CEC - May 2013

23 May 2013

NSW on the right path to lower electricity prices

A draft report released today recommended setting New South Wales on a course to reduce electricity bills and reform its energy market in the interests of all consumers, the Clean Energy Council said today.

The report from the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) recommended that NSW remove retail electricity price caps to enable increased retail market participation and competition, paving the way for new entrants that could give consumers more opportunities to buy clean energy.

Clean Energy Council Chief Executive David Green said the draft report was an important first step towards NSW opening up to full retail competition in the state, which could in turn lead to lower electricity bills for households and businesses.

22 May 2013

Renewables the light at the end of the power price tunnel

Australia needs to invest in clean energy to maximise the economic potential for gas exports and ensure affordable prices for domestic users, the Clean Energy Council’s Chief Executive David Green told a power and utilities conference in Sydney this morning.

Mr Green said easing power price rises may not be the light at the end of the tunnel many think, with rising gas prices about to hit hard.

19 May 2013

Old-school power companies clutching at straws on solar

A call from the Energy Supply Association of Australia (ESAA) for solar-powered households to pay more to access the electricity network would have been like saying 20 years ago that people using email should chip in for stamps, the solar industry said today.

“It is no surprise that some of the big players in the traditional power industry are clutching at straws in media reports today to try and discourage the competition they are facing from the emerging solar industry,” said Clean Energy Council Deputy Chief Executive Kane Thornton.

“It is ridiculous to single out solar power users, who are only one part of a nationwide movement by consumers to take control of their power use and save on the cost of living.

17 May 2013

Tasmanian Government provides pathway to solar industry certainty

The Clean Energy Council has welcomed the release of the Tasmanian Government’s issues paper on solar power feed-in tariffs, saying the process should provide confidence to consumers and the industry during the transition to full retail competition in the state’s electricity market this year.

Clean Energy Council Deputy Chief Executive Kane Thornton said he was encouraged that the Tasmanian Government recognised the need for both fairness for customers and industry certainty.

14 May 2013

Chopping and changing unsettles clean energy investors

The clean energy industry said it was disappointed tonight at the Federal Government’s move to put more than $600 million of funding for clean energy projects in jeopardy.

A total of $370 million for the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) was sent into the budget ether, after it was established less than a year ago as an independent body to provide long-term stability to investors, and avoid this exact problem of annual budget cuts.

The budget also put a further $260 million of funding for energy efficiency programs and large-scale solar on the chopping block.

09 May 2013

ARENA speculation spooks clean energy investors

The Clean Energy Council said it would be surprised and disappointed if the Federal Government cut up to $200 million of funding from new clean energy technologies, as was reported in several newspapers today.

Clean Energy Council Deputy Chief Executive Kane Thornton said the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) was designed to be at arm’s length from the government of the day so that its funding remained secure and it could provide much-needed certainty for renewable energy investors in Australia.

09 May 2013

Clean Energy Council Award entries close soon

The Clean Energy Council is inviting innovative companies, journalists, community engagement managers and the solar industry’s best and brightest to nominate for its annual awards, which will be presented during Clean Energy Week in July.

Clean Energy Council Deputy Chief Executive Kane Thornton said the annual awards would showcase the best of the clean energy industry and provide a benchmark for the rest of the industry to aspire to.

03 May 2013

South Australia rocked by new clean energy technology

The Clean Energy Council has congratulated Geodynamics on being the first company to successfully produce power in Australia from deep beneath the earth’s surface using geothermal ‘hot rocks’ technology.

Clean Energy Council Policy Director Russell Marsh said the company’s 1MW Habanero Pilot Plant in South Australia was a demonstration of world-beating innovation developed Down Under.

“New clean energy sources such as geothermal will transform the way we produce our electricity in the future,” Mr Marsh said.

Media & Events

May 2013