Energy Markets and the Energy Transition (LAWS90318)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
September
Teaching staff:
Louis Chiam (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | September |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
The energy transition – a key plank in achieving Australia's net zero targets – represents a generational challenge for energy markets.
Transitioning Australia's energy system to renewable energy and storage involves a complex group of stakeholders, with policy makers, regulators, investors, energy providers and consumers grappling with multiple – often conflicting – objectives.
This subject aims to give students a clear understanding of the structure and principles of Australia's energy markets in the context of achieving the energy transition. Focusing on the Australian electricity sector, it will examine the foundations of our energy markets and the pathway for renewable energy, together with the nature and scale of the energy transition and current policy debates.
Key legal elements of the subject include the structure and legal framework for the electricity supply industry and markets, the legal framework supporting investment in renewable energy, principles and policy frameworks underpinning the energy transition, the role of government and electricity market reform initiatives.
This subject has an Australian-focus and is aimed at students with an interest in energy law and legal practice, energy markets, energy regulators and energy policy and reform.
Indicative list of principal topics:
- The structure of, and key participants in, the electricity supply industry across generation, transmission and retailing
- Legislative and regulatory framework for the National Electricity Market, including market bodies and rulemaking
- Key principles of the wholesale and retail electricity market, including typical wholesale market contracting and trading
- The legal framework for investment in renewable energy and storage
- The nature, scale and objectives of the energy transition
- Key principles underpinning the development of renewable energy and storage, including government support contracts
- Key principles in the regulation of electricity transmission systems, including regulated pricing, open access principles and renewable energy zones
- Legal principles and policy frameworks underpinning energy transition steps, including the role of government
- Legal issues in implementing a just transition
- Current electricity market policy debates and reform initiatives
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject should be able to:
- Analyse and interpret the development of energy law and policy in Australia, key challenges in the energy transition and the law and principles governing the National Electricity Market.
- Locate, synthesise and analyse legal problems involving electricity market and energy transition questions, taking into account climate, social and economic policy.
- Identify and assess the source legislation and rules governing electricity market questions and regulation.
- Identify issues and solve problems involving energy transition questions, taking into account energy market regulations.
- Analyse and discuss current reform proposals and policy developments in the Australian energy markets, by reference to both primary and secondary sources.
Generic skills
- Advanced understanding of the changing base of law and policy relating to energy markets and the energy transition.
- Well-developed problem-solving ability for complex problems involving different stakeholder groups.
- Capacity to effectively communicate complex ideas orally and in writing to specialist and non-specialist groups.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Class Participation | Throughout the teaching period | 10% |
Written Assignment
| Day 3 | 20% |
Research Paper
| 12 November 2025 | 70% |
| Hurdle requirement: A minimum 75% attendance is required. | N/A |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- September
Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 34 Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 20 August 2025 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to Canvas LMS to check on the pre-class readings and preparatory learning activities before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 17 September 2025 to 23 September 2025 Last self-enrol date 25 August 2025 Census date 19 September 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 31 October 2025 Assessment period ends 5 December 2025 September contact information
Teaching staff:
Louis Chiam (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters enrolment webpage for further information about re-enrolment, subject quotas and waitlists.
Melbourne Law School may reserve places in a subject for incoming international cohorts or where a subject is core to a specialisation with limited alternate options.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If subject coordinator approval is required, or for further information about Community Access Program study, please contact us
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025