Energy Co-ordination and Planning Act 1995

Energy Co-ordination and Planning Act 1995

This Act may be cited as the Energy Co-ordination and Planning Act 1995.

This Act commences on a day to be fixed by proclamation.

In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears –

Assessor means the Monitor and Assessor for Energy Security appointed under section 8A;

Co-ordinator means the Energy Security Co-ordinator appointed under section 8D;

Director means the Director of Energy Planning referred to in section 4;

electricity includes electrical energy of any kind however produced, stored, transported or consumed;

energy includes electricity, gas and thermal energy however derived as well as any other recognised energy resource;

energy in storage has the same meaning as in Schedule 1 to the Electricity Supply Industry Regulations 2018;

gas means any gas or mixture of gases, whether naturally occurring or manufactured, intended for use – as a fuel; or in any chemical process;

headwater storage has the same meaning as in Schedule 1 to the Electricity Supply Industry Regulations 2018;

HRL means the high reliability level specified by the Minister under section 3A(a);

HRL recovery plan means a recovery plan submitted in accordance with section 8G;

Hydro means the Hydro-Electric Corporation continued under the Hydro-Electric Corporation Act 1995;

National Electricity Law means the Law that is contained in the Schedule (as amended from time to time) to the National Electricity (South Australia) Act 1996 of South Australia;

National Electricity Market has the same meaning as in the Electricity Supply Industry Act 1995;

PSL means the prudent storage level specified by the Minister under section 3A(b);

PSL recovery plan means a recovery plan submitted in accordance with section 8F;

recovery plan includes the following:an HRL recovery plan; a PSL recovery plan;

Regulator means the Tasmanian Economic Regulator appointed under the Economic Regulator Act 2009;

renewable energy source means any of the following energy sources:solar; wind; water; an energy source declared under section 3B.

The Minister may, by order, specify in respect of each month, a level of energy in storage to be –

the high reliability level; and the prudent storage level.

The Minister, by order, may declare an energy source to be a renewable energy source for the purposes of this Act.

Section 47(3), (3A), (4), (5), (6) and (7) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1931 applies to an order under subsection (1) as if the order were regulations.

In this section – NEM means the interconnected national electricity system used to convey, and control the conveyance of, electricity, the load of which is settled through the wholesale electricity exchange operated and administered by the Australian Energy Market Operator under the National Electricity Rules;NEM-connected equipment means electricity-generating equipment, situated in Tasmania, that is connected to the Tasmanian electricity grid, whether or not – the equipment is directly connected to that grid or is operated primarily for the provision of electricity to the Tasmanian electricity grid; and any of the electricity generated by the equipment is conveyed to the Tasmanian electricity grid;Tasmanian electricity grid means so much of the NEM as is situated in Tasmania.

The renewable energy targets are – that, in at least one calendar year ending on or before 31 December 2030, 15,750 GWh of electricity that is generated in that calendar year by NEM-connected equipment is to be generated by utilising renewable energy sources or by converting renewable energy sources into electricity; and that, in at least one calendar year ending on or before 31 December 2040, 21,000 GWh of electricity that is generated in that calendar year by NEM-connected equipment is to be generated by utilising renewable energy sources or by converting renewable energy sources into electricity.

The Minister may appoint a State Service officer or State Service employee to be Director of Energy Planning and that person holds that office in conjunction with State Service employment.

The functions of the Director are as follows:to assist the Minister in planning and co-ordinating the provision of energy in the State; to advise the Minister on all aspects of energy policy, including – the energy needs of the State and any factors which might put the supply of electrical energy at risk; and ways of using energy and sources of energy, including renewable energy; and the introduction and encouragement of competition in the energy industry; and ways of achieving greater efficiency in the use of energy; and the use of energy policy to assist in achieving other policy objectives of the State; for the purposes of paragraphs (a) and (b) – to monitor the operation of the State's energy industry and its participants; and to consult with interested groups and persons; to examine and monitor factors affecting the supply and demand for energy for the State; to co-ordinate activities to ensure that adequate arrangements are in place for the planning of the State's electrical system; to undertake, sponsor and co-ordinate research, development and demonstration relating to energy; to promote the development of commercial applications of renewable energy; to produce and publish information and reports on energy-related matters; to provide support in the resolution of disputes about energy-related matters.

In addition to any other powers conferred on the Director, the Director has power to do all things necessary or convenient to be done for or in connection with, or incidental to, the performance of the Director's functions.

Subject to and in accordance with the State Service Act 2000, persons may be appointed or employed to assist the Director in carrying out the Director's functions under this Act.

The Secretary of the Department may make arrangements for State Service officers and State Service employees employed in the Department and, with the approval of another Head of a State Service Agency, for State Service officers and State Service employees employed in that Agency to be made available to the Director to enable the Director to perform the Director's functions.

The officers and employees made available to the Director may, in conjunction with State Service employment, serve the Director in any capacity.

The Director may delegate any of the Director's functions or powers under this Act other than this power of delegation.

The Minister may give directions in writing to the Director with respect to the performance of the Director's functions.

The directions may be given generally or in relation to a particular matter.

The Director must perform his or her functions in accordance with the directions.