-
RAC releases independent engagement report
Members of the Reset Advisory Committee (RAC) have independently authored a report critiquing TasNetworks' engagement approach for the 2024-2029 revenue reset.
The report is available for download here, and was provided to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) as part of TasNetworks' Combined Proposal submission on the 31 January 2023.
The report covers the following key areas:
- Education
- Affordability
- Cost versus benefits
- Culture
- Contingent projects
- The impact of the RAC.
Part of a broader suite of supporting materials accompanying TasNetworks' Combined Proposal, available here, the report was produced with assistance from the Energy Consumers Australia Consumer Empowerment Funding Program.
More details about TasNetworks' Combined Proposal and the AER's determination process can be found here, on Talk with TasNetworks.
-
Successful first meeting for TasNetworks' Reset Advisory Committee
TasNetworks' newly established Reset Advisory Committee met for the first time on 20th October 2021.
The RAC will play a key role in shaping TasNetworks’ plans for Tasmania’s energy future, and will complement the engagement program for our Proposals to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) for the 2024-29 regulatory period.
With an introduction from CEO Dr Seán Mc Goldrick, meeting agenda items included:
- An overview of TasNetworks in relation to the broader energy market and the organisation's 2030 Strategy
- Discussion of the AER's draft Better Resets Handbook
- Discussion of TasNetworks' draft Engagement Strategy for the R24 revenue reset.
A copy of the meeting presentation is available for download here.
The Committee will meet every six to eight weeks to help shape TasNetworks' Proposals to the AER, which will be submitted in November 2023.
- R24 Engagement Team
-
Introducing our RAC members
Recruited through an independent process in late 2021, the RAC has six members with a blend of knowledge and experience in the following areas:
- Energy
- Utilities
- Social research
- Future technologies
- Economics
- Sustainability
- Governance and policy
- Corporate strategy.
Councillor Bill Harvey
RAC member and Co-Chair since October 2021
Bill has qualifications in Urban Studies, Education, Bushcare and Environmental Management and is a former educator. He spent a decade teaching English in China, Malaysia and at the University of Tasmania where he focused on education for sustainability.
He is an experienced local government councillor and was first elected to the City of Hobart in 2007 and currently chairs the Council’s sustainability portfolio. He is also an experienced board member and currently chairs Landcare Tasmania and sits on the board of the National Landcare Network.
Bill is committed to Hobart becoming a national leader in environmental sustainability through leadership, innovation, good governance and policy. He was instrumental in Hobart becoming the first jurisdiction in Australia to introduce regulation banning a range of single-use plastics - an initiative that saw the removal up to 10 million items of single-use plastics from the waste stream yearly in the City of Hobart. He was also responsible for Hobart becoming the first capital city in Australia to declare a climate and biodiversity emergency on the 17th June 2019.
Bill is also committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and in 2019 founded the UN SDGs Network Tasmania, which aims to create a collective impact approach across public, private and not-for-profits sectors towards achieving positive outcomes underpinned by the UN SDGs.
Dr Cynthia Townley
RAC member since October 2021
Dr Cynthia Townley has been working in community sector policy and advocacy for ten years, in areas such as housing and homelessness policy, energy, and digital inclusion. Her expertise draws on a professional background in philosophy, with work including rights and inclusion for disadvantaged groups, professional and research ethics, and political philosophy.
Cynthia has a sound understanding of social justice principles, as well as practical knowledge of how these apply to the everyday circumstances of energy consumers in Tasmania, especially households earning low incomes.
Dr Eleni Taylor-Wood
RAC member since October 2021
Dr Eleni Taylor-Wood has over twenty years' experience in project management, sustainable infrastructure, and environmental and social assessment and management. Whilst Eleni’s initial career was focused on ecological assessment and management and the protection of cultural heritage, she focussed later on the sustainable development and operation of infrastructure (hydropower, renewable energy, transmission lines and roads) and water supply projects.
Eleni has also been involved in training and capacity building, and has worked across Tasmania, mainland Australia and Internationally (Pacific, South East Asia, South Asia, Africa, South America, Europe).
John Pauley
RAC member since October 2021
John has a Bachelor of agricultural economics and a Post Graduate Diploma in computing science.
He has an extensive public policy background, having worked in the Tasmanian Government agencies of Premier and Cabinet, Treasury, Primary Industries, Transport and Infrastructure for three decades until his retirement in 2010.
John is passionate about the financial and social well-being of older Tasmanians. He uses his knowledge and experience in economics, finance and business management to advocate for the interests of older Australians on key issues affecting their well-being. John also has a strong interest in good nutrition, being active and socially engaged as a means to maintaining personal health and well-being.
In addition to his RAC membership, John also contributes to a wide range of organisations, including Chair of the COTA Tasmania Policy Council, board member of Health Consumers Tasmania, and President Australian Council of Public sector retiree Organisations (ACPRSRO) – among others.
Leigh Darcy
RAC member since October 2021
Leigh holds an Associate Diploma in electrical engineering and is the Principal Advisor Energy and Strategy for Bell Bay Aluminium. With over 30 years in the Aluminium Industry, his roles have focused on asset management in the form of planning, supervising, team leadership, management of capital projects and high voltage electrical assets for the smelter. Leigh also manages the energy contracts for the smelter, both from a commercial and operational aspect.
In addition to his RAC membership, Leigh is also a non-executive Director for the Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council, and Chair of the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone Limited.
Richard Bevan
RAC member since October 2021
Richard is a professional electrical engineer and company director experienced in the electricity, mining and building services consulting industries.
In 1994 Richard was appointed Hydro Tasmania’s General Manager Network and in 1998 appointed inaugural CEO and Managing Director of Transend Networks, a position he held for twelve and a half years until December 2010.
Richard is a retired Chartered Professional Engineer and Fellow of both Engineers Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Richard is currently a director of Crisp Brothers & Haywards, chairman of the Clarence City Council Audit Panel, Commodore of The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania and chairman of the Tasmanian Regional Advisory Committee for Australian Sailing.
-
EOI - RAC member applications now open!
Expressions of Interest to Join TasNetworks' Reset Advisory Committee
We invite applications from suitably qualified professionals to join our Reset Advisory Committee to support the successful development of our 2024-29 Regulatory Proposal to the Australian Energy Regulator.
Applications will be assessed according to merit against the following criteria:
- Preferably Tasmanian-based
- Ability to provide expert advice about the future direction of Tasmania’s electricity network, and associated key drivers
- Ability to consider how plans and initiatives will impact TasNetworks’ customers, stakeholders and the Tasmanian community
- Desirable and relevant knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Energy
- Utilities
- Social Research
- Future technologies
- Economics
- Sustainability
- Governance and policy
- Corporate strategy.
- Capacity to participate in an ongoing basis (October 2021 to December 2023).
For more information, including Member remuneration, please refer to the Committee's Terms of Reference, available for download here.
Applications should include a cover letter addressing the above criteria and a short CV, and must be submitted by 5pm On Friday 10 September 2021 to:
Liz Dimmlich
Stakeholder Engagement Specialist (R24)
liz.dimmlich@tasnetworks.com.au
