This Month
Victorians warned to expect energy shortages and higher prices
Victorians face a catastrophic risk of energy shortfalls and more than doubling of prices over the next 10 years, according to modelling released by Infrastructure Victoria.
Victoria warned about risky funding to revive wind farm plans
The Allan government is being warned not to use a contracts-for-difference funding model to revive its plans for the struggling Gippsland offshore wind farm zone.
Victoria’s offshore wind plans in chaos after Bowen’s rejection
The Victorian opposition warns the state’s $100 billion offshore wind rollout is in chaos after federal Labor rejected the country’s second-most advanced project in Gippsland.
February
Allan forced to release Victoria’s secret solar modelling
The Victorian government has released secret energy modelling warning about the impact of rooftop solar on the energy grid after a one-year legal battle.
September 2024
Gas ‘reality dawning’ for Victorian government, says exploration firm
Lakes Blue Energy chief operating officer Tim O’Brien has welcomed the Allan government’s public softening of its stance on gas.
May 2024
Offshore wind plan in ‘Labor limbo’ as Port of Hastings stalls
The state opposition claims Victoria’s offshore wind policy is in “disarray” after Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio could not guarantee a key terminal would proceed.
Energy funding chopped under weight of Victoria’s debt
Experts say this week’s state budget shows the Victorian government has prioritised major transport projects over the energy transition.
February 2024
Businesses suffer as Victoria outage blame game erupts
Pramod Patel turfed more than $20,000 worth of stock after his Victorian grocery store lost power for four days, but the political blame game rages on.
The states hold the key to Chris Bowen’s energy transition dreams
Execution of the plan will depend on the co-operation of a group of sometimes hard-to-please energy ministers.
January 2024
Victoria suggests wind power before wetlands: Allan
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the energy transition must take precedence over protecting internationally renowned local wetlands after a project central to its offshore wind plans was blocked.
December 2023
Plan to charge up to $31k for gas connections in Victoria
The latest Allan government’s strategy to wean Victorians off gas could charge businesses and households up front connection fees rather than via bills over time.
Victoria to offer discounts to switch stoves from gas to electric
The Victorian government has expanded its plan to end the use of consumer gas by offering discounts for residents upgrading to electric induction cooktops.
November 2023
Labor moves to lock Victoria into public electricity commission
The Allan government is moving to enshrine the revived State Electricity Commission in Victoria’s constitution to stop a future Liberal government from being able to scrap it.
August 2023
The green hobby farmers seeing red over $1.5b wind farm
More than 80 per cent of residents oppose the construction of a wind farm in Victoria’s Strathbogie Ranges, a survey found, posing a big challenge for developers.
Andrews backs minister against branch stacking claims
Daniel Andrews is standing by Lily D’Ambrosio amid allegations that her Labor branch forged the signatures of deceased people on Labor membership forms.
July 2023
Victoria left to go it alone on gas ban to new homes
Other states have rejected the move, saying gas pipelines could be used to blend hydrogen as part of plans to reduce greenhouse emissions.
Surging costs are threatening Gippsland’s offshore wind dream
The next few months will see 37 proposals for huge wind farms off Victoria whittled down to five or six, but costs and resources remain big challenges.
Vic gas ban is no spectacular win for the climate
Forcing new homes to be all-electric from 2024 has capped growth in household gas use in the country’s biggest gas-consuming state, but Victoria’s supply problem remains.
Victoria bans new homes from connecting to gas
The state, which has the highest use of residential gas in Australia, will ban all new homes that require a planning permit from connecting to gas.
May 2023
Andrews’ $1b SEC ‘stunt’ left in budget dark
Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio has defended limited funding being committed to bringing back the State Electricity Commission.