EnergyCo
The Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo) will be the Infrastructure Planner for the first five NSW Renewable Energy Zones set out in the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020. It will coordinate where the generation, long duration storage and firming capacity will be built.
EnergyCo is responsible for planning the location of Renewable Energy Zones and contracting and overseeing the suppliers delivering the transmission network infrastructure required to connect the generation built in Renewable Energy Zones to the electricity grid.
EnergyCo released the 20-year Network Infrastructure Strategy for NSW in May 2023. The strategy will guide the practical coordination of NSW network infrastructure to connect new generation and storage in NSW’s five Renewable Energy Zones. It will also meet the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020 objectives.
Consumer Trustee
The Consumer Trustee is an independent role, appointed by the Minister for Energy under the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020.
The Consumer Trustee’s purpose is to act independently and in the long-term financial interests of NSW electricity customers to improve the affordability, reliability, security and sustainability of electricity supply. It does this through long-term planning and well-structured procurement processes.
The Consumer Trustee will play a pivotal role in:
- planning the level of investment in generation, storage, firming and network infrastructure over time in NSW
- authorising network infrastructure projects
- administering tenders to identify the best generation, firming and storage projects to offer Long-Term Energy Service Agreements
- appointing a Financial Trustee to establish, own and administer the Scheme Financial Vehicle and execute Long-Term Energy Service Agreements.
AEMO Services Ltd, a subsidiary of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), has been appointed as the NSW Consumer Trustee.
AEMO Services, as the Consumer Trustee, has published the 2023 Infrastructure Investment Objectives (IIO) Report. The IIO Report outlines to investors, developers, and the public what generation and long duration storage is required in NSW and when, while minimising costs for NSW consumers and maintaining reliable electricity supply. The IIO report sets out what is needed, including:
- the NSW Consumer Trustee’s 20-year Development Pathway for the construction of electricity infrastructure in NSW, and
- its 10-Year Plan for conducting competitive tenders for Long-term Energy Service Agreements (LTESAs) to give effect to the Development Pathway.
The Final 2023 IIO report will be published in December 2023. It is updated every two years.
Electricity Infrastructure Jobs Advocate
The Minister for Energy has appointed Dr Mark Apthorpe as the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Jobs Advocate. Dr Apthorpe is based in the Hunter and is the current chair of the Hunter Plant Operator Training School Ltd (HPOTS) and the Hunter section of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT). He has also held senior executive roles in energy and logistics businesses.
In his role as Jobs Advocate, Dr Apthorpe advises the Minister on:
- strategies and incentives to encourage investment, development, workforce development, employment, education and training in the energy sector as New South Wales transitions to renewable energy. His focus will be on regional NSW, including the Hunter, Central Coast, Illawarra, Far West, South West, New England and Central West regions of New South Wales.
- road, rail and port infrastructure required in the regions specified above to promote export opportunities for generation, storage and network technology.
The Jobs Advocate is required to report to the Minister on his activities as soon as practicable after being appointed, and once a year after the first report. Dr Apthorpe submitted his first report to the Minister in June 2022.
The report outlines Dr Apthorpe’s findings on employment, training and workforce development in the REZs and infrastructure that promotes export opportunities for generation, storage and network technology.
These observations are informed by consultation with Roadmap entities, government agencies, local councils and business and community stakeholders. The report also sets out the Jobs Advocate’s priorities over the coming year and suggests areas for further NSW Government consideration.
Read the media release for more information about Dr Apthorpe's appointment.
Renewable Energy Sector Board
The Renewable Energy Sector Board (the Board) was established in February 2021 under Section 7 of the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020 (the Act). The Board helps make sure local workers, communities, and industries share in the economic benefits of the transition to a more affordable, clean and reliable electricity system.
The Minister appoints representatives to the Board from the following groups:
- trade unions
- manufacturers of steel, aluminium and others similar materials
- metal fabricators
- employers in the electricity, manufacturing and construction sectors
- the renewable energy industry
- NSW electricity customers
- the Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo)
The Board has developed a plan for the NSW renewable energy sector to achieve objectives in relation to the construction of generation, storage and network infrastructure in a cost-effective way. These objectives include:
- the use of locally produced and supplied goods and services
- employment of suitably qualified local workers
- opportunities for apprentices and trainees.
The Board also advises the Minister and Roadmap delivery entities on how to support the growth and competitiveness of the NSW renewable energy sector and jobs for NSW workers.
The Board is required to report to the Minister on its activities. It submitted a report in March 2021, June 2021, June 2022 and June 2023.
For more information about the work of the Board, read here.
- Andrew Newman, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary, Tomago Aluminium
- Mark Cain, Chief Executive, Australian Steel Institute
- John Coyle, Director, Varley Group
- Bridgette Carter, Project Director, Advanced Steel Manufacturing Precinct (ASMaP), BlueScope
- Anthony (Tony) Callinan, NSW Assistant Branch Secretary, Australian Workers Union
- Allen Hicks, NSW Branch Secretary, Electrical Trades Union
- Bradley Pidgeon, NSW & ACT Acting State Secretary, Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union
- Alison Goodwin, National Research and Policy Officer, Mining and Energy Union
- Anita Talberg, Policy Director, Workforce Development, Clean Energy Council
- Craig Memery, Senior Advisor, Energy, Public Interest Advocacy Centre
- Brian Spak, Director, Energy Consumers Australia
- Ash Albury, Executive Director, Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo)
- Dominic Adams, General Manager, Networks, Energy Networks Australia
- Heidi Norman, Professor (Research) at the Indigenous Land and Justice Research Group, Arts Design & Architecture UNSW.
Australian Energy Regulator
The Australian Energy Regulator has a number of statutory functions under the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020, including determining the amount payable to network operators for network infrastructure projects. Its functions may be divided, and more than one body or person may be appointed.
On 12 November 2021, the NSW Government appointed the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) as a regulator under the NSW Electricity Roadmap.
The key functions the AER has been appointed to under the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020 include:
- making 5-year revenue determinations for network infrastructure projects authorised by the Consumer Trustee, including the calculation of the prudent, efficient and reasonable capital costs of these projects
- making annual contribution determinations in relation to the Electricity Infrastructure Fund
- approving a risk management framework developed by the Consumer Trustee
- reviewing tender rules in relation to long-term energy service agreements.
The Energy Security Target Monitor
The NSW Government has appointed the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) as the Energy Security Target (EST) Monitor for the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, under the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020 (EII Act).
Under the appointment, AEMO is responsible for calculating and setting a 10 year energy security target for NSW. This target is designed to provide market certainty as it ensures that there will be reliable supplies of electricity available to meet electricity demands over the medium term. Find out more about Energy Security Target Monitor
Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal NSW
In December 2021, the Minister for Energy (Minister) appointed IPART as a regulator under the EII Act. A key function of IPART’s role is to prepare an annual report on the exercise of functions under the EII Act by the Consumer Trustee, the Financial Trustee, the Infrastructure Planner and the Regulator.
IPART is also responsible for undertaking performance audits on the entities delivering the Roadmap, as well as recommending the Renewable Energy Sector Board’s plan to the Minister, to ensure it protects the financial interests of NSW electricity consumers and is consistent with Australia’s international trade obligations.