Carbon liabilities of NSW electricity generators

Source: Australia Institute
"The Iemma Government in NSW has announced that it plans to privatise the state’s
electricity generators and retailers. It intends to offer long-term leases to operate the generators to private companies. In recommending the sale of electricity assets, the Owen Report noted that uncertainty about the liability new owners would have for the future carbon emissions of existing and new generators is impeding investment.2 Plans by the Rudd Government to introduce a national emissions trading scheme, expected to start in 2010, will require all electricity generators and other emitters to acquire permits to cover their greenhouse gas emissions. This is expected to impose a substantial cost on fossil fuelgenerated electricity and reduce the price advantage of coal over gas and renewable forms of generation."