Latest news with #EndeavourEnergy
SBS Australia
02-07-2025
- Climate
- SBS Australia
SBS News in Easy English 2 July 2025
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts . Almost 200 properties have been flooded and thousands more are without power thanks to wild weather on Australia's east coast. The State Emergency Service says homes on Burrill Lake on the New South Wales south coast have been inundated. Meanwhile Endeavour Energy says more than 17,000 homes and businesses from western Sydney down to the Illawarra are without power. Several flights have also been cancelled from Sydney Airport for the second consecutive day. Helen Reid, from the Bureau of Meteorology, says the impacts will continue into the evening. "There is a severe weather warning for damaging and damaging winds and heavy rainfall, which extends across the New South Wales coastal fringe from Foster to Bega into the alpine areas of parts of the southern tablelands and the northern tablelands as well. Damaging winds remain possible today across the warning areas. Most likely this morning, with average gale force wind gusts around 60 to 70 kilometres an hour with gusts getting up to 90 to 110 kilometres an hour." Five Australian citizens have flown out of Iran as a ceasefire between the country and Israel continues to hold. The group have travelled on a commercial flight from Mashhad to Dubai with Australian government assistance. More than 50 other Australians have successfully crossed the border by land and have been met by Australian officials. More than 150 people have received border codes for Azerbaijan. The Israeli military has acknowledged Palestinian civilians have been killed at controversial aid distribution points in Gaza. The Palestinian health ministry estimates more than 500 have died seeking aid from Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites. Local medics and witnesses say 11 people died in the latest incident. Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, says he disputes the number of casualties. "Unfortunately, there were a few incidents. But I can tell you one thing for sure, the numbers that were reported by Hamas were not correct - they were lies. They try to create the impression that it's not safe and people should not go there." Foreign Minister Penny Wong has met her U-S counterpart on the sidelines of a meeting of the Quad alliance in Washington. Senator Wong says she made the case for a tariff exemption for Australia, as well as discussing defence arrangements. Some have speculated AUKUS could be in the firing line after the US launched a review of the agreement in June. But the Minister says such reviews are not an unusual step for a new US administration to take. The Senator has told Channel 9 she remains confident in the AUKUS arrangements and Australia's place in the QUAD. "We're back here again, and it was an excellent meeting this morning. It reminded us of how much our four nations share, how we can work together to meet the urgent challenges we face." Australia's first truth-telling inquiry has found Victoria's Aboriginal people were victims of crimes against humanity and genocide during the state's colonisation. An internal rift however has marred the release of the final report from the Yoorrook Justice Commission. Three of the five commissioners declined to approve of the inclusion of the key findings. But Commission chair Eleanor Bourke has said she lived through many of the policies described in the pages. South Australia is launching a review of education services that are outside of the state's mainstream school system. Those services are education and support programs for children and young people unable to attend mainstream sites for a variety of reasons. Those reasons might include disability, geographical isolation, or other complexities. About 10,000 students engage in non-mainstream programs in South Australia. A WARNING, THIS STORY INCLUDES CONTENT THAT MAY BE DISTRESSING FOR SOME LISTENERS Victorian premier Jacinta Allan says the state will change its Working with Children Check laws, after the charging of a childcare worker with more than 70 sex offences. It follows revelations the 26 year old man, who had worked for about 20 childcare centres over about eight years, held a valid Working with Children Check. "I'm sickened by these allegations of abuse. They are shocking and distressing and my heart just breaks for the families who are living every parent's worst nightmare." Victoria Police say the accused was not known to them until the start of the investigation. They also say there were no formal complaints against the accused.
