Sara Stark

Implemented AEMC 2021 Access, pricing and incentive arrangements for CER rule changes, ensuring efficient future network CER integration expenditure:

• recognised synergies with various inter-related work streams and established joint approach to consultation on incentivising and measuring network export service performance, resulting in more wholistic consideration of matters raised and engagement efficiencies for AER and stakeholders.
• led team to deliver industry guidance on CER integration expenditure and worked closely with stakeholders and external consultants to established methodology for Customer Export Curtailment Value.

Provided valued strategic insight to numerous related teams on interrelated distributed energy resource matters founded on practical regulatory framework knowledge, including:

• Energy Security Board post 2025 electricity market design work streams including data strategy, consumer insights collaboration, EV charging and flexible export limits.
• other export services related work streams including export tariffs, static export limits, network service classification, distribution network battery ring-fencing.

Led team to assess forecast capex in over 15 electricity distribution resets and gas access arrangements with focused areas of assessment including:

• CER integration expenditure.
• growth capex - augmentation, connections, forecast demand.
• non-network capex - ICT (including cyber security) property, fleet.
• incentive schemes - capital efficiency sharing scheme, including review of prevailing incentive framework for gas network service providers (established first CESS for gas distribution networks under National Gas Rules).
• saving national energy market consumers over $1 billion in reduced capex forecasts.

Temporary secondment

• Assisted AER Chair, Board and senior managers preparing briefings, speeches, presentations and co-ordination of corporate reporting. Liaison with COAG Energy Council and market bodies.
• Co-wrote, AER Chair's speech - Working together to restore confidence in energy regulation, signalled our need to enhance stakeholder engagement in a less adversarial environment, especially for network revenue determination processes.

(Acting Director May 2010-Feb 2011)

• crafted comprehensive guidance materials and conducted impactful outreach initiatives facilitating implementation of Water Market Rules.
• led first investigation/enforcement of Water Market Rules and Water Charge (Termination Fees) Rules 2009, pioneering approach of coupling infringement notices with enforceable undertakings.

Delivered policy advice to then Water Minister on Water Market Rule 2009, extensive stakeholder engagement with irrigators and businesses, government departments, legal drafters and engineers.

(Analyst, November 2005-October 2006)

Airport regulation - produced 2004-2007 price monitoring and quality service reports

Investigations and enforcement, SA Office. Graduate rotations in general enforcement, telecommunications enforcement and airport regulation.