Energy laws in Queensland will be reviewed to accommodate new energy storage systems, remote-controlled home energy and customers who are independent of the electricity grid.
An issues paper released in early May kicks off a ten-yearly review of the laws that regulate energy issues from energy-generating customers to licences for electric car charging stations.
QLD Minister for Energy, Dr Anthony Lynham, said the state’s energy landscape had been transformed by technology disruption over the past decade and legislation needed to keep up.
“Queensland is leading the nation in renewable generation development, our biggest power station is rooftop solar systems and Queenslanders are open to using emerging technology to manage their energy usage and costs,” Dr Lynham said.
“We need our legislation to support our Affordable Energy Plan, placing downward pressure on electricity prices and support our 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030.
“Our current laws were framed in the 2000s and don’t even recognise incoming battery technology or off-grid scenarios where customers are entirely energy self-sufficient.
“This review will ensure we have the regulatory framework in place to integrate emerging technologies and to continue to provide secure and reliable supply statewide.”
Three Acts are under review: Electricity Act 1994, the Gas Supply Act 2006 and the Energy and Water Ombudsman Act 2007.
The issues paper seeks input on 29 questions about the suitability of the state’s laws.
Submissions are open until 19 June 2018.
The next stage will be a regulatory impact statement in 2018, followed by proposed reforms mid-2019 for input from stakeholders, including business and industry, and electricity consumer groups.