The Guardian
01-07-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
NSW weather update: thousands without power and at least 200 properties affected by flooding as storm continues
Thousands are without power across New South Wales this morning after severe winds and heavy rain battered the state, with wind gusts up to 122km/h and several places receiving more than 200mm rain. The NSW State Emergency Service has responded to more than 2,320 incidents since a vigorous coastal low began lashing the state's east coast, bringing intense rainfall and strong winds. The majority of incidents involved fallen trees, powerlines and damaged roofs, the NSW SES said. Flood rescue crews also responded to numerous incidents related to flash flooding around Shoalhaven overnight. At least 35,000 remained without power on Wednesday morning, according to network operators Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Residents of Wamberal and North Entrance on the NSW Central Coast were asked to evacuate on Tuesday due to coastal erosion, with warnings ongoing on Wednesday morning for dangerous waves which could significantly damage buildings, and the NSW SES door-knocking those affected. The Bureau of Meteorology reported widespread falls of 50 to 100mm across the Illawarra and the south coast in the 21 hours to 6am Wednesday. Significant rainfall totals included Morton, which received 242mm, Ulladulla 223mm, Willinga Lake 203mm, and Fitzroy Falls and Robertson both received 200mm. Wind gusts of 122km/h were recorded at Montague Island, 104km/h at Penrigh and 104 km/h at Ulladulla, and 102km/h gusts were recorded at Sydney Harbour, according to the Bureau. The hazardous conditions were not over yet, said bureau meteorologist Helen Reid, with numerous warnings still in place on Wednesday. 'There is a severe weather warning for damaging and damaging winds and heavy rainfall, which extends across the NSW coastal fringe from Forster to Bega into the alpine areas of parts of the southern tablelands and the northern tablelands as well.' Average gale force wind gusts of 60 to 70km/h were forecast, and the possibility of gusts up to 110km/h. Areas affected included Newcastle, Gosford, Sydney, Wollongong, Armadale, Batemans Bay, Tenterfield, Maria Heads and Penrith. 'Winds could bring down trees or tree limbs lead to dangerous driving conditions due to crosswinds or debris being thrown across the roads lead to power outages and possible damage to cars and property,' Reid said. A driver was in critical condition after a tree fell and crushed his truck in Moss Vale in NSW's southern highlands overnight. NSW police said the 55-year-old driver was unconscious as police officers and emergency service workers extracted him, and treated for serious injuries to his head and torso before being taken to hospital. Conditions remained hazardous along the coast, across an area stretching from Seal Rocks to the Victorian border, with the potential for damaging surf, coastal erosion and damage to infrastructure. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion A widespread flood watch was still in place for catchments across the Hunter, central coast and tablelands, Illawarra and southern coast, with the expectation of minor to moderate flooding over coming days. The NSW SES issued emergency flood warnings for residents at Burrill Lake – where about 200 properties were impacted by flooding, some over floor level – to take shelter. Sanctuary Point residents were also under an emergency warning. Watch and act warnings were in place due to flooding for Lake Conjola, Burrill Lake, Lake Tabourie, St Georges Basin and surrounds. The state's acting SES assistant commissioner, Allison Flaxman ,said flash flooding was a significant risk and urged the community to take caution on roads. 'Roads are slippery, and conditions can become dangerous quickly,' she said. 'Please never drive, walk or play in floodwaters. If you do come across a flooded road, turn around and find an alternative route.' The vigorous coastal low, which was still lingering off the central Illawarra coast, was expected to continue to direct severe weather across eastern NSW for much of Wednesday, before gradually easing on Thursday.
Forbes
11-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Wired For Change: Endeavour Energy's Strategy For A Net-Zero Future
Between now and 2030, the energy network will change faster than it did in the last century. That's according to Guy Chalkley, CEO of Endeavour Energy. Chalkley was sharing his thoughts on navigating the energy transition at the recent SAP for Energy and Utilities 2025 conference in Rotterdam. 'Every success story is a tale of constant adaption, revision, and change,' he said, quoting Richard Branson, the British entrepreneur and founder of the Virgin Group. The topic of aviation was clearly on his mind—perhaps because he lives in a country where it takes five hours to fly from one side to the other. Endeavour Energy, the major network operator in New South Wales, Australia, delivers electricity to over 2.7 million people across the eastern coast of the country. 'We've typically added about 20,000 new customers each year,' Chalkley said. 'But what's really benefited Endeavour lately is a strong push—both from the federal and state governments—to move more people to Western Sydney.' Chalkley went on to explain that in ten years, 7 out of 10 new jobs and 7 out of 10 new residents will be based in Western Sydney. 'But it's not just about moving people—they're building the full infrastructure to support the move,' he said. 