Many governments see energy efficiency improvements as a low-cost means of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. However, the scope for achieving environmental gains through increasing the uptake of only those energy efficiency improvements that are privately cost effective appears to be modest at current and expected energy prices.

Ensuring that distribution capacity is available to meet South Australia’s few days of extreme peak electricity demand each year, plus the rate at which that peak demand is continuing to grow, leads to a necessity for on-going and increased investment in the State’s distribution network. This expenditure is the critical driver of ETSA Utilities’ costs...

This report focuses on the management of energy, waste and water by Victorian households. It contains 72 recommendations which the committee believes can be readily implemented and will substantially strengthen sustainable consumption management and policy in Victoria.

Improving energy efficiency can have sound environmental benefits, according to this draft report released by the Productivity Commission. The potential for energy efficiency measures to save money for producers and consumers appears to be more modest. Released 21 April 2005

Australian governments engaged in a major reform program in the 1990s, culminating in the formation of the National Electricity Market (NEM) which commenced operation on 13 December 1998. Today, the NEM supplies electricity to 7.7 million Australian customers on an interconnected national grid that runs through Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria...