Energy Networks Australia is thrilled to host, alongside our principal partner CutlerMerz, the 2024 Regulation Seminar on July 31 at the State Library of Queensland in Brisbane. The event brings together networks, government, regulatory and market authorities, consumer advocates and investor voices to discuss the challenges facing regulating energy networks.

The 2024 theme is Beyond the Wires: Regulation Delivering for Customers and will focus on how the regulation of energy networks can enable the clean energy transition and deliver the outcomes customers want.

Our keynotes

The international keynote for the event is Daniel Duma.

Daniel is a Research Fellow at the Stockholm Environment Institute where he leads the Finance for Sustainable Development Programme. He is also a Research Fellow at the Centre on Regulation in Europe (CERRE) where his recent work has focused mainly on the economic regulation of energy networks under the challenges of net zero.

Daniel’s research projects include the economic regulation of power distribution, the active distribution system operator, energy and climate implications of digitalization and data centres, blended finance and risk mitigation for renewable energy investments in Africa, financing industrial transitions, and carbon pricing in the EU.

Daniel’s presentation will delve into the findings from his CERRE report Towards a more dynamic regulation for energy networks. Drawing on a review of international energy network regulation, the report explores potential areas where regulation and practice could be changed to better adapt to the uncertainty around net-zero energy policies.

The regulatory keynote is Clare Savage, Chair of the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) since 2019. Clare was recently reappointed for a further three-year period.

With extensive leadership experience across the Australian energy industry, Clare is committed to the sector’s development, particularly through this current transition. Prior to joining the AER, Clare was Deputy Chair of the Energy Security Board, and before that the Executive Director, Policy, Energy & Climate Change at the Business Council of Australia.

She has worked with Australia’s largest businesses, including electricity and gas producers, and consumers to develop a suite of integrated energy and climate change policies. Clare has held executive positions within EnergyAustralia and at the Energy Supply Association of Australia, including as Chief Executive Officer, working with governments to develop policies to support outcomes for both the competitive and regulated sectors of the industry.

Speakers and Expert Panel

Also addressing the Seminar will be Sally McMahon, Dr Guy Debelle, Dr Brendan French and Tim Jarratt.

Sally McMahon is a Commissioner at the Australian Energy Market Commission. Sally is an economist with more than 25 years’ experience in energy and industry reform programs. Commencing her career investigating third-party gas access regimes, she has been an advisor and executive with economic regulators, governments, electricity and gas businesses, and investment funds in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia and Canada.

Dr Guy Debelle was the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia from 2016 until 2022. He will discuss his findings from his paper Capital for kilowatts The (non)-inflationary impacts of the green transition, a recent paper analysing whether the high levels of investment required for the energy transition will be inflationary. Guy is currently an adviser to the Investment Committee of Australian Retirement Trust and a non-executive director at Tivan. He is also co-chair of the ASFI Taxonomy Technical Experts Group developing the Sustainable Finance Taxonomy for the Australian economy.

Dr Brendan French is the CEO of Energy Consumers Australia. Brendan is a leading consumer protection and dispute resolution expert, with extensive executive experience across corporate, academic, public, and community spheres. Brendan was previously the Commonwealth Bank’s Executive General Manager Customer and Community Advocacy and the Deputy Ombudsman at the Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON).

For the final section of the event Daniel Duma, Sally McMahon, and Brendan French will re-join the stage for an expert panel with Tim Jarratt, Group Executive Market Development & Strategy at Ausgrid, moderated by our very own Lucy Moon, Head of Regulation and Strategy.

Tim previously worked in a range of senior roles at National Grid in the UK, one of the world’s largest listed utilities focused on the transmission and distribution of electricity and gas; these included being the Director of Strategic Projects, Chief of Staff to the CEO and Group Head of Strategy. During his time at National Grid, Tim also represented the business on the Energy Transitions Commission, a global think tank aimed at meeting the dual challenges of net zero and economic growth.

The panel will discuss their thoughts and answer questions from the audience on the panel’s theme: Regulation and the transition: key takeaways.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday 31st July in Brisbane at ENA’s Regulation Seminar – Beyond the Wires: Regulation Delivering for Customers.

Now is the time to register to not miss out. For more program information and register, please visit the event site.