The Australian Energy Council (AEC) has welcomed AEMO’s 2026 Electricity Statement of Opportunities (ESOO), saying it shows the National Electricity Market has a credible pathway to maintain reliability, but makes clear that this pathway depends on projects being delivered, not just announced.
The AEC has published Energy2050 which sets out how governments, industry, and stakeholders can work together to address the practical challenges of delivering a reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy transition.
The ESOO echoes these challenges, highlighting the importance of policy certainty, timely approvals, community confidence, and investment signals that enable industry to build the generation, storage, transmission, and demand-side capability consumers will need as coal-fired generation retires.
Quotes attributable to Louisa Kinnear, AEC Chief Executive:
“AEMO’s ESOO is an important reminder that the transition is not just about what is planned, but what is actually delivered. Reliability depends on generation, storage, transmission, and demand-side resources arriving when they are needed.”
“We welcome AEMO’s development of two scenarios. The Government Schemes and Actionable Developments scenario shows what can be achieved if the broader pipeline is delivered, while the Committed and Anticipated Developments scenario highlights the risks if projects do not progress quickly enough.”
“Recent debate in Victoria over VNI West illustrates why policy certainty matters. Any changes to major energy infrastructure should be well founded, transparent and consider the broader implications for reliability and consumer affordability.”
“The ESOO rightly highlights that reliability and system security now need to be planned together. Essential system services can be provided by a range of technologies, not just synchronous condensers, and a portfolio approach is likely to reduce delivery risk and cost compared with relying on any single solution. It is crucial that these services are available when needed to ensure coal can exit without significant impacts to reliability and affordability.”
“Consumers cannot afford a transition built on assumptions that do not materialise. Governments, regulators, industry, and communities need to work together to solve the practical and economic challenges holding up the transition and deliver projects that will support reliable and affordable electricity.”
About the Australian Energy Council
The Australian Energy Council is the peak industry body for electricity retailers, generators, and technology providers operating in Australia’s competitive energy markets. Our members generate the overwhelming majority of Australia’s electricity and supply energy to more than 10 million homes and businesses.
Through Energy2050, the Council’s long-term vision for Australia’s electricity system, we advocate for the policies and investment needed to deliver a reliable, affordable and lower-emissions energy future.
Media contact: Tom Monaghan 0423 348 088
