SEC submission to the Senate Committee on Environment and Communications
Date: 24th June 2026
Submitted to: The Senate Committee on Environment and Communications
Short Description
The Smart Energy Council provided a submission to the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee’s inquiry into Artificial Intelligence and Data Centres.
We support the sector’s responsible growth as an opportunity to accelerate investment in renewable generation and storage, but only if operators ensure costs are not passed to households and businesses.
Our four recommendations encourage the Australian Government to make additional renewables a binding requirement, finalise AEMC grid connection standards, pursue national harmonisation of energy reporting, and require transparency in government-to-AI company deals.
This submission will inform a final report that the Senate Committee will publish by 16 November 2026.
