Why is US energy so inexpensive? Why is its electricity more reliable and pricing more transparent than Australia’s? Why are its carbon emissions declining faster relative to Australia? This report seeks to answer those questions, clarifying what’s at stake if Australian policymakers do not change course.

The major conclusion that has come out of the various debates surrounding energy policy is that there is a serious electricity and power affordability problem across the National Electricity Market (NEM). Price increases over the last decade are significantly affecting Australian businesses and consumers.

This report compares the other countries' electricity prices to the prices paid by households in Australia’s contestable retail markets. And it develops an econometric analysis of the South Australian data to identify how South Australia’s prices have been affected by renewables and coal generation closure.

ACIL Allen Consulting (ACIL Allen) was engaged by the Energy Consumers Australia to develop a strategic framework to support policy-makers to consider the range of tools and services needed by different Australian households to effectively manage their energy bills.

Energy Consumers Australia (ECA) is interested in understanding the barriers to the creation of an energy services market for mass market customers in Australia. Such services would include any products that allow consumers to better understand and/or manage their electricity usage and energy costs. These services could be provided by electric retailers or third party...