'A big part of this is the new Western Sydney International airport, which is acting as a major catalyst for all the development happening in the area.' Most airports are located in the middle of cities, so flights usually stop by 11 p.m. due to noise restrictions. Building a new airport in Western Sydney changes that. The new airport will operate 24/7 and be a major logistics hub. Amazon has already set up its central Australian distribution center there, along with many major supermarket distributors. The new airport will also open up access for international airlines, which currently struggle to get landing slots at Sydney's main airport. In addition, a brand-new city—Bradfield—is being developed around the airport and is expected to grow rapidly. The new airport is a transformative project for Australia's logistics and freight sectors, offering enhanced capacity, continuous operations, and integration with broader economic initiatives in the region. All of these developments come with a substantial demand for energy. Managing a complex energy system Endeavour Energy The energy ecosystem is complex. It includes transmission infrastructure to transport energy from generators such as wind or solar farms to supply stations. It includes electricity distributors such as Endeavour Energy to transport energy from the supply stations to the local substations, as well as retailers who handle billing and invoicing. It now also includes privately generated power and distributed energy resources (DER) to manage electricity that is generated and shared locally. With the rise of solar panels and home batteries, many households are now playing a direct role in creating and distributing energy. DER refers to the devices that can generate, store, and control energy to ensure its consumption at a particular time. The contribution of a single household to the network might seem insignificant, but the combined energy flow can have a significant impact on the network load. In this new scenario, energy is flowing two ways—from the customer to the network and vice versa, creating a challenge for traditional networks that were not designed for the two-way flow of power. Many adjustments are required to smooth the flows of fluctuating power and ensure power reliability. However, DER offers great benefits. When well managed, it allows more renewable power onto the network, which is often cost-effective. 'We are leveraging technology and data to plan the grid of the future where batteries, microgrids and solar integrate seamlessly with the traditional distribution network to power communities for a brighter future,' Chalkley explained. The company supplies an area over 25,000 square kilometers, with more than 430,000 power poles and streetlight columns, 202 major substations, and 32,600 distribution substations. They are all connected by nearly 60,600 kilometers of underground and overhead cables, more than the distance from Sydney to London and back. The network also integrates with renewable energy sources including 200,000 residential solar connections, industrial solar and embedded large-scale batteries. 'We're working with customers, stakeholders, and regulators to help deliver a clean energy future where smart meters, batteries, and solar enable customers to generate, store, and sell back electricity into the grid,' he said. For this reason, the company is deploying more than 80 community batteries throughout the network to alleviate some of the pressure on energy costs while increasing access to renewable energy. Chalkley highlighted the fact that such a vast network can't be reliable without being resilient to climate change. 'There's a growing dependence in society on electricity as we electrify everything,' he said. 'We have a detailed strategy for making our networks resilient against weather events like floods, bushfires, and increasing urban heat.' At Endeavour Energy, resilience is defined by the ability to anticipate, withstand, recover, and learn from major disruptive events. The resilience strategy includes: To achieve this level of resilience the company's strategy is fully aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 'From a distribution perspective, we're in a good place to actually effect change, as we're probably the link that allows other businesses to change,' Chalkley concluded. Because sustainability is not just an environmental issue, the company is engaging more with the community and customers. It is also investing heavily in innovation and in employee training to build the necessary skills and mindset for the future. Prepping for a net-zero future Endeavour Energy 'As a distribution company, our goal is to facilitate the transition to renewable energy to secure a more sustainable future,' he said.
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Why your electricity bill is set to spike within WEEKS
Australians in one state are facing a $228 annual hike in their electricity bills with the pain likely to get worse as government-funded rebates end and more charge electric cars at home. The Australian Energy Regulator final determination report, released on Monday, had bad news for consumers, starting on July 1 as winter pushes up demand for heaters. This is based on what retailers can charge customers in NSW, south-east Queensland and South Australia during the next financial year under a default market offer. High demand and network outages were blamed for the steep wholesale prices feeding into higher retail prices, along with low levels of renewable energy as Australian governments try to phase out coal-fired power stations. 'These spot prices were partially driven by a greater frequency of high price events, which resulted from a range of factors including high demand, coal generator and network outages, and low renewable generation output,' the AER said. In regional New South Wales, Essential Energy residential customers face the biggest increase of $228 or 9.1 per cent, with the AER citing 'improved network resilience to address climate change-related risks' along with 'the integration of consumer energy resources including rooftop solar, batteries and electric vehicles'. This takes the average annual electricity bill for 2025-26 to $2,741 , which is even steeper than the $188 or 8.5 per cent increase for Endeavour Energy customers in Sydney, who will be paying $2,411. The increases in NSW were up to 6.7 per cent above forecast inflation, with more homes having a smart meter monitoring when residents used electricity. 