resources Roadmap to guide the integration of solar panels, battery storage and electric vehicles into the power system.
The strategy will improve network connection and electricity market arrangements to cater for the growth of renewable energy into the future.
