Former Synergy executive Stephanie Unwin is set to lead regional energy retailer Horizon Power next year, while Screenwest, SNC-Lavalin, Worksafe WA and Destination Perth have also announced significant appointments.
SPECIAL REPORT: Mathias Cormann has been deeply entwined in the federal government's fortunes this year, while a win on GST distribution has boosted standing for Mark McGowan and Ben Wyatt.
Older coal fired power stations such as Synergy's Muja C&D could begin closing in 2023, driven by changing market dynamics, while harsher carbon policies would accelerate shutdowns, according to a recent report by the Australian Energy Market Operator.
A new battery storage trial launched by utilities Synergy and Western Power in Mandurah will allow households to store residual energy from their solar panels and use it during peak periods.
An overnight decision by the Economic Regulation Authority will put downward pressure on power prices, with network operator Western Power ordered to further tighten its belt in the next four years.
Electricity retailer Synergy hit an after-tax profit of $24.3 million in the year to June, an improvement of $36 million, aided by about $140 million of state government subsidies, while increased uptake of household solar continues to put pressure on revenue.
SPECIAL REPORT: About $3 billion of electricity projects are in the pipeline in WA, but technological change and regulatory pressure are creating investment uncertainty.
State opposition leader Mike Nahan has locked in part of his party's energy policy early in the election cycle, pledging on the weekend to allow competition in retail power markets if his party wins the 2021 election.
Nearly 140 major projects are either under way or planned for WA, new research by Business News has found. Click through to access the new list on the BNiQ Search Engine.
It may have gone largely unnoticed in Western Australia, but a recent report into the east coast's electricity market could have major implications for the state, including for government-owned monopoly power business Synergy.
Mining services contractor Ausdrill has continued its board renewal, including the appointment of its first female director, just weeks after company founder Ron Sayers retired.
The state government will partially privatise title registry agency Landgate in a move expected to raise at least $640 million, with the money to be used to fund the state's share of the National Redress Scheme for child abuse victims.
SPECIAL REPORT: The rollout of next generation energy infrastructure such as batteries and microgrids is kicking off in WA, adding to the opportunities available for contractors in this space.
Securing union support for his bid to introduce competition into the local electricity retailing market will be a major test of Ben Wyatt's political and negotiating skills.
BN 25th Anniversary series- WA has been slow to introduce private ownership to some state industries, although a series of moves during the Court era generated benefits, according to one prominent WA economist.
Treasurer Ben Wyatt's ambition for increased private participation in the electricity sector remains, despite a slow start, touting it as part of a microeconomic reform program designed to lift productivity.
The state government has today announced that two private investors will co-invest with Synergy in a joint venture that is planning to build up to 210 megawatts of renewable energy projects in the South West Interconnected System.
A move that could dramatically reduce power bills for Perth residents is on the backburner, despite a similar process taking place in other parts of the state, so the government can appease unions, according to shadow energy minister Dean Nalder.
Clamping down on the governance of state-owned enterprises such as Synergy is just one major promise the McGowan government has made in response to the Langoulant special inquiry into government projects in the Barnett era, released yesterday.
A review of Barnett government programs and projects has identified a raft of shortcomings in governance, project management and financial management, and listed Royalties for Regions as the single biggest problem.
Changes to the accounting treatment of leases to be introduced next year could pose problems for the state government's financial boffins, bringing numerous contracts onto agency balance sheets, including potentially $1.3 billion worth in the case of power generator Synergy.
Engineering and construction contractor Monadelphous has secured a series of contracts worth about $110 million, including a three-year deal for work at the Muja power station in Collie.
Proceeds raised during last weekend's Mining Emergency Response Competition Mining Emergency Response Competition in Perth have gone towards an emergency responder wellness app developed by support services provider Holyoake.
A local power generator majority owned by Rod Jones's Hoperidge Capital has refinanced its bank debt through a $44 million bond issue which the company believes will give it more flexibility, including the potential to pursue a 100-megawatt solar farm.
Synergy intends to develop up to 280 megawatts of renewable energy projects in WA by 2020 after the McGowan government approved plans for a private investor to acquire a majority stake in its existing wind farm and solar farm and in two new projects.
Outgoing Synergy chairman Lyndon Rowe said today he was disappointed he could not continue at the energy utility after the state government announced oil and gas executive Rob Cole would take the role.
Across the state's major government-owned utilities, more money goes in through subsidies than out through dividends, according to the latest batch of annual reports.
The state government has set itself the target of increasing the number of women appointed to its boards, committees and advisory bodies to 50 per cent by 2019, though it has a long way to go before hitting gender equality at its major trading enterprises.
State-owned power generator and retailer Synergy has recorded a loss of $12.6 million for the 2017 financial year on the back of lower sales revenue and a large impairment due to the early closure of its generation capacity.
The McGowan government has announced the Wandoo minimum security prison will be returned to the public sector, despite an independent review this year finding private contractor Serco had met or exceeded expectations.
Grattan Institute energy program director Tony Wood has said the state government should proceed, but move cautiously, toward full retail contestability in the local electricity market, speaking at the Energy in WA conference today.
Energy Minister Ben Wyatt hopes to introduce laws to ease network access rules for new electricity generators by mid 2018, while acknowledging concerns about Synergy's market power in an address today at the Energy in Western Australia Conference.
SPECIAL REPORT: More than $1.6 billion of renewable energy projects are proposed for the South West Interconnected System, but their success may hinge on how the government handles two regulatory issues.
SPECIAL REPORT: As WA households benefit from increased competition in gas retailing, the electricity sector wants to be able to compete with Synergy in providing to small customers, with some industry members calling for a reduction in the contestability threshold to 20 megawatt hours.
Renewable energy company WestGen has moved close to proceeding with WA's second new solar farm this year, after appointing key contractors for its $75 million Byford project.
Samantha Tough has become the third director to step down this year from the board of 3D printing company Aurora Labs, which has experienced a wild ride since listing on the ASX last August, initially enjoying a spectacular share price rally before losing most of the gains.
Schools, aged care facilities, shopping centres and bars are among the eclectic mix of establishments installing solar panels, amid predictions commercial rooftop installations could grow by nearly a gigawatt in Perth and surrounds by 2037.
