Latest news with #NationalElectricity
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
NE plan, SEC rules: Nepra concerned at proposed amendments
ISLAMABAD: National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has expressed serious reservations over certain proposed amendments to the National Electricity (NE) Plan 2023–27 and the Supplier Eligibility Criteria (SEC) Rules, 2023, warning that some provisions may hinder the implementation of the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM). According to sources close to the Nepra Registrar, the concerns were raised in response to an Office Memorandum issued by the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) on April 21, 2025. The memorandum sought the Authority's feedback on amendments to both the NE Plan and SEC Rules. Nepra emphasised that the framework for recovery of stranded costs, a critical issue under market liberalisation and open access, should be embedded in the NE Plan itself. Addressing such matters through secondary documents, the Authority noted, runs counter to the intent of Section 14A of the Nepra Act. Nepra hints at negative tariff adjustment of Rs1.80/unit Nepra strongly opposed the interim approach laid out in Strategic Directive 87, which proposes recovering stranded costs equal to total generation capacity charges from bulk power consumers of suppliers of last resort. This method previously obstructed the rollout of the CTBCM, the Authority observed. Instead, it recommended that a comprehensive cost recovery mechanism be integrated directly into the NE Plan to avoid further delays and ensure the regulatory predictability. The Authority also questioned the proposed 800MW cap on open access. It pointed out that the Nepra Act, the NE Policy, and the approved CTBCM design do not specify any such a limit. Furthermore, there is no clarity on the method of allocation—whether it would be uniform, phased annually, or whether it includes bilateral contracts, merchant generation, or captive generation. Nepra advised against a fixed ex-ante cap, warning it could lead to market confusion and delay. As an alternative, it suggested that the NE Plan include a clause allowing the Federal Government, in consultation with Nepra, to impose a temporary cap based on market response. Such a cap should be executed through a transparent, competitive regulatory framework, ensuring flexibility and responsiveness without harming regulated consumers. With respect to the SEC Rules, Nepra reaffirmed its position that Rule 5, which pertains to the determination, recovery, or collection of specific charges, exceeds the legal mandate under Section 23E of the Nepra Act. That section only authorises the Federal Government to set eligibility criteria based on solvency, technical capability, and public service obligations. Nepra previously raised these objections in a letter of May 17, 2023, during an earlier consultation process. It also noted that Rule 5 is currently under litigation in Writ Petition No. 4492/2023 (APTMA v. Federation of Pakistan & Others) in the Islamabad High Court. In light of this, Nepra recommended that Rule 5 be deleted and the SEC Rules brought into full compliance with the Nepra Act to avoid jurisdictional conflict and legal ambiguity. Wrapping up its comments, Nepra urged the Ministry to revisit the proposed amendments to both the NE Plan and the SEC Rules, taking into account the Authority's legal and operational concerns. It stressed that ensuring consistency with the Nepra Act and facilitating a smooth rollout of the CTBCM is critical to achieving market liberalization objectives without regulatory or legal setbacks. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Times
27-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Singapore's renewables usage hits record high as imports, solar output rise
[SINGAPORE] Singapore boosted the share of renewables in its power generation mix to a record high in May, an analysis of the latest market data showed, as the country ramped up renewable imports and accelerated local solar power generation. Domestic solar generation in May rose at the fastest pace since March 2024 and renewable imports rose a third straight month to their highest in more than two years, lifting the share of renewables in the city-state's power mix to 2.58 per cent, data from the National Electricity Market of Singapore showed. Regional electricity trade is crucial to Singapore's aim to become carbon neutral by 2050, as Asia's second-smallest country has limited renewable energy potential. Cross-border power trade is also seen as key to easing regional reliance on fossil fuels amid growing data centre-driven power demand. Gas-fired power plants in Singapore account for about 95 per cent of its power capacity. In the five months through May, the data showed Singapore imported 122.7 million kilowatt-hours of clean power – 0.52 per cent of total generation – through the Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore (LTMS) power trade route that was set up in 2022. It did not import any power during the same period last year, the data showed, and only started importing small quantities in the last quarter of 2024. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up The share of imports in Singapore's power mix rose for a third straight month in May, displacing some fossil fuel-fired generation. Singapore's total electricity generation grew 0.4 per cent during the first five months, the data showed. Though the imported power came through the LTMS framework, all of it originated from neighbouring Malaysia under a 50-megawatt supply agreement reached last year with Malaysian state utility Tenaga Nasional Berhad, said a source familiar with the matter who was not authorised to speak with media. Singapore's Energy Market Authority (EMA) did not respond to a request for comment. The EMA last year doubled the capacity of electricity that can be traded in the second phase of the LTMS to 200 MW through additional supply from Malaysia. It said in October, however, that it had yet to finalise the terms of an extension to the supply of hydropower generated in Laos and sent to Singapore via Thailand and Malaysia. REUTERS
Sydney Morning Herald
