ENA welcomes NSW Consumer Energy Strategy

Energy Networks Australia (ENA) congratulates NSW Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe on the Government’s Consumer Energy Strategy, released today, which aims to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy across the state.

This strategy aligns closely with ENA’s vision for the electricity grid, which is no longer just ‘poles and wires’, including recommendations outlined in its recent report: The Time is Now: Getting smarter with the grid.

ENA CEO Dom van den Berg said: “We are pleased to see the NSW Government’s strong commitment to measures that deliver lower costs, a stable energy system, and meaningful emissions reductions.

“It’s critical that everyone, including renters and those living in apartments, has access to clean, affordable energy.

“There is a clear opportunity to get the local grid doing more of the heavy lifting in the energy transition and achieve greater savings for customers by 2030, but that window of opportunity is closing.

“The government’s strategy emphasises the need to empower electricity distributors, introduce regulatory flexibility as crucial for the ongoing evolution of electricity networks.

“We are particularly supportive of exploring opportunities for distribution networks to play a leading role in delivering kerbside EV charging infrastructure, a key component for enabling broader EV uptake.”

Van den Berg also noted the importance of ensuring a structured approach to solar and battery adoption: “We believe stronger policies are needed to encourage participation in VPPs if government subsidies are involved. This would ensure greater coordination and prevent strain on the grid.

Additionally, van den Berg notes that than policy that mandates a switch as it will avoid unintended consequences, including energy supply disruption and unnecessary costs to customers hip-pockets.

“We thank the NSW Government for its ongoing and open engagement with the industry on this strategy and look forward to sharing more of The Time is Now report’s opportunities with state governments across Australia through the Energy & Climate Change Ministerial Council.

“Energy Networks Australia and its members are committed to working with the NSW Government and other stakeholders to deliver an energy system that is cleaner, more resilient, and equitable for all.”

ENDS