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MCC Economics and Finance has submitted a detailed response to the Australian Energy Market Commission’s (AEMC) proposed rules for accelerating smart meter deployment. Our submission examines several strategic trade-offs such as balancing consumer consent with retailer flexibility, flat tariffs versus cost-reflective pricing, and managing implementation costs while ensuring consumer benefits. It emphasises the importance of consumer-centric outcomes, particularly for vulnerable groups, and explores international examples from the UK, Finland, Germany, and France to highlight successful models of smart meter integration. MCC also raises questions about whether retailers are best positioned to lead the roll-out and suggests considering network companies for this role if early success is not achieved under the current proposal. The submission concludes by supporting the AEMC’s initiatives while advocating for ongoing evaluation and innovation to maximise consumer benefits.
This paper discusses the strategic trade-offs involved in implementing new rules, including balancing consumer protection with retailer flexibility and cost-effectiveness. It draws from international case studies to illustrate best practices for smart meter integration, particularly in relation to consumer benefits, technology, and phased implementation. The submission also questions whether retailers are best placed to lead the deployment and suggests considering network companies if needed. MCC fully supports the AEMC’s efforts and offers recommendations for ensuring the success of smart meter rollouts in Australia.
For instance, in the UK, extensive deliberation on pricing changes led to delays, highlighting the challenges of balancing stability with innovation.
I was delighted that MCC's work was completed on time, and within budget, helping us deliver important changes and improvements, to the benefit of our stakeholders. MCC's report is published on the CCC website.
I am delighted to recommend MCC Economics. Specifically, I worked closely with PJ, who helped us with our Nuclear and CCUS projects. PJ helped us develop new policies and answer questions from our stakeholders. His support helped us deliver important changes and improvements, to the benefit of our stakeholders.
MCC Economics has helped us better understand the most important issues for our stakeholders, including: charges, shareholder returns, debt payments and inflation impacts.
I am delighted to recommend PJ and his team at MCC Economics. We've been working together on National Policy Statements to help meet net zero targets for 2030 and 2050. We initially appointed MCC Economics to support us on offshore wind consultation analysis and have recently reappointed MCC Economics to undertake a larger consultation analysis role across all sectors, including hydrogen, CCUS and networks. I can confirm that PJ and his team have shown excellent spreadsheet skills, alongside very good project management, planning and analysis skills, helping us deliver important changes, and continuous improvements, to the benefit of our stakeholders.
I am delighted to recommend PJ and his team from MCC Economics. They helped us with our price controls for Heathrow airport and for NATS (En Route) plc (the air traffic services provider). Specifically, the MCC team helped us deliver important changes and improvements to our financial models and supporting policy documents, to the benefit of our stakeholders.
I am delighted to confirm that I worked with PJ on a retail project in 2015. The project helped stakeholders understand electricity costs and charges. Specifically, the project helped us explain to stakeholders, internally and externally, why electricity charges differed across the regions (GB, NI & Ireland). PJ was a key member on the project team, which helped deliver changes and improvements in the understanding of energy retail.
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