Avoiding summer blackouts doesn’t mean energy crisis over

Australians deserve – and need – far better energy and climate policy in 2018 than they got in 2017.

Last year, the mess that is Australian energy and climate policy became clear to all: governments, businesses and households. There were threats to electricity supply, the shutdown of major power plants without adequate replacement, further rises in electricity and gas prices, concerns about excessive profits for retailers, and never-ending rancorous political debate over key reform proposals.

It took too long, but industry finally got the message that when it comes to energy, it can no longer assume an untrammelled right to just get on with business. And unfortunately, governments discovered that direct, reactive intervention is far easier and more popular in the short term than development of credible, stable policies.

Reviews and reports were a feature of the second half of the year. And taken together, they give hope: they may just provide the framework for focused action in 2018.

Read the report by Tony Wood from the Grattan Institute - “Avoiding summer blackouts doesn’t mean energy crisis over.”