Edwell to lead power reform taskforce

Horizon Power chair Stephen Edwell has been picked to lead the state government’s Energy Transformation Taskforce, two months after a review into energy policy was first announced.

Mr Edwell assisted in designing the Wholesale Electricity Market and has been a board member of the Economic Regulation Authority and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

He will be joined by three other public servants on the committee.

They comprise state deputy under treasurer Michael Court, Public Utilities Office executive director Zaeen Khan and ministerial advisor Katherine Mckenzie.

The taskforce will deliver two reports, a Whole of System Plan and a Distributed Energy Resources Roadmap.

The latter will guide integration of battery storage, rooftop solar and electric vehicles.

Energy Minister Bill Johnston said Mr Edwell was experienced in the field.

“Mr Edwell was the inaugural chairperson of the Australian Energy Regulator and has successfully led major reform projects in Western Australia and Queensland, including creating WA’s electricity market,” Mr Johnston said.  

“I look forward to working with the taskforce, industry and consumer stakeholders to deliver on our vision of a cleaner and more resilient power system.”