This paper outlines how the world’s major electricity markets are opening up to demand response competition, which will benefit consumers with lower prices and help maintain reliability.

The Electricity Update presents data on electricity demand, electricity supply, and electricity generation emissions in the National Electricity Market (NEM), plus electricity demand in the South West Interconnected System (SWIS). This issue takes a more detailed look at the growth of new generation in each of the four mainland states in the NEM.

As Queensland’s government and Opposition compete to sweeten deals for the coal industry, open-cut coal mines in Queensland already get up to 17% of their coal for free, compared with similar mines in NSW. Polling in both Queensland and NSW shows support for ending this subsidy.

The Tasmanian government may have forgone millions of dollars in potential revenue from the rapid growth in the fish farming industry, according to this report.

Australia faces significant risks to national security, energy security and climate change mitigation, due to a heavy reliance on imported oil and access to only a limited amount of fuel at any one time, according to this submission from the Australia Institute.