Former Adelaide VC on SA blackout review panel

A pair of energy company executives, the Clean Energy Regulator boss and a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Adelaide will help Chief Scientist Alan Finkel with his review of the South Australian blackout.

Oct 25, 2016, updated Oct 25, 2016

NSW chief scientist and former University of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor Professor Mary O'Kane. Photo: AAP/Alan Porritt

The whole state was plunged into darkness during a damaging storm that downed transmission lines in September and Finkel was asked to lead a review of the incident expected to create a blueprint for increased energy security across the national market.

Energy ministers have now appointed panel members to help him, including former Origin Energy finance and strategy director Karen Moses, Clean Energy Regulator chief executive Chloe Munro, NSW chief scientist and former University of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor Mary O’Kane, and former chief executive of Queensland’s Energex Terry Effeney.

The review will develop a “national reform blueprint to maintain energy security and reliability in the NEM”, including coming up with policy, legislative and rule changes to maintain security, reliability and affordability in the system as it transitions to greater levels of renewable energy.

A preliminary report will be prepared by the COAG meeting in December, with a final report to be delivered in the new year.

– with AAP

Topics: Alan Finkel, blackout, Mary O'Kane

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