Former chief scientist Alan Finkel is among a group of experts appointed to guide the Victorian government on bringing back the State Electricity Commission.

The SEC, previously Victoria’s sole government electricity supplier, was disaggregated and privatised during the late 1990s.

The government is now reviving it as an active market participant to build renewables like wind, solar and batteries, with the state owning a controlling interest in the projects.

Dr Finkel joins five other prominent energy experts and business leaders on the SEC Expert Advisory Panel, which will advise the state government  on generating clean energy via the SEC.

“The revived SEC will be supported by six of Australia’s leading business and energy experts – ensuring Victoria has the best advice to deliver government-owned renewable energy, slashing energy prices and emissions,” SEC minister Lily D’Ambrosio said in a statement.

“The Expert Advisory Panel will guide the SEC’s work to make sure it delivers the maximum benefits of public energy ownership.”

Dr Finkel led the National Electricity Market Review, development of the National Hydrogen Strategy, and the panel advising the 2020 Low Emissions Technology Roadmap.

The panel will be chaired by the secretary of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action John Bradley and will also include former AEMO CEO Audrey Zibelman, former Telstra CEO Andy Penn, CEO of not-for-profit Climateworks Centre Anna Skarbek, and former Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre executive officer Jo Benvenuti.

The SEC will construct, maintain and operate renewable energy assets and will begin sounding the market for its first investments in the first half of the year.

The government will make an initial $1 billion investment towards delivering 4.5 gigawatts of clean power by 2035 – the equivalent replacement capacity of Loy Yang A coal-fired power station in the state’s south-east.

An SEC Centre of Training Excellence will also be established to coordinate and accredit courses in clean energy.

The government hopes the SEC will help deliver Victoria’s targets of 95 per cent renewable energy by 2035 and net zero by 2045.

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