'Retail costs have risen for all customers in each region of NSW, primarily due to increases in retailers' operating costs,' the AER said. 'Increases in bad and doubtful debt costs and smart meter costs also contributed to the overall increases.' In south-east Queensland, Energex's increases were more moderate at $77 or 3.7 per cent, or 1.3 per cent above forecast inflation to an average of $2,143. South Australians were set to see a $71 or 3.2 per cent increase, which was 0.8 per cent above predicted inflation for SA Power Networks customers, for an average bill of $2,301. Canstar data insights director Sally Tindall said the increases were bad news for customers. 'These electricity price hikes will knock the wind out of the sails for many families, just when they thought they'd turned a corner in the cost-of-living crisis,' she said. 'Price hikes of up to $228 for an average household will be too much for some families to bear, particularly as we enter one of the most energy-intensive periods of the year.' The AER projected bigger increases for customers without a controlled load, where an electrical appliance like a dishwasher can be operated at a different time to the rest of the home to save money during an off-peak period. The federal government's quarterly $75 rebates were extended until the end of December in the pre-election March Budget, where the price came off the bill without customers having to lodge an application for relief. This has seen electricity bills fallen by 9.6 per cent in the year to March, helping to reduce headline inflation to just 2.4 per cent. The AER argued its determination regarding existing customers struck a balance between 'protecting consumers from unjustifiably high prices, while also allowing retailers to recover costs'. 'Retail costs have seen larger increases in all regions,' it said. 'While this source of costs makes up a smaller portion of the total price, the rate of growth means it has contributed more than other elements to the price rises in some regions.' Wholesale power prices make up 31 to 45 per cent of the AER's default market offer arrangement on electricity bill increases, compared with 11 to 16 per cent for retail costs. Network costs made up 33 to 48 per cent of the approved price rise.
ABC News
23-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
lllawarra named as NSW's first urban renewable energy zone in push for local power solutions
The NSW government has launched a new approach to renewable energy in the Illawarra, pitching the region as the state's first "urban renewable energy zone". The model leans heavily on local solar, community batteries, and existing infrastructure rather than large-scale projects. Energy Minister Penny Sharpe said the plan marked a shift from traditional renewable energy zones (REZs) in places like the Orana and South West. "It's not about big generation and transmission," she said. "It's about how we support the infrastructure that's already here, how we prepare for green manufacturing, and how we make the most of the solar and storage potential across homes, businesses and communities." The announcement in Port Kembla at the BlueScope steel terminal — where renewable energy research is underway — included a memorandum of understanding with Endeavour Energy. It set the groundwork for trials of new grid technologies and incentives for solar uptake. Endeavour's Colin Crisafulli said the goal was to make the most of the infrastructure already in place. "We're looking at how we can store more energy, share it locally, and avoid rebuilding the grid where we don't need to," he said. At the University of Wollongong, energy researcher Ty Christopher said the consumer focus in the REZ could deliver 300 megawatts of local energy. "An urban REZ could certainly get it into the hundreds of megawatts of capacity," he said. "With more generation on homes and businesses, and in particular with the ability to store and time shift all of that clean energy so that it's available in the evening ." He said leaning into the local support for renewables with an urban REZ would "really play to the strengths of the region". Even with the local consumer energy contributions, the government is still a way off its commitment of 1 gigawatt of energy creation for the Illawarra zone. Professor Christopher said the local REZ would still require bigger solutions like offshore wind to power heavy industry like BlueScope. "You can't run a steelworks on rooftop solar," he said. "This needs to be part of a bigger mix, but this is something we can start now. "One of the big challenges from a political perspective with the Urban REZ concept is it's not going to create one big thing that you can string a ribbon in front of and just cut. The announcement came just days after the federal government lifted a pause on consultation for offshore wind off the Illawarra coast. The applicant, BlueFloat, told the ABC it was not discussing the Illawarra project but focused on its plans for the Gippsland offshore wind zone. Hi Neighbour founder Yael Stone, who earlier this year criticised the lack of visible progress since the Illawarra REZ was first announced, welcomed the urban REZ approach as a smart and community-led next step. "I'm thrilled at the announcement," she said. "It reflects what groups like Electrify 2515 and Hi Neighbour have been working toward — small-scale, local energy projects that create jobs and cut bills." She said Illawarra residents were already tuned in to the benefits of household solar, batteries and smarter grid interaction. Stone saw the urban REZ concept as a "companion piece" to the federal move to resume offshore wind planning and said her group had already helped install solar on local manufacturing rooftops, using the returns to fund training scholarships. "There's a kind of circularity that feeds itself — these projects create economic benefit and they enrich communities," she said.
