Media alert—Macfarlane to speak at ENA dinner

The Energy Networks Association (ENA) will tonight hold its annual dinner at the Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra with the Hon Ian Macfarlane MP, Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources as the guest speaker. Ian is expected to focus on the current state of play of emissions trading and energy policy.

Media are invited to attend. Please contact Theresa Hall on 0423 361 967 for confirmation of attendance.

Ends.

Contact: Andrew Blyth CEO—02 6272 1555
Web: www.ena.asn.au
Email: mailto:thall@ena.asn.au

ENA is the peak national body for Australia’s energy networks; and represents gas distribution and electricity network businesses on economic, technical, environment and safety regulation as well as national energy policy issues.

ENA encouraged by Productivity Commission’s review but more work is required

Released 16 September 2009

ENA welcomes the Productivity Commission’s report on the Annual Review of Regulatory Burdens on Business: Social and Economic Infrastructure Services.

ENA welcomes the Productivity Commission’s recommendation to eliminate unnecessary requests for information, including the frequency of requests.

Mr Andrew Blyth, Chief Executive of ENA said: ‘burdensome information requirements place unnecessary demands on energy network businesses.

Read ENA’s media release

Smart networks—a bright new future for Australia

The Energy Networks Association (ENA), the peak national body representing Australian electricity and gas distribution and transmission networks, has welcomed a report released by the Australian Government confirming its commitment to develop a commercial-scale smart grid demonstration project in partnership with the energy sector through the $100 million Smart Grid, Smart City initiative.

ENA attended an industry briefing on Smart Grid, Smart City in Canberra last week. This briefing focused on the predeployment study and guidelines, both of which are available from the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website.

• ENA media release Smart networks—a bright new future for Australia [pdf 54 kB]—1 October 2009
• Smart Grid, Smart City initiative
• Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website

ENA welcomes passage of Renewable Energy Target

As the peak national body representing Australia’s electricity distribution and transmission networks the Energy Network Association (ENA) welcomes the recent passage of the Government’s Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2009 and the Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Charge) Amendment Bill 2009.

The Renewable Energy Target will ensure that 20 per cent of Australia’s electricity will come from renewable sources by 2020.  ENA supports the Australian Government’s commitment to continue increasing the amount of energy generated from renewable sources. ENA believes it is important to recognise that networks will play a key role in ensuring that this new energy source is delivered to homes and businesses across Australia.

‘The electricity industry is poised to make the transformation from a centralised, producer‑controlled network to one that is less centralised and more consumer-interactive’, Mr Andrew Blyth, CEO of ENA said today.

View the media release ENA welcomes passage of renewable energy target—August 2009.

ENA welcomes the launch of the Natural Gas—Positive Energy Campaign

Australia’s The Energy Networks Association (ENA) has welcomed the launch of the Natural Gas—Positive Energy Campaign in Canberra today by the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association.

Gas is delivered across Australia through approximately 81 000 kilometres of gas distribution pipelines.

‘It is a source of concern to ENA gas members that while the number of Australian gas customers is increasing, average domestic gas consumption is currently static or on the decline’, ENA Chief Executive, Andrew Blyth said today.

‘The challenge for the industry will be to ensure this trend does not continue as Australia heads towards an emissions trading scheme.

‘Natural gas has a positive greenhouse impact both domestically and internationally due to its clean‑burning qualities’, he said.

View the media release ENA welcomes the launch of the Natural Gas—Positive Energy Campaign—August 2009.

Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (NBN) Bill

The Australian Government has introduced into the Senate the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (National Broadband Network Measures No 1) Bill 2009.

Australia’s energy network businesses are major stakeholders in the National Broadband Network initiative.

This Bill is of direct relevance to energy networks as it extends a range of new information collection powers to utilities, to support the Implementation Study and rollout of the NBN.

The energy industry has extensive electricity infrastructure assets and capacity, which may be useful in assisting with the rollout of the NBN. Many electricity network businesses also have significant experience in the commercial rollout and installation of cable television infrastructure and fibre using electricity assets, as well as the commercial sale of fibre network capacity to telecommunications carriers.

The Bill extends some information gathering powers to which previously only other telecommunication carriers were subject.

The rationale for this extension is that the NBN Implementation Study will require detailed information on utility ducts, poles and other facilities to enable it to study the best way for the NBN to be rolled out. The Bill will also provide a capacity for the government-owned NBN Company to require information over the next decade to assist it in carrying out the rollout.

