Statement of Strategic Intent

The Australian Energy Council is the peak industry body for electricity and downstream natural gas businesses operating in the competitive wholesale and retail energy markets. AEC members generate and sell energy to 10 million homes and businesses and are major investors in renewable energy generation. The AEC supports reaching net-zero by 2050 as well as a 55 per cent emissions reduction target by 2035 and is committed to delivering the energy transition for the benefit of consumers.

Latest Analysis

OECD Price Comparison: How do we stack up?

OECD Price Comparison: How do we stack up?

As households and small businesses are notified of changes to their energy prices for the financial year, there continues to be scrutiny of our power prices. With energy affordability an ongoing concern for Australians, comparisons with overseas energy markets are common with consideration of how Australia's costs compare to other countries. We take a look at how our electricity prices stack up against other developed nations using the latest data across 38 OECD countries.

BY Carol Tran Jul 10 2025
The gas transition: What do gorillas have to do with it?

The gas transition: What do gorillas have to do with it?

The gas transition poses an unavoidable challenge: what to do with the potential for billions of dollars of stranded assets. Current approaches, such as accelerated depreciation, are fixes that Professorial Fellow at Monash University and energy expert Ron Ben-David argues will risk triggering both political and financial crises. He has put forward a novel, market-based solution that he claims can transform the regulated asset base (RAB) into a manageable financial obligation. We take a look and examine the issue.

BY David Markham Jul 03 2025
Australia’s Sustainable Finance Taxonomy: Solving problems or creating new ones?

Australia’s Sustainable Finance Taxonomy: Solving problems or creating new ones?

Last Tuesday, the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute (ASFI) released the Australian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy – a voluntary framework that financiers and investors can use to ensure economic activity they are investing capital in is consistent with a 1.5°C trajectory. One of the trickier aspects of the Taxonomy was whether to classify gas-powered generation, a fossil fuel energy source, as a “transition” activity to support net-zero. The final Taxonomy opted against this. Here we take a look at how ASFI came to this decision, and the pragmatism of it.

BY Rhys Thomas Jun 26 2025
What’s behind the bill? Unpacking the cost components of household electricity bills

What’s behind the bill? Unpacking the cost components of household electricity bills

With ongoing scrutiny of household energy costs and more recently retail costs, it is timely to revisit the structure of electricity bills and the cost components that drive them. While price trends often attract public attention, the composition of a bill reflects a mix of wholesale market outcomes, regulated network charges, environmental policy costs, and retailer operating expenses. Understanding what goes into an energy bill helps make sense of why prices vary between regions and how default and market offers are set. We break down the main cost components of a typical residential electricity bill and look at how customers can use comparison tools to check if they’re on the right plan.

BY Tom Monaghan Jun 19 2025
Benefits of Membership

Australian Energy Council members have access to a range of industry benefits and services.

Latest News

Statement on AEMC Draft Concession Decision

Statement on AEMC Draft Concession Decision

Greater coordinated and consistent action by jurisdictions, government bodies and retailers to streamline and improve processes is an important step towards helping make it easier for vulnerable consumers to access energy bill support, according to the peak body for energy retailers, the Australian Energy Council.

Jul 03 2025

Latest Reports

Solar Report: First Quarter 2025
REPORT Continue Reading I  PDF

Solar Report: First Quarter 2025

In the first quarter of 2025, rooftop solar capacity for homes and businesses in Australia surpassed 26 GW, with over 4.1 million photovoltaic systems now in operation, according to the Clean Energy Regulator (CER). Alongside these latest figures, we examine solar adoption rates 25 years after the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 established the market for renewable energy certificates (RECs). We also take a closer look at the levelised cost of energy and the current payback period for residential solar systems.

BY Carol Tran Jun 05 2025
Stocktake of Certificate Schemes
REPORT Continue Reading I  PDF

Stocktake of Certificate Schemes

Retailer certificate schemes have been growing in popularity in recent years as a policy mechanism to help deliver the energy transition. This report puts forward some recommendations on how to improve the efficiency of these schemes. It also includes a deeper dive into the Victorian Energy Upgrades program and South Australian Retailer Energy Productivity Scheme.

Apr 17 2025
Solar Report: Year of 2024
REPORT Continue Reading I  PDF

Solar Report: Year of 2024

The penetration of Australian rooftop photovoltaics (PV) in the energy market continues to rise and last year contributed 12.95 per cent (approximately 30,500 GWh) of the nation’s total electricity generation. This is an increase from 11.72 per cent (around 26,900 GWh) on the previous year, reflecting the growing role of rooftop PV in Australia’s renewable energy transition. In addition to the latest installation statistics, we take a look at other developments with rooftop solar, including the growing waste problem and the current payback period.

BY Carol Tran Mar 06 2025
AEMO's budget framework - analysis and options for change
REPORT Continue Reading I  PDF

AEMO's budget framework - analysis and options for change

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) recently submitted a rule change proposal in Western Australia to amend the way its budget is set. The changes would have resulted in a shift from a fully regulated model to a NEM-like unregulated approach. Stakeholders raised concerns the proposed rule change would reduce transparency and accountability, and Energy Policy WA rejected the proposal last week. At the same time AEMO lodged its rule change proposal, the Australian Energy Council engaged Rennie Advisory to identify the root causes for what have become AEMO’s unpredictable and steadily rising costs. This report by Rennie Advisory looks at AEMO’s rule change proposal, identifies issues within the budget framework and offers some options that could be considered.

Dec 12 2024
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