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Electricity distributor, EnergyAustralia, might need to spend almost $8-billion on its electricity network between 2014 and 2019. This announcement comes as the electricity industry debates the merit of so-called smart grids, which are set to build communications technology into power networks. This could offer consumers more information about the power they use, allow utilities to know more about usage patterns and also allow power to flow into the grid from consumers’ own generation facilities such as solar panels. EnergyAustralia has been chosen as prime contractor for a consortium planning to spend $100-million on a smart grid program in Newcastle although the majority of the $8-billion of spending later this decade is destined for replacement work. Regulated electricity bills for many NSW households and small businesses are set to rise by between 20 and 42% over the three years to June 2013. Customers of EnergyAustralia can expect prices to rise by a total of 36% by June 2013.

Excerpt from: The Australian Financial Review (www.afr.com), 1 September 2010