Delivering key industry speakers:
For the full list of speakers, click here.
Event Background and Overview
Australia’s electricity prices have risen by more than 50% over the past five years in real terms and the end to bill shocks may not yet be in sight. How to best meet the long-term interests of consumers – who need reliable service as much as they need affordability – is testing the skills of the policymakers, regulators and suppliers. In the year of a federal election, the situation is also testing the patience of voters.
Whether further steps can be taken in 2013 to deliver a supply regime that is more acceptable is open to question - as is the prospect that reform may not deliver an environment attractive to investors in power infrastructure. This summer's heatwaves have again emphasized the challenge of ensuring that generation and delivery of electricity can meet peak demands.
Critics argue that there are flaws in the regulatory regime and inefficiencies in suppliers’ operations including excessive regulated returns and conflicts of interest when it comes to ownership. Network businesses and the Electrical Trades Union argue back that restricting investment in the supply chain in pursuit of price curbs may mean that it cannot cope with future extreme weather.
Consumer advocates are calling for the issue of affordability to be better understood by policy makers and adding to this, in the words of Tim Nelson and Paul Simshauser of AGL:
“The structure of electricity tariffs also requires an overhaul – shifting away from flat prices and quarterly billing. To smart meters, time-of-use pricing and monthly billing to address both the investment megacycle and the incidence of hardship”
Working Paper No.31, The Energy Market Death Spiral – Rethinking Consumer Hardship, AGL Applied Economic and Policy Research, June 2012
While gains from further reform appear to be large, they cannot happen overnight, but future cost savings depend on action being taken as soon as possible. In this situation, the need for the market players, regulators, consumer representatives and policymakers to share information and to find more common ground could hardly be greater.
Power Pricing 2013 will bring together influential stakeholders to share their views and it will have a particular focus on the needs of energy suppliers and well as households and small business consumers.
Key themes of Power Pricing 2013:
- The outlook for power prices over this decade
- The next step in regulatory reform and how fast they can be developed
- The concerns of investors in power infrastructure
- The need to pursue smart meters, new pricing systems and retail deregulation in a situation where State governments have differing agendas
- Where peak demand is heading and how to curb it without harming the most vulnerable consumers
- The intersection of social and energy policies and the need to understand and manage the critical issue of electricity affordability for households and small businesses
Who should attend
- Federal and State Departments responsible for energy market policy
- Government Regulatory Bodies
- Coal & Gas Producers
- Power Generators
- Electricity and Gas Transmitters
- Electricity and Gas Distributers
- Electricity and Gas Retailers
- Large Energy Users
- Energy Industry Analysts
- Consumer Representative Groups
- Professional Service Providers
- Industry Representative Bodies
But don’t just take our word for it, hear what speakers are saying about the event:
"Power pricing is crucially important to business, consumers, government and the community as a whole. The NSW Public Accounts Committee has taken a strong interest in the topic and, as its Chair, I am pleased to be part of this valuable forum.”
Jonathan O’Dea MP, Chairman, NSW Parliament's Public Accounts Committee
“Understanding the dynamics of the electricity industry is very important as prices have increased markedly in recent years. Power Pricing 2013 offers delegates the chance to get insights and information that will allow them to better understand trends and potential future scenarios.”
Tim Nelson, Head of Economics, Policy & Sustainability, AGL Energy
“Energy affordability has always been a difficult issue for many disadvantaged people. But steeply rising prices over the last few years mean that more people are more drastically affected. If we truly value equality and dignity, we must grapple with the need to ensure that the most vulnerable members of our community stay connected to this essential service. This conference is an opportunity to grapple with the power pricing issue.”
Edward Santow, Chief Executive Officer, Public Interest Advocacy Centre
“The price of electricity has become a topical debate in the community over recent years. It is important that the energy industry is better able to inform the public on what the drivers of the price increases are and how customers can be more efficient in their use of energy. Power Pricing 2013 is a good opportunity to do this.”
Trevor James, Chief Executive Officer, Synergy
“Now is the best time for governments to get out of retail price regulation. SA recently decided to deregulate and showed us all how easy this decision could be. Power Pricing 2013 will contribute to the discussion we need to ensure an efficient market.”
Andrew Pittlik, General Manager NSW, ERM Power
“The introduction of time of use pricing presents a challenge for consumers, industry and government. I support the sharing of information across these sectors in order to maximise the benefits for end users – we need everyone working cooperatively together and this is a great opportunity to further those aims.”
Jo Benvenuti, Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre
“Power Pricing 2013 will bring together the key stakeholders essential for negotiating a pathway through the challenges surrounding power prices. If energy retailers cannot do anything further to lessen price impacts, then smart meter data and the knowledge it provides could be a key to assisting consumers to understand and manage usage.”
James Myatt, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Power and Gas
“The Power Pricing 2013 conference provides a timely forum discuss the critical issue energy hardship and affordability”
Gavin Duffy, Policy Director, St Vincent De Paul
How to get involved and have your say:
Speak
Senior executives from generators, transmission and distribution companies. retailers, government departments, industry peak bodies and consumer advocacy groups will use this unique forum to voice their opinions on the most important issues surrounding power pricing today. Speakers will advance potential solutions to these key issues and will assert themselves as advocates for the future progress of the sector.
For speaking enquiries please contact aleksz@questevents.com.au
Endorse
Government agencies, media outlets and industry peak bodies will have the opportunity to show their support for the industry by becoming endorsing partners for the event. Endorsing partners will benefit from co-marketing, speaking opportunities, discounted delegate passes and more.
Sponsor
Sponsors of Power Pricing 2013 will position their brand as a leader in the Australia energy sector. Branding opportunities, speaking roles, co-marketing and business development facilitation are amongst many exciting opportunities available to sponsors.
For sponsorship and exhibition enquiries please contact johnb@questevents.com.au
Attend
Power Pricing 2013 delegates will have unparalleled access to thought leading presentations, panel discussions and networking sessions. Delegates will hear industry leading thought and analysis and will take relevant and actionable commercial strategies back to their business.
For delegate pricing and to register, click here.