Analysis

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One week to go: the conversations set to shape the AEC’s inaugural conference

There’s only one week to go until the Australian Energy Council’s inaugural conference, Energy2050: Mapping the Way Forward, and in a crowded calendar of energy events, we wanted to create something different. Rather than focusing on politics and headlines, Energy2050 will bring together the people tasked with actually delivering the transition to explore the practical reforms, technologies and market settings needed to build a reliable, affordable and lower-emissions energy system. With senior leaders from across generation, retail, networks, investment, consumer advocacy and technology, the conference is designed to spark the conversations the sector should be having right now. So, why should you come? Here’s what we think sets Energy2050 apart.

BY Ben Barnes May 28 2026

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From Energy to Flexibility: Rewiring Australia’s Wholesale Markets for Net Zero

Australia’s path to net zero will depend not only on new technologies, but on fundamentally reshaping the markets that underpin the energy system. As coal exits, renewables, storage and consumer energy resources will drive a far more dynamic and decentralised National Electricity Market, where flexibility becomes the critical commodity. We explore the market reforms, investment signals and system changes required to deliver a secure, affordable and reliable Energy2050 future, themes that will also sit at the centre of the Australian Energy Council Conference 2026 in Sydney on 4 June.

BY David Feeney May 21 2026

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Beyond the Rules: Lessons from the UK on Supporting Energy Consumers Experiencing Vulnerability

Customer vulnerability in the energy sector rarely follows a predictable path, often emerging through financial pressure, illness or sudden life disruption. The United Kingdom’s experience shows that early intervention, flexible support, trusted communication and coordinated care can significantly improve outcomes for households at risk. We explore what Australia can learn from the UK’s evolving approach to supporting customers experiencing vulnerability.

BY Georgina Dickson May 14 2026

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Global oil shock, but local calm - how the NEM is holding steady

Whilst Australia is lucky to be located well away from the horrors of the war in Iran, we are witnessing some economic impact with higher petrol and diesel prices. However, can there be impacts on the electricity market as well? In short, yes, but at this stage these impacts are minimal. We take a look at how the oil price could impact the electricity market and what the market has observed so far. Read more.

BY Matthew Kaspura May 07 2026

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Conference 2026: Energy2050 - Mapping the Way Forward

The inaugural Australian Energy Council Conference 2026 is the AEC's flagship national event which will bring together senior leaders from across Australia’s energy landscape to explore the future of the energy system.

BY Australian Energy Council May 06 2026

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Network Tariff Reform: From Cost Recovery to Coordination in a High-CER System

Network tariff reform has shifted from a technical pricing issue to a central challenge for Australia’s future energy system, shaping affordability, market design and the transition to a customer-centric grid. Recent modelling by the Australian Energy Market Commission provides a timely and valuable contribution to this debate, with one of the most consequential ideas in its Pricing Review reform package being Recommendation 6—proposing that networks develop tariffs for retailers, rather than directly for end-use customers. We take a closer look at the implications.

BY Jo De Silva Apr 30 2026

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Wild Cards: Could these technologies advance the energy transition?

In December 2022, scientists at the National Ignition Facility achieved a landmark nuclear fusion result: a reaction that produced more energy than the laser pulse used to start it. It made headlines globally, but the caveats came quickly. Overall system energy use was still far higher, and commercial viability remains decades away. It was a real breakthrough, but also a reminder of how far the engineering still has to go. That gap between scientific progress and commercial reality is a defining feature of the energy transition today. While solar, wind, and batteries are scaling rapidly and doing most of the heavy lifting, the International Energy Agency estimates that nearly half of the emissions reductions needed for net zero will depend on technologies still at demonstration stage or earlier. This raises the key question: which “wild card” technologies could help close that gap?We take a look.

BY Tom Monaghan Apr 23 2026

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Where’s the energy for new gas generation?

The importance of gas-powered generation (GPG) to our energy system is well recognised, with system planners and market operators often seeing it as an essential “last line of defence.” The role of gas generation has been further highlighted by two recent papers: the Australian Energy Council’s Energy2050 Vision for the Future Energy System and the policy paper “Are gas turbines ‘bankable’ in energy-only markets?” published by Griffith and Cambridge Universities. Despite this clear and ongoing need, investment in new gas-fired generation remains limited, raising important questions about market settings, policy signals and the future role of dispatchable capacity in a transitioning grid — we take a look.

BY Carl Kitchen Apr 16 2026

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Addressing Energy Affordability Needs More Than Short-Term Relief

The conflict in the Middle East has continued to highlight the challenges we face in ensuring energy supply remains accessible and affordable for everyone. Ensuring Australia becomes more resilient to international energy price shocks will dominate the energy policy landscape for some time, and rightfully so. But while political debate often gravitates toward regulatory interventions and subsidies that deliver short term household bill relief, the real solution lies in something far more complex: reshaping how the energy system works for consumers. What’s increasingly clear is that energy affordability is not just about price - it’s about design. That is why the AEC is releasing its Affordability Action Agenda today – an 8-point plan of critical actions that industry and governments need to take to ensure that energy remains accessible and affordable for all Australians. Read more.

BY Louisa Kinnear Apr 09 2026

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Energy2050: Building the ‘Light on the Hill’ for Australia’s Net-Zero Future

Today, we are pleased to publish an important report for the Australian Energy Council and the energy industry. Energy2050 is intended to be a vision statement, providing a practical illustration of what it will take to deliver a net zero energy system while balancing affordability, reliability and sustainability. Read more.

