Analysis

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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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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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Getting it right: How to make the “Solar Sharer” work for everyone

On paper, the government’s proposed "Solar Sharer Offer" (SSO) sounds like the kind of policy win that everyone should cheer for. The pitch is delightful: Australia has too much solar power in the middle of the day; the grid is literally overflowing with sunshine: let’s give households free energy during 11am and 2pm. But as the economist Milton Friedman famously warned, "There is no such thing as a free lunch." Here is a no-nonsense guide to making the SSO work.

BY Georgina Dickson Nov 27 2025

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Winter Bills: Is it cheaper to heat your house with gas or electricity?

As gas and electricity prices continue to fluctuate across Australia’s east coast, households and businesses are facing rising winter energy costs and growing uncertainty. Seasonal demand, household gas consumption, and the efficiency of electric heating systems, particularly when paired with rooftop solar, are playing an increasingly important role in shaping energy bills. Drawing on data from the Australian Energy Council’s Solar Report Q2 2025, this article explores how these factors affect costs and highlights potential savings for households of different sizes.

BY Carol Tran Aug 21 2025