Episodes

What does it take to keep the lights on for millions of customers, and how can electricity networks become more reliable in an increasingly unpredictable world? Host Sarah Aubrey is joined by Mark Ragusa, General Manager Strategy at Ausgrid, and Tim Edwards, Managing Director at CutlerMerz, to explore how technology is transforming the way networks monitor, maintain and manage their infrastructure. From drones and artificial intelligence to predictive analytics and smarter network controls, the...

What happens when Australia’s business sector is forced to reckon with the real cost of staying fossil-fuelled? Host Sarah Aubrey is joined by Nigel Lowry (Ausgrid) and Dani Alexander (UNSW Energy Institute) to unpack the high-stakes challenge of electrifying everything from freight and transport to buildings and data centres. They explore the scale of business emissions, the hardest sectors to decarbonise, the race for EV infrastructure, and what oil shocks mean for energy independence - alon...

In part two of this special episode, host Sarah Aubrey is joined by Lord Adair Turner, Chair of the Energy Transitions Commission, to continue the conversation on the global energy transition — tackling the hard questions on affordability, equity, electrification and investment. The discussion turns to the cost-of-living challenge and energy affordability, new global electrification targets, the unstoppable EV revolution, equity issues for renters and low-income households, and what governments...

In this special two-part episode, host Sarah Aubrey is joined by Lord Adair Turner, Chair of the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC), for a wide-ranging conversation on the global energy transition and Australia’s critical role in it. The conversation goes global; examining where the world stands against the Paris Agreement targets, which countries are leading and lagging, and the remarkable cost revolution underway in solar and battery technology that is reshaping what is possible. Part 1 cov...

In this episode, host Sarah Aubrey speaks with Kelly Wood, Group Executive for Transmission Development & Growth at Ausgrid and Mark Westbrook, Chief Project Officer at EnergyCo about how upgrading existing sub-transmission corridors in the Hunter Central Coast REZ could unlock faster, cheaper and more community-friendly renewable energy capacity. They explore the opportunities, challenges and long-term planning needed to reshape NSW’s grid; from smarter use of existing easements to coordinated...

The DSP represents an incredible collaboration between Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy to understand how distribution networks can play a bigger role in meeting NSW’s net zero targets. Sarah Aubrey is joined by Ausgrid’s Alida Jansen van Vuuren, Endeavour’s Melissa Doueihi and Essential’s Marc Thiebaut to explore how better use of existing poles, wires and sub-transmission infrastructure can unlock billions in value, defer transmission investment, support local storage, and help ...

How are Community Power Networks shaping Australia’s energy transition—and what would their growing role mean for our future? In this episode Steve Lewis Project Director, at Ausgrid and Sam Kernaghan, Director - Resilience Program from Committee for Sydney discuss how technologies like rooftop solar, batteries, and smart networks can make clean, locally generated power more accessible and affordable. They explore the untapped potential of commercial rooftops, the role of community batteries in...

Kicking off a new season and reflecting on what we’ve covered and where we’re going for season 2. Host Sarah Aubrey sits down with Tim Jarratt, Ausgrid’s Group Executive of Market Development and Strategy, touching on the evolution we’ve seen in Australia’s energy landscape and look ahead to some exciting innovations. Tune in to have a look at what’s shaping Australia’s energy future. Season 2 will dive into “Why the Middle Matters”—shining a light on the vital role of local networks and commu...

Is the future of Australia’s energy system riding on better grid connections? In this, our final episode of the season, we’re joined by Fatima Bazzi, Head of Customer Connections at Ausgrid, and Stuart Ayres, CEO of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (NSW), to unpack how grid connections are evolving to support a smarter, cleaner energy future. Together, they explore the big questions: How can the grid keep up with growing demand from EVs, renewables, and data centres? What role does s...

What does it take to build real community trust in the energy transition? In this episode, host Sarah Aubrey is joined by Matt Kean, Chair of the Climate Change Authority and former NSW Energy Minister, and Kelly Wood, Group Executive for Transmission Development & Growth at Ausgrid to unpack what’s working, and what initiatives are being explored when it comes to community benefits of the energy transition. They explore how to build genuine trust, the importance of consultation, and how infra...

Is energy storage the key to unlocking a more reliable and affordable energy future? In this episode, we’re joined by Frank Calabria, CEO and Managing Director of Origin Energy, and Rob Amphlett Lewis, Group Executive Distributed Services & PLUS ES at Ausgrid, to explore how innovations in energy storage are transforming Australia’s energy landscape. Together, they tackle the big questions: How can households and businesses benefit from battery storage? How can storage bring down the cost of t...

Could unlocking distribution networks be the key to a faster, more affordable energy transition? In this episode, Dom van den Berg, CEO of Energy Networks Australia, and Tim Jarratt, Group Executive – Market Development and Strategy at Ausgrid, explore how Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSPs) can help accelerate the shift to clean energy.  Together, they tackle the big questions: How can smarter use of existing infrastructure cut costs for consumers? What’s holding networks back? A...

Is moving away from gas the key to a more sustainable and affordable future? In this episode, we’re joined by Brendan French, CEO of Energy Consumers Australia, and Marc England, CEO of Ausgrid, to explore how home electrification is reshaping Australia’s energy landscape and saving households money.  Together, they tackle the big questions: What’s in it for households? Are the long-term savings compelling enough to outweigh upfront costs? Can the grid support widespread electrification? They a...

Are EVs the key to reducing energy costs and cutting emissions in Australia? In this episode, we’re joined by Doug McNamee, Founder and CEO of JOLT, and Rob Amphlett Lewis, Group Executive - Distributed Services & PLUS ES at Ausgrid, to unpack the challenges and opportunities in the EV space.  Together, they tackle the pressing questions: Why has the EV transition slowed in Australia? Is our grid ready to handle the surge in EV adoption? What’s being done to make EV charging more accessible a...

How can we integrate renewables into the grid at lightning speed? In this episode, we’re joined by Junayd Hollis, Group Executive - Customer, Assets & Digital at Ausgrid, and Eamon Waterford, CEO of the Committee for Sydney, to explore strategies for fast-tracking the energy transition. Together, they dive into the big questions: Are we doing enough to drive change? How can households and businesses play a bigger role? What lessons can we learn from other regions further along their renewable j...

How can energy networks evolve to truly meet customer needs and drive a fairer, faster energy transition? Join us as we chat with Gavin Dufty, consumer advocate and National Director of Energy Policy and Research at St Vincent de Paul Society, and Alida Jansen van Vuuren, Head of DSO at Ausgrid. Together, they dive into reshaping energy pricing, enhancing customer flexibility, and transforming networks to create an energy future that benefits everyone.