Conference Day One
Wednesday 22 May 2013
08:15 Registration and welcome coffee
08:50 Opening remarks and welcome address from the Chair
Keith Orchison, Director, Coolibah Pty Ltd
THE OUTLOOK FOR POWER PRICES OVER THIS DECADE
09:00 The power price outlook for the NEM
- What is the forecast growth in overall demand in the NEM to 2020 and beyond?
- Estimating power prices to 2020 – understanding the outlook for each component of the power bill
- At what rate can we expect peak demand to grow and how will this change in proportion to total demand?
Edwin O’Young, Principal, Port Jackson Partners
PANEL DISCUSSION
09:30 The price outlook to mid-decade – the ramifications
- How will this exacerbate current affordability concerns?
- How do government’s need to respond and how can we ensure secure, efficient and affordable electricity?
- How will this impact energy markets in a broader context?
Moderator:
Keith Orchison, Director, Coolibah Pty Ltd
Inviting Panelists;
Jonathan O’Dea MP, Public Accounts Committee Chair, NSW Parliament
Matthew Warren, Chief Executive Officer, Energy Supply Association of Australia
Clare Petre, Ombudsman, Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW
Edwin O’Young, Principal, Port Jackson Partners
"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
10:00 A green perspective on addressing power price pressures
- How will carbon policies to impact power bills to 2020
- The dangers of policy uncertainty
- How can we best reduce bills for end users – the CEC perspective
- The Clean Energy Council’s view on what needs to happen to minimize further rises
David Green, Chief Executive Officer, Clean Energy Council
“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
10:30 Morning Tea
PANEL DISCUSSION
10:50 A referendum on the carbon price
If the Coalition wins the looming election will they be able to abolish the carbon price and if so, in what time frame? Without a carbon price, what will be the impact on investment in generation?
Moderator:
Keith Orchison, Director, Coolibah Pty Ltd
Panelists:
David Green, Chief Executive Officer, Clean Energy Council
Tim Reardon, Executive Director, National Generators Forum
Martijn Wilder, Head, Global Environmental Markets, Baker & Mackenzie
11:30 The power pains in the west
- Understanding the challenges in delivering affordable electricity in Western Australia
- What is the outlook for wholesale electricity and retail prices in the SWIS?
- How green energy will grow in the SWIS
- What are the implications of growing demand outside the SWIS from the mining sector?
Trevor James, Chief Executive Officer, Synergy
“Energy, its reliability, availability and cost is essential to the prosperity of Australia. With all the issues currently being played out in the energy arena informed debate is essential if the right balance is to be achieved. This conference can add significantly to that informed debate.”
Brian Green, Chairman, Energy Users Association of Australia
12:00 Optimising Australia’s electricity market – an overview of our options
- Ensuring transparent retail markets and pricing systems
- A review of retail competition in in NSW and the outlook for deregulation
- Time of use tariffs and the need to curb peak demand
Cameron O’Reilly, Chief Executive Officer, Energy Retailers Association of Australia
12:30 Understanding the backbone of the NEM
- The role of transmission in the NEM
- Transmissions role in facilitating competitive wholesale trading
- The challenge of the reliability/price trade off, in particular, low probability, high consequence events
Peter McIntyre, Managing Director, Transgrid
13:00 Lunch
14:00 The need for a sensible debate on power prices
- The current raging debate about power prices
- How can we cut through the argument and see the big picture?
- What do we need to do to achieve affordable electricity?
Matthew Warren, Chief Executive Officer, Energy Supply Association of Australia
THE CRITICAL QUESTION OF NETWORK CHARGES
14:30 Talking frankly about network costs
- A look at historical network costs fluctuations
- The energy market ‘death spiral’ – network costs and consumers
- Asset replacement programs and guarantying reliability
- Peak demand and the required associated network cost
George Maltabarow, Chairman, Australian Energy Research Institute
15:00 What cost reflective pricing options mean for networks
- Understanding the implications of different pricing options on cross-subsidies between customers
- Network investment consequences of cost reflective pricing
- Will cost reflective pricing strategies promote efficient responses from customers?
- Will there be mixed signals between generation and network capacity drivers?
James Bennett, Manager Regulation, SA Power Networks
15:30 Afternoon tea
PANEL DISCUSSION
15:50 Network privatisation: unfinished reform business
- What we can expect from the Costello report?
- What benefit can end users get from privatisation?
- Is there an incentive for State owned networks to spend more on infrastructure?
- Would more economic outcomes be achieved with private ownership?
- Can this be achieved without privatising?
Moderator:
Keith Orchison, Director, Coolibah Pty Ltd
Panelists:
Brian Parmenter, Consultant, Acil Tasman, Former Chairman, Queensland Competition Authority
Chris Laybutt, Vice President, Australian Equities, JP Morgan
George Maltabarow, Chairman, Australian Energy Research Institute
ANALYSING RETAIL REGULATION OPTIONS
16:30 The outlook for retail competitiveness across the rest of the NEM
- When can we expect to see ‘adequate’ competition in Queensland for serious deregulation talks?
- How competitive is the NSW market and when can we expect to see deregulation?
- How has the competitive landscape in South Australia changed post deregulation in February?
- What can we learn from Victoria’s market?
Kate Farrar, Managing Director, QEnergy
“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
PANEL DISCUSSION
17:00 Deregulating and end users – what can they expect?
- What are the benefits of a deregulated energy retail market for end users?
- When can we expect the development of adequate competition in NSW and QLD for deregulation?
- How can we ensure affordable pricing for vulnerable groups?
- What have been the successes in VIC and SA?
Moderator:
Keith Orchison, Director, Coolibah Pty Ltd
Panelists:
Simon Draper, Tribunal Member, IPART
Kate Farrar, Managing Director, QEnergy
Mark Brownfield, General Manager Marketing & Retail Sales, AGL Energy
Clare Petre, Ombudsman, Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW
17:40 Closing remarks from the chair
17:50 End of day one and networking drinks