Joint submission to the Select Committee on Energy Planning and Regulation in Australia

Joint submission from Engineers Australia and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering

Engineers Australia and ATSE support a review of energy planning and regulation. Energy is more than a component of the economy; it is fundamental to the prosperity and well-being of all Australians. The scale of the energy transition is transformative and requires a new response. Energy planning and regulation must balance the power systems' physical requirements, the best interests of the end users and market considerations.

Key Messages

The energy system must be planned and regulated to ensure:

• That highly competent engineering advice and decision-making are at the heart of an increasingly complex engineered system-of-systems.
• Energy planning and regulation are bounded by fundamental engineering principles, within which the market must remain, particularly in regard to the safety and reliability of the system.
• That system architecture provides for a new level of sector coupling and coordination that drives whole of system approaches and engages the participation of all stakeholders.
• Place-based approaches are foundational to achieving sustainable solutions.
• The well-being of people and communities are prioritised.
• Demand-side participation, including increased energy efficiency, may potentially play a more prominent role in empowering end users and consumers, reducing total system costs, and lowering the need to invest in the supply-side.