Debate Topics & Teams

Topic #1 – What does success look like?

Summary: When the electricity grid has been transformed to embrace both renewables and legacy systems, how will we know the transition to the Consumers Grid to provide a lowest cost regulated electricity supply for the foreseeable future is successful?

Moderator:                             Terry LAMPARD National President, Electric Energy Society of Australia

Debaters:                                TBC                           

A4 Committee Lead:               Wayne Fitzsimmons

If we set 2035 as the horizon for completing the transition, then we will know we have succeeded in transforming the national electricity system when the following requirements are demonstrably in operation.

•     The average retail price of electricity is below $0.10c/kwh for all Australians
•       Grid resilience delivers confidence of supply at all levels in the face of natural disaster, peak demand, and demand growth.
•       A digitally enabled, truly national, energy market
•       Fit-for-purpose regulation that prioritises the consumer and enables efficient operation of and investment in networks.
•       Universal access to electricity data that respects privacy
•       Majority of the technology solutions employed for the electricity system will be sovereign Australian IP.

Topic #2 – Creating the 'Consumers’ Grid'

Summary: The Consumers Grid will ensure efficiency, economy, efficacy, equity, sustainability, resilience and deliver national competitive advantage (productivity).

Moderator:                           James Seymour, former CEO, C4NET
Debaters:                             Ty Christopher, UoW                                                  
                                              TBC,  Energy Networks Australia
                                              Gavin Dufty, National Director, Energy Policy Research, St Vincent de Paul Society  
A4 Committee Lead:            Tim Ryan  

The old, linear, unidirectional, top-down model of electricity generation, supply and regulation is permanently disrupted by the advent of renewable energy and storage systems deployed throughout the network (DER) by commercial operators and consumers (CER).

To successfully deliver the Consumers’ Grid we must:      

• Prioritise commercial/industrial consumers over residential consumers in policy, in regulation, and in delivery.      
• Change the economics of networks and infrastructure to reduce the burden of network charges by doing what?      
• Drive productivity gains from cheaper, universally reliable electricity and the ICT technology solutions we create to that end to underpin comparative advantage for Australian industry.

Topic # 3 – Standards underpin our national success

Summary: Ensuring the most appropriate standards are in place for a successful transformation to the Consumers’ Grid.

Moderator:                           Scott Brownlaw, Strategic Initiatives Manager, Standards Australia

Debaters:                             TBC           

A4 Committee Lead:          Dr Ian Oppermann

Exploiting the advantage Australia has by leading renewable energy adoption to develop sovereign standards, and/or adapt international standards for products, services and network planning will:

•      Require the adoption of the C4NET EPS planning tools in combination with the AEMO ISP to provide a truly holistic approach         that can provide clear signals on investment, regulation, and interoperability
•       Accelerate the energy transition
•       Underpin the stability and resilience of the future grid
•       Stimulate innovation and commercialisation of sovereign solutions that will form the basis for a new, sustained export sector         to support the rest of the world in the transition of all energy systems

Topic #4 - Skills – grow and sustain the workforce

Summary: Australia needs to triple the supply of qualified engineers and tradespeople to complete the transformation of the energy system.

Moderator:                           Jamie Burrage, General Manager, Sydney Division, Engineers Australia

Debaters:                              TBC             

A4 Committee Lead:            Colin Farrelly

This will best be achieved by:

• Increased number of private sector training providers offering upskilling / cross-skilling short courses
• Quadrupling the number of domestic students graduating as relevant professionals and technicians from Australian universities and vocational training by 2028 and sustaining that level for at least one decade
• Providing incentives to existing workers and future workers to undertake retraining or primary training through student fee relief and tax relief that are effective for at least 20 years post-graduation.

Topic #5 – Digitalising the Grid

Summary: Digitalisation is a necessary foundation for the successful transformation of the national electricity grid. The defining aspects of this digitalisation address control, monitoring, privacy, adaptability, and redundancy.

Moderator:                           Neil Horrocks

Debaters:                              Prof John Fletcher, UNSW

                                               Greg Verbic, USYD

                                               David Ponting   

A4 Committee Lead:          Jordan Green

Success in this effort demands:

• Emphasising sovereign capabilities and sovereign solutions
• Cybersecurity and system resilience designed for a consumer centric grid
• Changed roles and resourcing for regulators to be more collaborative and less siloed
• Industry leading the design, implementation, and funding of digital infrastructure