Energex
| Company type | Government-owned corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electricity distribution |
| Predecessor | South East Queensland Electricity Board (SEQEB) |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Brisbane , Australia |
Area served | South East Queensland |
| Owner | Queensland Government |
| Parent | Energy Queensland |
| Website | www |
Energex is an electricity distribution company owned by the Queensland Government in Australia, supplying power to around 1.5 million residences and commercial establishments throughout South East Queensland. Its coverage spans from Coolangatta in the south up to Gympie in the north, extending westward to the foothills of the Toowoomba range.
The infrastructure network includes more than 55,000 km of both underground and overhead electrical lines, servicing customers in urban centres as well as rural areas within a subtropical environment.
After the Queensland Government combined Energex with Ergon Energy, it created the parent organisation Energy Queensland, which began operations on 30 June 2016. The headquarters of Energy Queensland are situated in Townsville.
History
The first enduring electricity supply in Brisbane was introduced by Barton, White & Company in 1887. This entity evolved into Brisbane Electric Supply Company by 1904 and was later renamed City Electric Light Company (CEL) in 1922.
For more than three decades, CEL operated in competition with other electricity providers in South East Queensland, particularly the Brisbane City Council (BCC) Electricity Supply Department. In 1961, the Queensland Government nationalised CEL and merged it with BCC Electricity Supply and Toowoomba Electric Light & Power Company, forming the Southern Electric Authority of Queensland (SEAQ). Between 1977 and 1997, it functioned under the name South East Queensland Electricity Board (SEQEB).
With the inception of the National Electricity Market (NEM), SEQEB was corporatised in 1997 and rebranded as Energex, broadening its services to become a multi-utility provider delivering electricity, LPG, and natural gas.
In 2006, Energex divested its gas distribution arm (Allgas) to Australian Pipeline Trust for $521 million but maintained public ownership over its electricity distribution assets.
In 2014, Energex was subject to a federal parliamentary investigation following whistleblower claims regarding data manipulation intended to artificially increase power prices.
Retail operations sale
Energex’s retail division, Sun Retail, was sold through auction to Origin Energy Ltd for A$1.2 billion, with the deal finalised in early 2007.
Origin Energy took over roughly 800,000 customers from the New South Wales border up to just north of the Brisbane River, while AGL Energy acquired approximately 400,000 customers located northwards to Gympie and the Sunshine Coast.
Since the introduction of full retail contestability on 1 July 2007, electricity consumers in Queensland have had the freedom to select their retailer. This deregulation has attracted about 19 new retailers entering the market, including Origin and AGL.
Queensland Government Merger Electricity Distribution Businesses
Following the Queensland State election in 2015, the Labor Government opted not to privatise state-owned electricity assets. Instead, it consolidated Energex and Ergon Energy into a unified organisation called Energy Queensland. The merger was completed on 30 June 2016; however, both companies maintained their individual branding. The corporate headquarters was established in Townsville to promote employment growth within North Queensland.
Energex Service
Energex provides a 24-hour emergency hotline for critical situations involving life-threatening emergencies and downed powerlines at 13 19 62. For supply interruptions, customers can reach their dedicated outage information line anytime at 13 62 62. Routine questions are addressed by the Contact Centre, which operates from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday, via phone number 13 12 53. The company also actively engages with the community through its Facebook and Twitter accounts, delivering prompt updates during severe weather events, emergencies, and local activities.