13-06-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Power bills to rise next month despite LNP promise
National Electricity bills will rise next month, despite the Queensland government promising households would pay less under the LNP. Loading
The Age
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
Power bills to rise next month despite LNP promise
National Electricity bills will rise next month, despite the Queensland government promising households would pay less under the LNP. Loading
Associated Press
14-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Jacobs Appointed Integrated Delivery Partner for Marinus Link
Interconnector project will accelerate Australia's renewable energy economy Supports reliable transmission of electricity and telecommunications between Tasmania and Victoria DALLAS, May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Jacobs (NYSE: J) was selected as the Integrated Delivery Partner for Marinus Link, an approximately 214 mile (345-kilometer) undersea and underground high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electricity and data interconnector designed to bolster energy security, promote renewable energy investment and deliver tangible benefits to consumers in Tasmania, Victoria and the broader National Electricity Market. Marinus Link's 1500-megawatt capacity is equal to the power supply for 1.5 million Australian homes. As the Integrated Delivery Partner, Jacobs will oversee the establishment and ongoing delivery of the first 750-megawatt stage, managing technical engineering and construction packages while implementing governance structures necessary for the high-voltage direct current cable and supporting substation infrastructure. 'Nations worldwide need reliable, affordable and low emission energy solutions,' said Jacobs President of Global Operations Patrick Hill. 'Jacobs, together with Marinus Link, will deliver a step-change to the Australian east coast electricity grid – increasing access to low carbon energy sources in Tasmania to support the nation's decarbonization targets. This Integrated Delivery Partnership will allow Jacobs to mobilize global experience in capital project execution, utility infrastructure enhancement, and future energy demand planning to assure delivery for this critical asset.' 'Our collaboration with Jacobs is pivotal to the successful delivery of this critical national energy infrastructure,' said Marinus Link CEO Designate, Stephanie McGregor. 'Marinus Link is listed as a priority for decarbonization on the Australian Government's National Renewable Energy Priority List and is classified as urgent in the Australian Energy Market Operator's optimal plan for the national grid.' Marinus Link aims to strengthen energy security and affordability by delivering low-cost renewable power, expanding and strengthening transmission and fiber capacity, and driving investment in clean energy industries. It is expected to create 3,300 jobs and generate $3.9 billion in economic growth, supporting business and a resilient National Electricity Market. Around the globe, Jacobs is advancing global energy infrastructure, shaping resilient and secure systems to form the backbone of thriving communities and economies. Projects include Suedlink in Europe, one of the world's largest underground high voltage power cables; as program manager and owners engineer for Xcel Energy's multi-billion-dollar transmission and distribution reliability program in the U.S.; and MTerra Solar in the Philippines, poised to become one of the world's largest solar farms. At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow – delivering outcomes and solutions for the world's most complex challenges. With approximately $12 billion in annual revenue and a team of almost 45,000, we provide end-to-end services in advanced manufacturing, cities & places, energy, environmental, life sciences, transportation and water. From advisory and consulting, feasibility, planning, design, program and lifecycle management, we're creating a more connected and sustainable world. See how at and connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Facebook. Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that do not directly relate to any historical or current fact. When used herein, words such as 'expects,' 'anticipates,' 'believes,' 'seeks,' 'estimates,' 'plans,' 'intends,' 'future,' 'will,' 'would,' 'could,' 'can,' 'may,' and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We base these forward-looking statements on management's current estimates and expectations, as well as currently available competitive, financial and economic data. Forward-looking statements, however, are inherently uncertain. There are a variety of factors that could cause business results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, uncertainties as to, the timing of the award of projects and funding and potential changes to the amounts provided for under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and other legislation and executive orders related to governmental spending, including any directive to federal agencies to reduce federal spending or the size of the federal workforce, and changes in U.S. or foreign tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances, including the impact of, and changes to tariffs and retaliatory tariffs or trade policies, that may adversely impact our future financial positions or results of operations, as well as general economic conditions, including inflation and the actions taken by monetary authorities in response to inflation, changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, changes in capital markets, the possibility of a recession or economic downturn, and increased uncertainty and risks, including policy risks and potential civil unrest, relating to the outcome of elections across our key markets and elevated geopolitical tension and conflicts, among others. For a description of these and additional factors that may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements, see our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company is not under any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform to actual results, except as required by applicable law. For press/media inquiries: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Jacobs
