Statement of Strategic Intent
The Australian Energy Council is the peak industry body for electricity and downstream natural gas businesses operating in the competitive wholesale and retail energy markets. AEC members generate and sell energy to 10 million homes and businesses and are major investors in renewable energy generation. The AEC supports reaching net-zero by 2050 as well as a 55 per cent emissions reduction target by 2035 and is committed to delivering the energy transition for the benefit of consumers.
Latest Analysis
Navigating Energy Consumer Reforms: What is the impact?
Both the Essential Services Commission (ESC) and Australian Energy Market Commission have recently unveiled consultation papers outlining reforms intended to alleviate the financial burden on energy consumers and further strengthen customer protections. These proposals range from bill crediting mechanisms, additional protections for customers on legacy contracts to the removal of additional fees and charges. We take a closer look at the reforms currently under consultation, examining how they might work in practice and the potential impact on consumers.
Is time running out for new generation in WA?
As Western Australia edges towards its next State Election in March, the energy sector continues to be a hot button topic. Already this year, the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) has been forced to navigate record peak demand and highest demand days, a massive test for operators and market participants who successfully dealt with the challenge. Despite this resilience, the timely delivery of new generation will be critical to address the forecast capacity shortfall by the end of the decade and ensure a reliable and affordable system for industry and consumers. Removing the bottlenecks preventing new generation from connecting to the grid in a timely manner will be crucial. Here we take a look at the challenges of delivering new projects in WA and cast a spotlight on some of the issues that still need to be addressed.
Wholesale Market Settings Review – A Shared Vision Is Required
The Federal Government’s review into the National Electricity Market (NEM) wholesale market settings is a crucial step in ensuring reliable energy supply as coal-fired generation phases out and renewables become the dominant energy source. With energy markets worldwide facing the challenge of balancing low-emissions, low-cost generation with the need for firmed energy supply, this review must identify reforms that incentivise investment in flexible, dispatchable generation sources. So, what will be needed in order for this review to succeed? We take a closer look.
Australia’s net zero plan is looking a lot like an electricity-only plan
The past three years have seen a stronger commitment to encouraging economy-wide decarbonisation, as seen through reforms to the Safeguard Mechanism and new policies like the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard and Future Made in Australia. But the release of two emissions reduction progress reports paints a sobering reality – no sector other than electricity is doing anything to help Australia meet its 2030 target. Is this leading to the proverbial “all eggs in one basket”? Or is electricity decarbonisation really the only viable pathway to 43 per cent by 2030? We take a closer look.
Australian Energy Council members have access to a range of industry benefits and services.
Latest News
Statement on the Opposition’s Nuclear Costings
The peak body for energy retailers and generators, the Australian Energy Council said the release of the Opposition's nuclear costings and future energy mix raised questions on the role of the market in an energy system with significant volumes of government-owned nuclear plants.
Latest Reports
AEMO's budget framework - analysis and options for change 
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) recently submitted a rule change proposal in Western Australia to amend the way its budget is set. The changes would have resulted in a shift from a fully regulated model to a NEM-like unregulated approach. Stakeholders raised concerns the proposed rule change would reduce transparency and accountability, and Energy Policy WA rejected the proposal last week. At the same time AEMO lodged its rule change proposal, the Australian Energy Council engaged Rennie Advisory to identify the root causes for what have become AEMO’s unpredictable and steadily rising costs. This report by Rennie Advisory looks at AEMO’s rule change proposal, identifies issues within the budget framework and offers some options that could be considered.
ISP NEM 2040 Model with VRE drought – will it be reliable?
The market operator’s 2024 Integrated System Plan included a renewable drought scenario. Stress testing how the energy system will cope with VRE droughts well ahead of time is an important task, and the AEC has developed an internal model to consider how the grid might perform in these circumstances. While the model is still under development and refinement it highlights some serious challenges for the grid. We take a look.
Solar Report: Third Quarter 2024
Recent figures from the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) reveal in the first nine months of 2024, rooftop solar installations for homes and businesses added 2.03 GW of capacity from 214,813 solar PV systems. In addition to the latest installation statistics, we take a look at other developments with rooftop solar as well as post code data to identify leading suburbs installing systems.
Solar Report: First Half 2024
By the end of the first half of this year, solar PV installations had been fitted to more than 3.85 million Australian rooftops with a capacity of 23.65 GW, according to the Clean Energy Regulator. In addition to the latest installation statistics, we take a look at other developments with rooftop solar, as well as utility-scale batteries. Read more.
Latest Submissions
-
Submissions I PDF
Submission to NEM Wholesale Market Settings Review Initial Consultation
-
Submissions I PDF
Mandating cash acceptance
-
Submissions I PDF
Victoria’s Renewable Gas Directions Paper
Send an email with your question or comment, and include your name and a short message and we'll get back to you shortly.
But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account. #Exercitation #IIamc
But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer. #Exercitation #IIamc
But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account. #Exercitation #IIamc
But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer. #Exercitation #IIamc
But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account. #Exercitation #IIamc