A consultation process is underway for the restructure of Hydro Tasmania, aimed at making the most out of opportunities presented by the transformation of the Australian energy sector.
For more than 100 years, Hydro Tasmania has been an integral part of the Tasmanian community and a strong contributor to the economy.
The business has a proud history of adaptation and innovation, from building its world class hydro infrastructure across inhospitable environments, to developing cutting-edge hybrid off-grid solutions on the Bass Strait islands.
The National Electricity Market (NEM) is changing and so, Hydro Tasmania said it needs to adapt. The rapid increase in variable renewable energy, including wind and solar, is making energy storage a crucial component of the future grid.
Hydro Tasmania said it has excellent inherent advantages, with the hydropower schemes it already has and the potential to expand its system to include pumped hydro.
Hydro Tasmania is central to the Tasmanian Government’s vision to double the island’s renewable energy generation by 2040, and its Battery of the Nation initiative has the potential to play a key role in Australia’s transition to a clean energy future.
To prepare to capitalise on this opportunity, Hydro Tasmania said it has been reviewing its business operations.
Hydro Tasmania said it must focus on its core business of generating clean and affordable electricity for Tasmanians, and become more agile to adapt quickly to take advantage of opportunities that will grow the business and return economic value to Tasmania. Transformation is key to Hydro Tasmania’s sustainability and future success.
Hydro Tasmania employees have been engaged in a business transformation process over the last six months to organise around delivery of core services and future opportunities, while flattening the structure to empower its people.
The proposed changes will create a number of new roles designed to meet future needs and will also see a number of current roles no longer required.
While the final outcome will be determined after the conclusion of the consultation process, Hydro Tasmania anticipates a headcount reduction of around five per cent (approximately 50 FTE) over a 12 month period.
Where people are displaced, Hydro Tasmania said it will offer training and development to support them to transition to newly created, future-focused roles as well as roles which become available through natural attrition where possible.
In the case that an impacted employee is not successful in securing a suitable alternative position, redundancy provisions will be available consistent with relevant Awards, Enterprise Agreements and employment contracts.
Hydro Tasmania said these structural changes will be supported by technology investment, increased automation and a focus on future proofing the business by making sure we have the skills, expertise and asset base to thrive in the future energy market.
In addition the organisation will continue to invest in education and employment pathways for young Tasmanians. In the last 12 months Hydro Tasmania has employed 26 new graduates, apprentices and trainee maintenance assistants, while supporting 13 existing participants in these programs to transition to full time roles within the business.
Hydro Tasmania CEO, Evangelista Albertini, said the business needed to adapt to market conditions so it can be more productive and responsive to position itself to leverage its advantages.
“We’ve been generating clean energy for Tasmanians for more than a century and this will always be our priority, but as the electricity industry undergoes unprecedented disruption we must adapt by becoming more agile and leaning into the opportunities of the future market,” Mr Albertini said.
“Hydro Tasmania’s future is extremely bright, with us poised to support Australia’s transition to a clean energy future through the Battery of the Nation initiative.
“We recognise that change is always difficult, and we have been working with our people to redesign our business around the essential services we must provide and the agility we need to play a crucial role in Australia’s clean energy future, ensuring all Tasmanians benefit from a sustainable and profitable Hydro Tasmania.”
Hydro Tasmania is committed to a consultative process and has an Employee Assistance Program available to support all employees.
Hydro Tasmania assures that the proposed organisational changes will not impact energy security or electricity prices.
