The SEC is set to power approximately five per cent of Victoria’s electricity market, with contracts now signed that will see it deliver 100 per cent renewable electricity to several state government operations.
It’s the first time the SEC will deliver power to Victorians since it was privatised more than 30 years ago.
Under the agreements, the SEC will power 1468 public schools, kindergartens and TAFEs across the state; as well as hospitals, large police stations, fire stations and essential water infrastructure from 1 July 2025.
This includes everything from metropolitan and regional hospitals to some of Victoria’s most iconic and loved places, such as Flinders Street Station, the Melbourne Museum, the National Gallery of Victoria, Phillip Island’s Penguin Parade, Werribee Open Range Zoo, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Melbourne Park precinct.
The SEC will also supply much of Victoria’s train and tram network, powering more than 350 million train and tram trips each year.
All of these facilities will be supplied with renewable electricity generated via the SEC’s own projects, as well as Victorian Renewable Energy Auction contracts, such as Berrybank Wind Farm, Cohuna Solar Farm, Dundonnell Wind Farm, Winton Solar Farm and Bulgana Green Power Hub.
SEC CEO, Chris Miller, said supplying renewable power to government operations is just the start of the SEC’s offering, which will expand to help businesses in Victoria achieve their decarbonisation goals.
“When we enter the market on 1 July 2025, the SEC will be servicing approximately five per cent of the Victorian electricity market, providing us with a strong base to help more Victorian businesses transition to renewable energy, improve their energy efficiency, reduce consumption and meet their carbon reduction goals,” Mr Miller said.
The Victorian Government said that later in 2025, the SEC will expand its retail offering to sell renewable electricity to commercial and industrial businesses – helping them switch to cheap renewable energy too.
It also said that all profits made by the SEC will be invested back into the SEC’s projects that deliver more renewable energy and cheaper power bills for all Victorians.
The SEC is building 819MW of solar and battery storage at the SEC Renewable Energy Park in Horsham and the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub near Melton – which aim to pump more renewable energy into the grid, drive down energy prices for Victorians and slash emissions as we work towards net zero by 2045.
“Our capacity to source renewable energy, including from the Victorian Renewable Energy Target auction projects, and offer renewable energy to retail and wholesale markets means we can match supply with demand, thereby reducing the Victorian Government’s exposure to price volatility,” Mr Miller said.
Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan, said that the SEC is back – and it’s powering Victoria with cheap, reliable, publicly-owned renewable energy.
“Families want help with the cost of living, and I’m on their side. So is the SEC,” Ms Allen said.
Victorian Minister for the State Electricity Commission, Lily D’Ambrosio, said, “The SEC will power Victorian Government operations with 100 per cent renewable electricity – with all profits being invested back into projects that will deliver more renewable energy and lower power bills for Victorian families.”
