The Minns Government will commission an independent check-up on NSW’s energy policies, to ensure NSW has the right policy settings to deliver a timely and cost-effective transition of our electricity sector.
Mr Cameron O’Reilly has been appointed to conduct this work. Mr O’Reilly is an energy and public policy specialist, with extensive experience working across the Australian energy market.
Mr O’Reilly will stress test electricity supply and reliability in metropolitan and regional NSW.
Supported by an expert advisory panel, he will identify whether any additional measures may be required to deliver cheap and reliable electricity.
The check up will ensure that NSW:
- has the right policy settings and programs to deliver the generation and transmission infrastructure required a timely and cost-effective transition of our electricity sector
- can manage any residual risks to reliability and price in the short-term, should the Eraring Power Station close in 2025, and
- considers opportunities to improve community engagement, workforce readiness and supply chains.
Since the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap – NSW’s plan to deliver renewable energy to replace ageing coal power stations – was first released in 2020, global competition for investment has intensified, supply chain constraints and skills shortages have become more acute, and some regulatory and planning issues have become apparent. Privatisation has made delivery of the energy transition more difficult.
All tenders under the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap are out of scope and will not be affected by this work.
Energy rebates for households and business are also out of scope.
An expert advisory panel will support this work. The panel will consist of representatives of key stakeholder groups relevant to the electricity sector transition in NSW (for example First Nations, consumers, generators, unions, construction contractors, network businesses, regulators, market bodies and local government).
Mr O’Reilly will deliver his report to the government in early August 2023. The report will be made public.
Penny Sharpe Minister for Energy said:
“Cameron O’Reilly is a very experienced, highly respected energy expert and I am pleased that he will be able to bring an independent, practical eye to this check up.
“Mr O’Reilly will stress test the policies in place to ensure we have the right plans in place to deliver an orderly energy transition as quickly as possible to ensure reliable, affordable and clean electricity for NSW households and businesses.
“I am committed to getting on with the task of delivering the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap. This check up will help us identify what else we need to do to remove barriers to delivery and accelerate getting infrastructure into the ground.”
