The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is reportedly looking into claims by the Greens that AGL, Origin and TRUenergy are using their position to stymie the roll-out of competing wind and solar power projects.
According to a report on The Age published early Wednesday, The ACCC has confirmed to Greens deputy leader Christine Milne it will investigate her claims that the three ‘gentailers’ may be refusing to enter into power purchase agreements (PPA’s) to sell renewable energy sourced electricity generated by competitors.
The Age says Senator Milne wrote to the ACCC last month after related issues were raised with the Senator by unnamed renewable energy companies.
In early February, Senator Milne stated she was seeking meetings to ensure that Origin, TRU Energy and AGL, ” negotiate in good faith for reasonable power purchase agreements with major renewable energy developments.”
In questions to the Department of Energy on the power of the ‘gentailers’ later in February; Senator Milne expressed deepening concern over the issue and asked the following:
“Let me put it another way. Do you have a concern now that essentially we have got three players-TRUenergy, AGL and Origin-and that the requirement to have the PPAs and them involved in the consortium means that these companies basically can frustrate the establishment of solar? Some of them have a much higher investment in gas than in solar. They can make strategic decisions about the future of the industry. So is it time we actually looked at how we manage this? Are we ending up with the Coles and Woolworths of the energy sector?” Full transcript.
Concerns over AGL’s position on solar isn’t confined to circumstances surrounding large-scale projects. The company has come under fire recently for its attitude to home solar incentives as well. AGL’s chief executive is Michael Fraser, who is also Chairman of the Clean Energy Council (CEC).
