Challenges for consumers and government: Victoria’s retail electricity and gas markets

In November 2016, the Victorian Government announced an independent bi-partisan review of Victoria's electricity and gas retail markets, to examine the operation of the Victorian electricity and gas retail markets and provide options to improve outcomes for consumers. On 26 May 2017 the panel presented its preliminary findings to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. The final report will be presented to the Government in late July 2017. As a highly respected expert on the subject of sustainable energy supply, Mr Alan Pears was a key contributor to the review.

Alan has worked in the sustainable energy and environment fields since the late 1970s for community groups, government and the private sector.

While working for the Victorian government in the 1980s, he helped develop and implement programs such as the Home Energy Advisory Service, public information and education, appliance energy labelling and mandatory building insulation regulations.

Since 1991, Alan has been an environmental consultant, and has been involved in building energy and environmental rating and regulation, green building projects, educational software, green appliance development, industrial and business energy and environmental management, and policy analysis in Australia and, more recently, the Asia-Pacific region.

Alan is a highly regarded analyst, consultant and commentator on sustainable energy and climate policy, and has written or peer reviewed many articles in specialist media such as The Conversation, Energy Policy and ReNew magazine, as well as other academic journals, chapters of books and major reports.

Alan was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2009 for his contribution to environmental and energy policy. He has also received a number of awards from industry associations and RMIT media awards.