- Electricity Industry Amendment (Distributed Energy Resources) Bill 2023 has passed through WA Parliament
- Legislation the first major update of sector-wide electricity legislation in 20 years
- Changes include new State Electricity Objective and streamlined electricity regulations
Electricity sector rules aimed at providing Western Australia with a flexible, responsive, and future-focused regulatory framework that can support the uptake of new technologies on the State’s path to net zero emission have been passed by State Parliament.
The Electricity Industry Amendment (Distributed Energy Resources) Bill 2023, which amendsthe Electricity Industry Act 2004, is the first major update of sector-wide electricity legislation in 20 years.
The Bill introduces a new State Electricity Objective to provide a unifying theme for the State’s electricity sector.
Decision-makers must now consider the environment, including greenhouse gas emissions, alongside reliability and price when promoting the long-term interests of WA’s energy consumers.
The Bill also provides clarity and removes duplication in the codes, rules and regulations that manage our power system and electricity market by bringing them into a consolidated electricity system and market rules.
It will also establish the regulatory framework needed to enable customer devices – such as batteries, electric vehicles, and solar panels – to support the State’s power systems.
This legislation has been developed in consultation and collaboration with the electricity industry, and consumer representatives with the amendments reflecting a shared commitment to provide clean, reliable, and affordable electricity in WA.
Consultation will continue as the State Government amends regulations and rules facilitated by the passage of the Bill.
For more information, visit: wa.gov.au/government/document-collections/energy-and-governance-legislation-reform.
As stated by Energy Minister Reece Whitby:
“Modernising our electricity legislation is an important step for Western Australia.
“The new State Electricity Objective will empower decision-makers to address the challenge of balancing sustainability, reliability, and affordability, while ensuring decisions are being made in the long-term interests of all Western Australian electricity consumers.
“These amendments will future proof the electricity governance framework by enabling it to incorporate new energy generation and storage technologies.
“They will also unlock the potential for customer devices, like rooftop solar and electric vehicles owned by households and businesses, to participate in the power system.”
