Electricity grid comes under scrutiny

A parliamentary committee is looking at how Australians interact with the electricity grid and how it should be modernised.

Committee chairman Andrew Broad

A parliamentary committee is looking at how Australians interact with the electricity grid. (AAP)

Australia's electricity grid is being thoroughly scrutinised by federal politicians, with a third parliamentary inquiry under way.

A lower house committee will examine the community's expectations of the electricity grid and the challenges and opportunities in its modernisation.

It comes on top of Senate inquiries into the resilience of electricity infrastructure and the retirement of coal-fired power stations.

Committee chairman Andrew Broad said new technologies such as renewables and storage were already transforming the energy network.

The Nationals MP wants to hear from people what their priorities are for the electricity grid and how it could better meet their needs.

"The grid is essential to our way of life, but it is complex and needs careful consideration," he said on Tuesday.

Deputy chairman, Labor MP Pat Conroy, said there was a legitimate debate about how Australia's electricity would be generated in the future and it was clear the existing grid was already reaching the limits of what it was designed to do.

The committee has launched an online survey for people to share how they use electricity in their household or business, and is accepting submissions until April 28.


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Source: AAP


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