Ergon Energy

Ergon Energy Network is a subsidiary company of Energy Queensland Limited (EQL) a Government owned corporation owned by the Government of Queensland.[2] It distributes electricity to around 763,000 customers across Queensland, excluding South East Queensland through a distribution network regulated by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) who set the prices that Ergon is allowed to charge for distribution.[3]

Ergon Energy Network
TypeGovernment-owned corporation
IndustryEnergy
PredecessorVarious electricity boards
FoundedJuly 1, 1999 (1999-07-01)
FounderGovernment of Queensland
Headquarters
Townsville, Queensland
,
Australia
Area served
Queensland
Key people
Peter Scott
Energy Queensland CEO
Sarah Zeljko
Energy Queensland Chairperson
ProductsElectricity distribution
RevenueA$5.289 billion (Energy Queensland 2022-23)[1]
Total assetsA$29.2 billion (Energy Queensland 2022-23)[1]
OwnerGovernment of Queensland
ParentEnergy Queensland Limited
Websitewww.ergon.com.au

History

Ergon was formed in 1999 by the Queensland Government, from the then six regional Queensland electricity distributors and their subsidiary retailers. In 2007, the Queensland Government sold approximately 50,000 contestable electricity customers and retailer trading activities to AGL. Smaller electricity customers which are not economic continue to be billed by Ergon Energy and the electricity distribution network remains in public ownership. Ergon Energy became a subsidiary of EQL on 1 July 2016.[4]

Operations

Today the principal operating companies are Ergon Energy Corporation Limited, as the electricity distributor, and its subsidiary Ergon Energy Queensland Pty Ltd, the electricity retailer. Ergon Energy's retailer is only permitted, by legislation, to sell electricity at the Queensland Government's Notified Prices (overseen by the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA)[5]), enabling Queenslanders to access the same uniform electricity tariffs.

The electricity generation and distribution network consists of approximately 178,000 kilometres of powerlines and one million power poles, along with associated infrastructure such as major substations and power transformers.[6] Ergon Energy also owns and operates 33 stand-alone power stations that provide supply to communities across Queensland which are not connected to the main electricity grid. Since August 2007, Ergon Energy has owned and operated the gas-fired Barcaldine Power Station along with its associated infrastructure, which supplies power to the main grid.

Windorah Solar Farm, 2019

In 2009, Ergon Energy established its first solar farm in Windorah. The Windorah Solar Farm provides electricity to the town of Windorah and surrounding rural areas.[7][8]

In regional Queensland, retail competition is limited and most customers continue to be supplied by Ergon Energy under a standard contract.[9] While the company has been criticised in the past for not keeping up with innovations in electricity supply such as smart meters which the state of Victoria has been acknowledged as the national leader, it is catching up with consumer-based applications that can be used to monitor energy usage in real time.[10][11][12] Ergon Energy Retail has been a principal partner of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) since 2000.[13] Over 20 years, Ergon Energy employees and customers have donated more than $16 million towards improved emergency and routine medical care facilities throughout Queensland.[14]

See also

References
  1. "Annual Report 2022-23". Energy Queensland. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  2. "Energy Queensland". Energy Queensland. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  3. "IBISWorld - Industry Market Research, Reports, and Statistics". www.ibisworld.com. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  4. "Energy Queensland Ltd Annual Report 2017-18" (PDF). Energy Queensland Ltd.
  5. "About the retail electricity markets". QCA. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  6. Natural Resources, Mines and Energy (16 February 2012). "Electricity distribution". www.business.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  7. "Windorah Solar Farm". Tourism & Events Queensland. Queensland Government. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  8. Moore, Tony (24 August 2016). "The rise and fall and rise of solar in outback Queensland". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  9. "About the retail electricity markets". QCA. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  10. "What's the deal with energy in regional Queensland?". Canstar Blue. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  11. "Queensland businesses 'illegally overcharged' by Ergon Energy". ABC. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  12. Energy, Ergon (19 March 2019). "Register for Energy Analysis". Ergon Energy. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  13. "Ergon Energy | Royal Flying Doctor Service". www.flyingdoctor.org.au. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  14. Banda, Bart (6 September 2020). "Royal Flying Doctor Service". Ergon Energy. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
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