Energy network infrastructure is critical infrastructure, and issues of commercial confidentiality will be key for ENA members. From a business point of view, the cost of collecting and providing information to inform the Australian Government and the NBN Company must be reasonable. 

ENA is currently reviewing the Bill and we look forward to sharing our members’ views with departmental officials in the coming week.

ENA has made submissions on NBN which are available from the ENA website:

• National Broadband Network: Regulatory Reform for 21st Century Broadband
• National Broadband Network: Fibre-to-the-premises in greenfield estates

Major gas stream at Energy 21C as the industry faces new challenges and opportunities

• Click to download an Energy 21C PowerPoint Presentation

There is a growing focus on Australia’s abundance of natural gas reserves as an energy source for industrial and domestic consumers as the nation works towards reducing carbon emissions.

Michael Kilgariff, National Director of Energy Infrastructure Policy & Government Affairs for the Energy Networks Association, said the gas industry was poised to play a major role in delivering Australia’s energy needs this century while meeting national greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.

“The gas industry has clearly demonstrated its commitment to working with governments to meet energy efficiency and greenhouse gas abatement objectives,” Mr Kilgariff said.

“The gas industry is already one of the world’s largest investors in solar and renewable energy technologies.”

Climate change challenges and solutions will be a major focus of Energy 21C 2009 to be held at the new Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 6 to 9 September.

Around 2,000 delegates from Australia and overseas are expected to attend the premier electricity and gas transmission and distribution conference to address the key themes of customers, climate change, networks and competencies.

Mr Kilgariff said the conference would have a dedicated gas stream with a focus on regulation, asset management, climate change solutions and customers.

It is estimated that the Australian natural gas industry has $200 billion worth of projects on the drawing board that could help drive the nation’s economic recovery through the creation of 50,000 jobs and $10 billion annually in tax revenue.

Currently, Australian gas distribution services connect around four million households, businesses and industry, through 75,000 km of pipelines.

“Energy 21C will provide an opportunity for people to be at the leading edge of discussion and developments in addressing the challenges and opportunities facing the Australian gas industry,” Mr Kilgariff said.

“Importantly, we will be talking about environmentally sustainable development and growth.”

The gas stream at Energy 21C has already attracted industry leaders and presenters of the highest calibre. Among the speakers in the gas stream will be Barbara Jinks, Business Development Manager Oil and Gas, GHD, and an active member of the International Gas Union (IGU) working committees for gas distribution and transmission.

At Energy 21C, Ms Jinks will report on latest IGU research into global issues relating to all aspects of the gas industry.

“The presentation will provide a compelling snapshot of state-of-the-art developments in gas distribution around the world,” Mr Kilgariff said.

Other confirmed speakers in the Energy 21C gas stream include:

• Bob Cracknell, APA Group – Application of the AS 4844 Meter Standard;
• Macleay Connelly, ActewAGL – Price Resets;
• Ken Gardner, ESV – Victorian Gas Safety Case and Asset Management;
• Mark Beech, Jemena – Safety Case 15 Years On;
• Nithi Nithianandan, SP AusNet – Leakage Survey;
• Neil Pendergast, Tenix Maintenance Services – Gas Pipelines: Past, Present and Future; and
• Ollie Clark, NGV Australia – NGV: Now is the Time!

A vast and interactive industry exhibition, demonstrations and operational site visits aligned with key conference issues will complement the main program of Energy 21C.

Energy 21C is owned by the Energy Networks Association and the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), and is presented by industry for industry.

For more information or registration, visit www.energy21c.com.au or contact the Conference Managers, Waldron Smith Management, by telephone (03) 9645 6311 or email: energy21c@wsm.com.au

Industry welcomes Government partnership in building smart energy networks

As the peak national body representing Australia’s electricity distribution and transmission networks the Energy Network Association (ENA) welcomes the announcement of the National Energy Efficiency Initiative in Budget 2009 to build smarter, more efficient energy distribution networks. Read more

ENA Member Company wins top emergency recovery award

One of the Energy Networks Association (ENA) member companies, CitiPower and Powercor, has won a prestigious international award for its emergency response to the major, gale force wind storms that rocked Victoria in April 2008. Read more

Industry disappointed with regulator’s determination on rate of return

The Energy Networks Association is disappointed with the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) recent final statement on the revised Weighted Average Cost of Capital.

In Australia’s system of energy regulation, the AER has the task of setting an assumed cost of capital – or rate of return – on investments made in networks. Read more

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