Following an investigation, the Economic Regulation Authority has determined that Alinta Sales Pty Ltd breached the rules governing Western Australia’s Wholesale Electricity Market between October 2023 and June 2024.
The ERA has applied to the Electricity Review Board to determine whether orders should be made against Alinta if the Board determines that the contraventions occurred.
The ERA conducted a comprehensive investigation, which found that, at a time when it had market power, Alinta had priced its electricity at higher prices than were efficient and permitted by the Wholesale Electricity Market rules.
The ERA’s role is to protect the interests of Western Australian consumers, and to ensure that energy is delivered safely and reliably – and at the most efficient cost.
The ERA estimates that Alinta’s behaviour had the effect of increasing the wholesale real-time market cost of generation by around $66 million over the period.