Friday 14 June: Energy Policy Forum

08:30
Welcome Coffee
08:50
Opening remarks from the Chair

Joel Gilmore
General Manager Energy Policy & Planning
Iberdrola Australia

Re-writing the rulebook to ensure a just transition
09:00
Adjusting policy to accelerate the transition
  • Diagnosing the blockages and what works to move things forward
  • Prescribing the policy that incentivises renewable energy projects and smooths the way for transmission
  • Can a renewable energy system be retro-fitted to current structures, or is whole-of-system reorganisation required?

Alex Wonhas
EnergyCo Advisory Board Member
NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

09:30
DISCUSSION PANEL: What is best practice for genuine engagement with communities?
  • How should the energy sector build social licence to enable and support the energy transition?
  • What are current benchmarks and how can they be improved?
  • How do we ensure the voices of regional and indigenous communities are heard and acted on?

Moderator:

Amy Abraham
Director
Good Energy Engagement

Panellists:

Pru Cook
Director
Nine Creeks Consulting

Lee Kingma
Director
Wunelli

Andrew Bray
National Director
RE-Alliance

Joy Thomas
Chair
Ag Energy Social Licence Roundtable

10:10
Navigating the transition: the commercial, technical, and regulatory dynamics of integrating clean energy technologies into the power system
  • Fixing the connection process and getting generators connected faster (working with AEMO on the connections reform initiative)
  • Identifying and developing new technical and regulatory solutions, to enhance system security and resilience
  • Refining market frameworks to drive efficient investment in clean energy technologies

Christiaan Zuur
Director of Market, Grid & Investment
Clean Energy Council

10:40
Morning tea
11:10
What does more solar generated power do to Australia’s economy?

Magnus Soederberg
Director, Centre of Applied Energy Economics and Policy Research (CAEEPR)
Griffith University

Assessing how current policy can be sharpened to achieve the goal of a net zero energy system
11:30
Assessing the results of Project Edith, EDGE and Symphony and what these mean for future energy policy
  • Combining the latest technology with innovative economics (dynamic pricing/tariffs) to shape future energy policy
  • Testing the two levers of dynamic operating envelopes and dynamic network tariffs/pricing
  • Harnessing household rooftop solar and battery system resources to improve efficiency and lower energy bills

Nick Regan
Business Lead - Project EDGE
Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)

12:00
PANEL DISCUSSION: Do we need to start over, or can existing regulation be adapted to meet the needs of a distributed, renewable energy system?
  • What are the most dysfunctional elements of current regulation and how can they be tackled?
  • Who should be in charge and how can they be equipped to manage national reform?
  • What is the best way to push reform (or wholesale re-writing of energy regulation) to serve the urgency of the transition?
  • Can the existing system provide the best value for the customer and make investing in CER worthwhile for end users?

Moderator:

Renate Vogt
General Manager, Regulation
CitiPower, Powercor and United Energy

Panellists:

Gavin Dufty
Manager Policy and Research
St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria

Rebecca Billings
Commissioner
Essential Services Commission of South Australia | Victorian Essential Services Commission

Christiaan Zuur
Director of Market, Grid & Investment
Clean Energy Council

Elizabeth Molyneux
Deputy Secretary, Energy
Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA)

12:40
Lunch
Serving consumers with an energy system that meets their needs… and budget
13:30
Taking Australia’s energy advantage seriously
  • What are the real prospects in energy intensive industry?
  • What are industrial users seeing on energy prices, and what do we need?
  • Prioritising energy advantage in planning systems and industry policy

Tennant Reed
Director – Climate Change and Energy
Australian Industry Group (Ai Group)

14:00
Ensuring the energy transition benefits consumers instead of causing suffering
  • What happens if consumers lose all confidence in the transition and current energy system?
  • Identifying the challenges and barriers consumers experience and the specific regulations that stand in the way of a more just energy system
  • Defining policy which could remedy inequities and create a more level playing field for all participants

Brendan French
Chief Executive Officer
Energy Consumers Australia

14:30
PANEL DISCUSSION: How can the energy system be centred around consumers?
  • Is the idea of a consumer-centric energy system a utopian dream, or something achievable?
  • Which specific parts of the transition are causing the most difficulties for households and industry?
  • What reforms could make the biggest difference to consumers?

Moderator:

Lynne Gallagher
Board Member
Australian Energy Regulator (AER)

Panellists:

Kate Symons
Chair and Commissioner
Victorian Essential Services Commission

Brendan French
Chief Executive Officer
Energy Consumers Australia

Nick Regan
Business Lead - Project EDGE
Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)

Lesley Walker
Executive General Manager, Customer
Synergy

15:10
Closing remarks from Chair
15:20
End of Energy Policy Forum and Energy Week 2024