ActewAGL
| Company type | Joint venture |
|---|---|
| Industry | Utilities (electricity, natural gas) |
| Founded | October 2000 |
| Founder | Australian Gas Light Company (AGL Energy), ACTEW Corporation (Icon Water) |
| Headquarters | Canberra , Australia |
Area served | Australian Capital Territory, south-eastern New South Wales |
| Products | Electricity, natural gas, utility services |
| Owner | Subsidiaries of Icon Water and AGL Energy (retail); subsidiaries of Icon Water and Jemena Ltd (distribution) |
| Website | www |
ActewAGL is a collaborative multi-utility enterprise in Australia that delivers utility services across the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the south-eastern region of New South Wales. Established in October 2000 as a partnership between the Australian Gas Light Company (currently AGL Energy) and ACTEW Corporation (now known as Icon Water), the company operates within the electricity and natural gas sectors.
History
Founded in October 2000, ActewAGL originated as a joint venture between AGL Energy and ACTEW Corporation, which is owned by the ACT Government.
At its inception, ActewAGL was responsible for managing the ACT’s water and sewer infrastructure on behalf of ACTEW Corporation. The company broadened its scope in February 2004 by entering into a management agreement with TransACT Capital Communications Pty Ltd.
In October 2006, ActewAGL underwent restructuring to separate its retail and distribution functions: ownership of the retail operations remained with AGL and ACTEW Corporation, while distribution responsibilities were shared between ACTEW Corporation and Alinta (which rebranded to Jemena in 2008).
ACTEW Corporation decided against renewing ActewAGL’s contract for water and sewerage management in June 2012, thereby concentrating the company’s efforts on core utility services.
By October 2017, ActewAGL operated through two distinct partnerships:
- Retail — jointly owned by subsidiaries of Icon Water and AGL Energy.
- Distribution — equally held by subsidiaries of Icon Water and Jemena Ltd, overseeing electricity and gas distribution networks within the ACT. Electricity is transmitted via TransGrid infrastructure, while natural gas is supplied through Jemena’s Eastern Gas Pipeline originating from Victoria’s Gippsland Basin.
On 1 January 2018, the network operations segment of ActewAGL Distribution was rebranded as Evoenergy.
Innovation
ActewAGL has introduced multiple pioneering programs aimed at promoting environmental sustainability:
- Greenchoice – This initiative enables both residential and commercial customers to support renewable energy by opting to pay an additional amount on their electricity bills. The collected funds are allocated to renewable projects such as mini hydro, wind, and biomass. The program holds independent accreditation from the Australian government’s National Green Power Accreditation Program, ensuring adherence to certified renewable energy standards.
- ActewAGL hydro – This project harnesses existing water resources to generate mini-hydro power, thereby decreasing dependence on fossil fuels without constructing new dams or reservoirs.
- Solar farm – Collaborating with the ACT Government, ActewAGL explored the possibility of establishing a solar farm capable of supplying electricity to at least 10,000 Canberra households. Following government invitations for proposals, ActewAGL was shortlisted for developing and operating this facility.
- Hydrogen Refuelling Station – Canberra is set to host Australia’s first publicly accessible hydrogen refuelling station. Construction began in early 2020 through a partnership involving ActewAGL, the ACT Government, and renewable energy developer Neoen. The project also includes integrating 20 Hyundai Nexo hydrogen vehicles into the ACT Government fleet. However, commissioning has been postponed due to impacts related to COVID-19.
- Electric Vehicle (EV) Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Trial – ActewAGL spearheaded a groundbreaking V2G trial funded with $2.4 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). The Realising Electric Vehicle-to-Grid Services (REVS) initiative deployed 51 Nissan LEAF EVs throughout the ACT to assess grid services enabled by V2G technology. This effort involved cooperation among government bodies, academic institutions, network operators, vehicle manufacturers, and fleet managers, supported by an additional $3.86 million in funding. The trial concluded in February 2022.
- Research partnerships – ActewAGL works closely with institutions such as the Australian National University, Deakin University, and Canberra Institute of Technology on cutting-edge projects related to renewable hydrogen, energy efficiency improvements, and electric vehicle technologies. Notably, Dr Lee White from ANU’s School of Regulation and Global Governance received research funding to analyze how housing energy efficiency influences electricity costs under time-of-use pricing models.
These efforts demonstrate ActewAGL’s strategic focus on advancing renewable energy solutions and sustainable transportation options within its primary service regions.
Evoenergy
Evoenergy is responsible for managing the electricity poles, wires, and gas pipeline operations within the ActewAGL Distribution partnership. Its infrastructure includes an electricity network extending over 2,000 kilometers and gas mains exceeding 4,500 kilometers in length.
In 2018, Evoenergy collaborated with the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) to establish a hydrogen testing facility aimed at evaluating how hydrogen interacts with network materials and equipment. The research demonstrated that the underground plastic network operating at 200kPa is fully compatible with 100% hydrogen.
By March 2020, Evoenergy obtained $2.05 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to investigate the influence of distributed energy resources on Canberra’s energy market. Working alongside Schneider Electric, GreenSync, and Withywindle, this initiative seeks to enhance the integration of solar photovoltaics (PV), battery systems, and electric vehicles to maximize customer advantages.
In September 2020, Evoenergy was awarded a $250,000 grant from the ACT Government to provide home battery systems to 75 residences participating in the Ginninderry Residential Battery Trial. As one of Canberra’s pioneering all-electric neighborhoods, Ginninderry offers crucial insights into the consumption patterns of solar energy and battery storage.