ESI Deregulation in Australia and New Zealand
Abstract
"Deregulation" of the Electricity Supply Industry is aimed at the introduction of competition into the production and sale of electricity. In Australia and New Zealand, it has caused major restructuring of the previously government owned and vertically integrated utilities. Utility reorganisation has been directed largely at a rationalisation of cost structures and has resulted in changed ways of working within the deregulated entities. Traditional relationships with industry providers, including consulting engineers have changed accordingly and this paper examines some of the effects of these changes which are ongoing.
This paper explores some of these impacts and is approached through a consulting engineer’s perspective of the relative interests of the parties with reference to Australia and New Zealand. It seems likely that there will have been similar and different outcomes in other countries and that history will repeat itself when further deregulation occurs elsewhere.