The Queensland Renewable Energy Council (QREC) has welcomed progress on the Queensland Government’s Connections Guarantee, saying faster, more transparent grid connections will help strengthen Queensland’s competitiveness in attracting private investment.
QREC Chief Executive Officer Katie-Anne Mulder said the new connection performance measures for Powerlink and Energy Queensland represent tangible progress on a key commitment in the Government’s Energy Roadmap as it approaches its first anniversary.
“The Connections Guarantee is exactly the kind of practical reform that can make Queensland a more attractive place to invest,” Ms Mulder said.
“That message was reinforced at the Queensland Energy Investment Forum in Brisbane last night, which brought together investors and industry leaders to discuss how Queensland can compete more effectively for private capital.
“Queensland is competing for investment not only with every other Australian jurisdiction, but increasingly with opportunities overseas. If we can offer a connection process that is faster, clearer and more accountable, that becomes a genuine competitive advantage.
“The Government has made clear it wants the private sector, both Australian and international, to play a central role in investing in Queensland’s future electricity system. Improving the connection process is one of the most effective ways government and network businesses can help turn that ambition into investment.”
The Crisafulli Government announced the Connections Guarantee as part of its Energy Roadmap, introducing new key performance indicators covering connection enquiries, access standards and project delivery by Powerlink, alongside connection performance measures for Energy Queensland. Public reporting will provide proponents and customers with greater visibility of performance and connection timeframes.
Ms Mulder said the initiative comes at an important time as Queensland seeks to attract the generation, storage and network infrastructure needed to meet growing electricity demand and support emerging industries.
“As the Energy Roadmap approaches its first anniversary, the focus increasingly needs to be on implementation and translating policy commitments into measurable improvements for project proponents,” she said.
“The Connections Guarantee is an important step in that direction and responds directly to concerns that investors and developers have consistently raised.
“Queensland has world-class energy resources and a strong pipeline of investment opportunities. Improving the connection experience will help ensure more Australian and international capital chooses Queensland, supporting jobs, economic growth and long-term energy security.”
View the Queensland Government media statement