The role of the Markets and Regulatory Policy Division (MRPD) is to develop policy solutions in the areas of energy markets and regulation to meet industry and consumer needs in Western Australia.

MRPD provides policy advice on both gas and electricity, including:

• developing and monitoring competitive market structures to deliver customer choice leading to greater efficiency, security and better service;
• advising on regulatory policy and structures for regulated energy infrastructure;
• participating in national energy policy development, ensuring that Western Australia participates where appropriate and that the policies develop take account of WA requirements;
• developing policy responses to market, regulatory and other trends which impact on the energy sector; and
• providing policy advice to the Economic Regulation Authority with respect to the Retail Energy Market Company Limited retail market scheme.

MRPD is headed by a Director and is composed of the Markets Branch, Regulatory Policy Branch, and the Government Energy Utilities Branch.

The Markets Branch focuses on:

• developing and advising on competitive market frameworks for both gas and electricity; and 
• implementing competitive energy markets.

Specific activities undertaken by the Markets Branch include:

• participating in the electricity reform agenda;
• determining appropriate Government policy to facilitate the expansion of the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline; and 
• providing advice on Western Powers Power Procurement Program.

The Regulatory Policy Branch:

• provides advice on the policy aspects of electricity and gas regulation, in particular access and licensing;
• coordinates and provides advice on national energy policy development; and 
• manages the implementation in WA of national energy agreements.

This role includes the following tasks:

• advising the Minister on amendments  to the Electricity Industry Networks Access Code 2004;
• monitoring and providing advice on access arrangements on gas pipelines in Western Australia;
• participating in a range of inter-jurisdictional groups as part of the Ministerial Council of Energy;
• advising the Minister for Energy on pipeline coverage applications; and 
• Determining a WA response to the review of the National Access Code for Gas.

The Government Energy Utilities Branch:

• Provides advice to Government on balancing its market development objectives with its objectives to maximise the value of the State-owned Electricity Corporations;
• provides advice to Government on the operations and financial performance of the Government-owned Electricity Corporations;
• provides advice on decisions on the Electricity Corporations' investments, contracts, pricing and payments to Government; and
• administers the Tariff Equalisation Fund.

This role includes the following tasks:

• review of financial and operating reporting of the Government owned Electricity Corporations;
• advising the Minister on budgets and strategic plans of the Government owned Electricity Corporations;
• advising on decisions required by the Minister for Energy under the Electricity Corporations Act 2005; and 
• conducting financial modelling in relation to the  electricity industry in Western Australia.

Contact Information

Mr Stephen Eliot, Acting Director, Markets and Regulatory Policy
Telephone: (08) 9420 5646
Email: stephen.eliot@energy.wa.gov.au

Mr Peter Hawken, Senior Manager, Regulatory Policy
Telephone: (08) 9420 5758
Email: peter.hawken@energy.wa.gov.au

Mr Matthew Martin, Acting Senior Manager, Markets
Telephone: (08) 9420 5683
Email: matthew.martin@energy.wa.gov.au

Ms Kathryn Barrie, Senior Manager, Government Energy Utilities
Telephone: (08) 9420 5643
Email: kathryn.barrie@energy.wa.gov.au