2 minute read
Small players challenge the Big Three
Small players challenge Big Three
Recent years has seen a renewable revolution with a shift toward smaller eco energy providers. Jake Kendall reports.
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The release of the Green Electricity Guide in February by Greenpeace with the support of Surry Hills-based Total Environment Centre, reflects significant changes in the electricity market.
“The latest results show a real changing of the guard,” says Mark Byrne, TEC’s energy market advocate. “In each of the previous guides, Powershop took the top spot. Now that mantle has been taken by Enova Energy, a small, community owned retailer based in Byron Bay.”
Powershop dropped several places because it is now owned by Shell, one of the world’s largest fossil fuel producers, which degrades its green power reputation.
Small energy retailers such as Enova, Diamond Energy, Energy Locals and others are challenging the Big Three providers — Origin, AGL and EnergyAustralia — with their commitment to source only renewable energy for their customers.
“These new retailers are introducing improved ways of serving their customers, including tariffs that allow people to buy from and sell to the grid at times that suit them,” says Byrne.
They are also committed to working with communities to ensure that the power and profits stay local. “Some, like Enova, are investing in innovations like community scale batteries to make the most use of rooftop solar energy exported to the grid,” says Byrne.
However, as Byrne emphasises, there is still a long way to go. “We mustn't lose sight of the end point of the energy transition — which is a zerocarbon energy system.”
After all, Australia’s electricity grid is still about two-thirds powered by coal and gas. “We need to pick up the pace, by quitting coal and gas and investing in renewables and energy storage, to have the best chance of staying within the global goal of 1.5 degrees of global heating,” says Byrne.
To this end, TEC is considering formally proposing a change to the National Electricity Rules that would require all retailers to calculate and publish the emissions intensity of their sales to customers.
“There is only one source of the electrons that flow to your home or business,” explains Byrne. “But retailers have choices about where they buy their electricity from. Unfortunately, at present that information is very difficult to obtain. We want to make it mandatory and transparent.”
Time to take action
By switching to greener electricity providers, together we can force dirty coal and gas out of the grid and bring more renewable electricity in, sending a clear message to electricity companies that it’s time to get serious about tackling climate change.
