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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 6 Hansard (16 May) . . Page.. 1747 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

While the establishment of the office is a key initiative in developing sustainability, the government is working on a range of other commitments that are also relevant. A social plan, an economic white paper, and a spatial plan are a few of the integrated initiatives that we have promised to deliver, initiatives that are part of this government's commitment to achieving a sustainable way of life.

The ACT is also an active participant in the Commonwealth/State Ministerial Council on Energy, the interjurisdictional forum that takes an active role in developing an ecologically sustainable energy policy. The council oversees such initiatives as energy efficiency rating schemes for appliances, houses and commercial buildings. The council is also concerned with reducing the barriers for renewable energy enterprises entering the market, as well as with the potential for setting policy directions on issues such as demand side management and distributor generation, which are aimed at the more ecologically and economically sound use of energy.

The ActewAGL partnership agreement requires that services are provided in accordance with all applicable regulatory requirements, including the Utilities Act, the Environment Protection Act and the Public Health Act. The Utilities Act enables the government and the Assembly to determine the relevant standards and conditions with which all utilities, including ActewAGL, must comply. These standards and conditions are contained in codes that deal with consumer protection and safety, and other issues.

The Utilities Act requires utilities to have operating licences, the conditions of which each utility must comply with, as well as complying with the relevant codes of practice. The Utilities Act has also established the Essential Services Consumer Council, to deal with unresolved consumer complaints.

The electricity supply of last resort code also binds ActewAGL. Should an electricity supplier be unable to continue to supply electricity to customers, then ActewAGL, as the distributor, is required to supply that electricity upon notification.

The Utilities Act also requires utilities to carry out their community service obligations. The last budget allocated $9.1 million to Actew so that it could carry out a range of CSOs. The majority of those relate to pensioner concessions in respect of electricity, water and sewerage charges, and the provision of water and sewerage services at half price to community organisations, such as schools and churches.

Actew's principal objectives require it to exhibit a sense of social responsibility by having regard to the interests of the community in which it operates. They also require that, where its activities also affect the environment, Actew conducts its operations in compliance with the principles of ecologically sustainable development. Schedule 4 of the TOC Act also requires Actew to integrate economic and environmental considerations into its decision-making process. Actew's board is obliged to ensure that its various objectives are carried out, not only in relation to the activities of Actew, but also in relation to the activities of ActewAGL, because of Actew's significant investment in the joint venture.

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