Energy Network Infrastructure And The Climate Change Challenge

New Energy Network Infrastructure & the Climate Change Challenge Report

Climate change is emerging as a major economic and social challenge for energy network businesses and a new Report has estimated the additional cost to energy networks will be approximately $2.5 billion over the next 5 years.

Australia's peak energy body, the Energy Networks Association (ENA), will today release a report by Parsons Brinckerhoff Australia to ENA on Energy network infrastructure and the climate change challenge (www.ena.asn.au/udocs/PB-Report-and-Note.pdf)

"As the report makes clear, electricity and gas network businesses are intrinsically linked to the challenges, opportunities and solutions regarding climate change. The life expectancy of network-related infrastructure is around 30 or more years. This means there is now an urgent need to consider and implement new policies that will enable electricity and gas distribution infrastructure to maintain the services expected of them in the future," ENA CEO Andrew Blyth said.

The purpose of this report is to inform relevant Australian policy makers, policy advisers and regulators of the challenges facing energy network businesses imposed by climate change, to provide industry options for addressing the issues, both in relation to adaptation and mitigation, and to identify opportunities for network businesses into the future.

Ends.

For further information contact:
Andrew Blyth
CEO Energy Networks Association
0408 977 758

Michael Kilgariff
National Director Energy Infrastructure Policy & Government Affairs
0418 627 995

The Energy Networks Association (ENA) is the peak national body for Australia's energy networks which provide the vital link between gas and electricity producers and consumers. ENA represents gas distribution and electricity network businesses on economic, technical and safety regulation and national energy policy issues.

SOURCE: Energy Networks Association