Energy
7 October 2019
Power play: how governments can better direct Australia’s electricity market
Chaotic approaches to energy policy have pushed up electricity prices and scared off investors. Governments feel compelled to respond to blackouts or high prices, but ad hoc actions have actually made things worse.
16 April 2019
Commonwealth Orange Book 2019: Policy priorities for the federal government
The winner of the 2019 federal election should defy the national mood of reform fatigue and stare down vested interests to pursue a targeted agenda to improve the lives of Australians. The Orange Book charts the policy priorities.
10 February 2019
Keep calm and carry on: Managing electricity reliability
The idea that electricity supply is less reliable with more renewables is wrong. Almost all outages are caused by problems in transporting electricity, and have nothing to do with how the power was generated. It’s also a dangerous idea, because if politicians panic and intervene in the market, power bills could rise even higher.
28 October 2018
State Orange Book 2018: Policy priorities for states and territories
State and territory governments can do more to improve the lives of Australians. In many cases, states are different because their governments adopted better policies. Every state should learn from the others and do better.
1 July 2018
Mostly working: Australia’s wholesale electricity market
Wholesale electricity prices rose by 130 per cent between 2015 and 2017. But governments can’t fix the problem, because most of the price rises are caused by issues beyond their control. Politicians should tell Australians the harsh truth: high electricity prices are the new normal.
25 March 2018
Down to the wire: A sustainable electricity network for Australia
State governments have spent up to $20 billion more than was needed on the electricity grid. Customers are paying up to $400 more for their power each year than they should. They should get a rebate, or governments should write down the value of the assets to reduce electricity bills.
1 February 2018
Designing a more reliable National Electricity Market
Australia is seeking to design a ‘reliability mechanism’ as part of the National Energy Guarantee. This Working Paper provides suggestions on how to design the mechanism and how it might work. On balance, we support a well-designed retailer obligation that utilises commercial market drivers. But we recognise there are risks in this approach. Policy makers will need to consult widely to ensure the new mechanism achieves the right balance between higher reliability and lower costs.
10 September 2017
Next Generation: the long-term future of the National Electricity Market
Australia’s electricity system is under pressure like never before. Work should start immediately on a new ‘capacity mechanism’ in case it is needed to ensure reliable supplies in future.
21 May 2017
Powering through: how to restore confidence in the National Electricity Market
Urgent action is needed to reduce the risk of power blackouts this summer. But the danger is politicians panicking and rushing to decisions that push up electricity prices and make it harder to cut emissions. What’s needed is market reform, not government investments in generation.
13 March 2017
Price shock: Is the retail electricity market failing consumers?
Competition in electricity retailing has failed to deliver lower prices and better services for consumers. Governments will need to step in and re-regulate prices if the industry does not lift its game.