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
Electricity Prices: Are Retail Costs the Real Issue?
Retail costs have been in the news following the release of the Australian Energy Regulator’s draft default market offer decision. This is despite retail costs being dwarfed by network and wholesale costs that make up 33-48 per cent and 31-44 per cent of the DMO 7 draft prices respectively. According to new analysis, increases in the DMO regions have been largely driven by rises in those two largest components. These are supply chain costs retailers cannot fully control and pass through to end users, so why the intense focus on retail costs? We take a look.
Wholesale Market Settings Review – Key Issues to Resolve
The Australian Energy Council continues to engage with the Expert Panel conducting the wholesale market settings review. Submissions closed on 14 February. The Review is an important piece of work, as it seeks to define the services the energy system will need as the transition continues and to ensure that market-based incentives and signals deliver the required investment, enabling a shift away from a continued reliance on Government intervention. What is emerging is good alignment across stakeholders on the key issues. We take a closer look at some of the common themes and what the AEC believes are key areas.
Australia's Solar Waste: A Growing Problem
Australia has long been a global leader in the adoption of solar energy, with one of the highest per capita rates of rooftop solar installations worldwide. Solar power has become a cornerstone in the nation's commitment to sustainability, contributing significantly to reducing its carbon footprint and reliance on fossil fuels. However, as solar panels reach the end of their lifespan, the issue of solar panel waste is rapidly emerging as a significant environmental challenge that could escalate in the coming decades. We take a closer look.
Western Australia Goes to the Polls: What’s in Store for Energy?
As early voting opened ahead of Western Australia’s 8 March state poll energy issues and proposals continued to make headlines. In particular, the ALP’s announcement that if re-elected it would provide generous support to households to install battery storage was prominent There have also been questions raised about whether a re-elected ALP government would be successful in its energy transformation to allow the phasing out of state-owned coal plants by 2030. In contrast the Liberal Party has pledged to maintain and extend the state’s coal plants until more gas generation can be brought into the system. The Nationals have announced support for microgrids and more stringent approval processes for renewable energy projects, while the Greens are promoting a 10 per cent Clean Energy Transition Levy on onshore gas projects. We take a look at the key energy policies presented to voters.
Australian Energy Council members have access to a range of industry benefits and services.
Latest News
Statement on the Appointment of Western Australia’s Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation
The Australian Energy Council (AEC), the peak body for energy retailers and generators, congratulates Amber-Jade Sanderson, MP, on her appointment as Western Australia's Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation, Manufacturing and Skills, and TAFE.
Latest Reports
Solar Report: Year of 2024 
The penetration of Australian rooftop photovoltaics (PV) in the energy market continues to rise and last year contributed 12.95 per cent (approximately 30,500 GWh) of the nation’s total electricity generation. This is an increase from 11.72 per cent (around 26,900 GWh) on the previous year, reflecting the growing role of rooftop PV in Australia’s renewable energy transition. In addition to the latest installation statistics, we take a look at other developments with rooftop solar, including the growing waste problem and the current payback period.
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.
Latest Submissions
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Submissions I PDF
Improving the application of concessions to bills
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Submissions I PDF
Improving the Ability to Switch to a Better Offer
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Submissions I PDF
Victorian Building Electrification Regulatory Impact Statement
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Submissions I PDF
Submission to NEM Wholesale Market Settings Review Initial Consultation
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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