ActewAGL

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ActewAGL
Private
Industry Utilities
Founded 3 October 2000 (2000-10-03)
Headquarters Canberra, Australia
Key people
Paul Frazer (Chairman),
Michael Costello (CEO)
Products Utility services:
Electricity retailing and distribution,
Natural gas
Revenue Decrease A$722.1m (2012)
Decrease A$162.6m (2012)
Owner ACTEW Corporation 50%,
AGL Energy 25%,
Singapore Power 25%
Number of employees
38 (6/2012); ~370 (7/2012)
Website www.actewagl.com.au
Footnotes / references
[1][2]
File:ActewAGL House.jpg
ActewAGL House in Canberra

ActewAGL is Australia's first multi-utility to offer electricity, natural gas, and telecommunication services through a bundle offer. At the time of its formation it was the only multi-utility of its kind in Australia.[3] ActewAGL comprises two joint ventures: a retail joint venture between AGL Energy and ACTEW Corporation and a distribution joint venture between Singapore Power and ACTEW Corporation. ActewAGL provides utility services in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and south-east New South Wales.

During 2012, its former water supply and wastewater management functions were handed back to ACTEW Corporation, who now trade as Actew Water.

History

ActewAGL was formed in October 2000 when the Australian Gas Light Company (AGL) and ACTEW Corporation, a government-owned enterprise of the ACT Government, entered into Australia's first utility joint venture.[4]

Following October 2006 business dealings with AGL and Alinta, ownership of ActewAGL's retail arm was shared equally between AGL Energy and ACTEW Corporation and ownership of ActewAGL's distribution arm was shared equally between Alinta and ACTEW Corporation. Further changes to the distribution partnership occurred when a consortium including Singapore Power purchased Alinta in 2007. Alinta changed its name in 2008 to Jemena.[5] The distribution partnership is now owned equally by Jemena and ACTEW Corporation.

In February 2004, ActewAGL entered into a management agreement with TransACT Capital Communications Pty Ltd.[6]

In June 2012, ACTEW Corporation did not renew ActewAGL's contact for the management and operation of the water and sewerage network of the ACT and surrounding area, managed since 2000.[2]

Green initiatives

Since its beginning, ActewAGL has continued to undertake several innovative programs to help the environment. They include the following.

  • Greenchoice – This is a program that lets residential and business customers support environmentally friendly green energy by paying a premium on their electricity bill (either fixed or percentage based plans). The additional payment is invested in renewable energy generation from sources like mini hydro, wind power and biomass.[7] The Greenchoice program is independently assessed by the Australian government's National Green Power Accreditation Program to guarantee that the green energy produced by ActewAGL comes from government-approved renewable energy sources. However Greenchoice customers are still charged for carbon tax on their Greenchoice energy, which even the CEO of ActewAGL admits is counterintuitive. This negates any financial benefit Greenchoice customers might otherwise have received by supporting carbon-neutral energy.[8]
  • ActewAGL hydro – While most hydro-electric developments require the building of dams and lakes, ActewAGL's mini-hydro uses an existing water supply to provide electricity that would otherwise come from fossil-fuel power stations.[9]
  • Solar farm – In early 2008 ActewAGL worked with the ACT Government to study the feasibility of developing a solar farm in the ACT. The study investigated the environmental impact, economic viability, and educational benefits of such a facility.[10][11] In May 2009 the ACT Government called for expressions of interest to construct, own and operate a solar power facility in the ACT. The government specified the facility must be capable of delivering power to at least 10,000 Canberra homes. ActewAGL responded to this request and in December 2009 were advised that they had been shortlisted to move through to the next stage of the selection process.[12]

See also

References

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  6. ActewAGL website, Our company, accessed 14 April 2008
  7. Canberra tries to stamp on its carbon footprint http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10499227
  8. http://www.actewagl.com.au/About-us/Media-centre-and-reports/2012/08/30/Letter-to-the-editor-Greenchoice.aspx
  9. Mount Stromlo Mini Hydro, http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/challenge/members/actew_agl.html
  10. ACT solar power facility http://www.actewagl.com.au/environment/solar/ACTsolarfeasibilitystudy.aspx
  11. Solar farm given go-ahead http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/03/2353764.htm
  12. Solar farms: tomorrow's forecast – sunny all the way http://www.actewagl.com.au/letspowerahead/environmental/solar.aspx

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