Energy Minister Bill Johnston has today established the Energy Transformation Taskforce which will implement the McGowan Government’s Energy Transformation Strategy.
The strategy aims to deliver a cleaner, affordable and more reliable electricity supply to Western Australian households and businesses for decades to come.
Presently the electricity sector is experiencing a major transformation due to the rapid uptake of rooftop solar panels and battery storage systems, as well as increasing levels of large-scale renewable generators, such as wind and solar farms.
To maximise the environmental benefits and minimise the costs of this transition, the Energy Transformation Taskforce is expected to develop a Whole of System Plan which will detail how a more co-ordinated power system of the future may look.
The taskforce will report directly to the Minister for Energy and will be supported by the Energy Transformation Implementation Unit – a new unit within the Department of Treasury.
The taskforce will also produce a Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Roadmap to guide the integration of solar panels, battery storage and electric vehicles into the power system. The DER Roadmap is expected to be produced by the end of the year and the first Whole of System Plan in mid-2020.
Former Horizon Power chairperson, Stephen Edwell, who is an economist with extensive experience in energy sector regulation, market design, policy and utility reform, will chair the taskforce.
Minister Johnston said he is confident that Mr Edwell’s abilities and experience will be instrumental in progressing the Government’s Energy Transformation Strategy.
“Mr Edwell was the inaugural chairperson of the Australian Energy Regulator and has successfully led major reform projects in Western Australia and Queensland, including creating WA’s electricity market,” he commented.
“I look forward to working with the taskforce, industry and consumer stakeholders to deliver on our vision of a cleaner and more resilient power system.”