BY David Feeney Apr 02 2026

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Efficient Pricing in an Uncertain Energy Market

Electricity prices are once again front of mind for Australians, and with cost-of-living pressures mounting, expectations for fair and transparent pricing are entirely reasonable. But as reforms to the Victorian Default Offer and Default Market Offer evolve, a more complex challenge emerges: how to keep prices in check without undermining the stability, competition and investment needed to sustain the energy system over time. Striking that balance is at the heart of current reform debates, and will ultimately determine whether today’s affordability measures support or weaken the system in the long run. Read more.

BY Georgina Dickson Mar 25 2026

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Australia’s Home Battery Surge: A Question of Equity

Australia is a global leader in rooftop solar, with more than 4.3 million households and small businesses installing photovoltaic (PV) systems as of February 2026. Battery uptake has also accelerated, particularly since the introduction of the Cheaper Home Batteries Program in July 2025, which offers around a 30 per cent upfront discount for systems between 5 kWh and 100 kWh. More than 236,000 batteries had been installed by February 2026, although this likely understates the true figure due to reporting lags; the Federal Government has since indicated installations have surpassed 250,000 as of March 2026. Despite this rapid growth, an important question remains: who is actually benefiting from these subsidies?

BY Carol Tran Mar 25 2026

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South Australia’s election: a renewed Labor mandate or a history-making first for One Nation

As South Australia heads to the polls this Saturday, energy is shaping up as one of the key issues. The debate is being driven by two very different visions for the state’s future. Based on current polling, Peter Malinauskas’s Labor Government is expected to be re-elected, likely with an increased majority. However, it remains unclear who will form the opposition, with recent polling suggesting Pauline Hanson’s One Nation is currently favoured to take that role. This sets up the election as a clear comparison between two very different approaches to energy. Read more.

BY Tom Monaghan Mar 19 2026

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The Shadow of the Safety Net: Who Pays for Fairness?

Fairness is a defining Australian value, and it sits at the heart of Victoria’s Getting to Fair strategy aimed at improving equity in essential services. While the Australian Energy Council strongly supports helping people in vulnerable circumstances, funding social equity programs through energy bills risks creating hidden cross-subsidies that place additional pressure on households already struggling with affordability. We take a look at why a more transparent, tax-funded model, combined with retailers acting as delivery partners, may provide a more sustainable and genuinely fair pathway to supporting vulnerable customers.

BY Georgina Dickson Mar 12 2026

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Clarity and understanding key ingredients for successful transition

The energy system is complex and decarbonising the grid adds further complexity. It requires significant new investment to ensure coal plants can exit without having an impact on the reliability of the grid. It comes with unavoidable costs and will take time to get right. It is increasingly important given this context that the energy transition is well understood. Selective framing of data to apportion blame works against a broad understanding and has the potential to undermine customer confidence and support for the transition. Read more.

BY Australian Energy Council Mar 05 2026

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The GHG Protocol: make or break for green data centres?

In the past few months, data centres have received significant attention as potential beehives for renewable investment and an antidote to the much-publicised tenor gap. But some recent changes being discussed globally could complicate how businesses such as data centres purchase their electricity. If not navigated carefully, these changes could make the vision of 100 per cent renewable powered data centres a distant fantasy rather than a reality. Let’s take a closer look.

BY Rhys Thomas Feb 26 2026

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Beyond the “loyalty penalty”: unlocking CER value is the real pathway to a services market

The Australian Energy Market Commission pricing review has sparked debate about fairness and competition, with the AEC cautioning against treating price differentials as the core problem. Recent evidence from the ACCC suggests competition and recent reforms are improving customer outcomes with the AEC arguing that a true shift to a services-based market will depend on unlocking and fairly sharing CER value, not weakening the competitive dynamics that drive innovation. We outline our position on the review. Read more.

BY Jo De Silva Feb 19 2026

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Joint AEC-CEC rule change to enhance system security frameworks

As the National Electricity Market accelerates its transition to higher levels of renewable energy, maintaining system security has become a critical challenge. In response, the Australian Energy Council and Clean Energy Council have lodged a joint rule change request to strengthen planning, governance and procurement frameworks for essential system services. The proposal aims to support an orderly transition while ensuring the grid remains secure and investable. Read more.

BY Matthew Kaspura Feb 12 2026

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A New Year: New regulated offer; new records but some old challenges

A new year has brought major developments across Australia’s energy markets, with new regulatory interventions alongside record-breaking renewable generation. The Federal Government’s Solar Sharer Offer marks a significant shift in retail market design, while the wholesale market delivered historic renewable output and much lower prices, driven largely by strong wind and growing battery capacity. We take a look at what these changes mean for customers, retailers and the reliability of the power system, and where old challenges continue to resurface.

BY Carl Kitchen Feb 05 2026

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Unlock the Future of Energy: CER Luncheon

The Australian Energy Council, in partnership with KPMG, invites you to an exclusive industry event that brings together leaders from across the energy sector. This is your opportunity to gain expert insights and connect with peers at the CER Luncheon: Orchestrating Consumer Energy Resources to Benefit Customers and Strengthen the Grid.

Jan 15 2026

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