Climate Lobbying Overview Sunset Power International, trading as Delta Electricity, appears to be broadly unsupportive of climate change policy. It has not endorsed the Australian net-zero target by 2050. At the same time, it has advocated for a continued role of coal in the energy mix and emphasized that climate policy should focus on keeping electricity supply stable and affordable.

Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy Delta Electricity’s top-line messaging on climate policy appears to be unsupportive of ambitious climate action in Australia. In the company’s 2019 New South Wales’ Energy Supply and Resource submission, it appeared to emphasize the negative impact on the economy and jobs if Australia were to set ambitious emission reduction targets while also expressing concern with high abatement costs and the failure of other countries to act on climate change. In the same submission, Delta Electricity seemed to advocate against government regulation in response to climate change, instead stating its preference for a market-based and technology-neutral approach. Furthermore, in 2020, Greg Everett, CEO of Delta Electricity, asserted that policy should focus on addressing the nearer-term emissions reduction objectives and keeping electricity price low and that Delta does not endorse the net-zero emissions by 2050 target.

Engagement with Climate-related Regulations Delta Electricity’s engagement with climate-related regulation appears to be negative, albeit limited. In a response to the National Energy Guarantee consultation questionnaire submitted in 2018, the company opposed state-based renewable energy subsidies and ambitious targets of emissions reductions over concern with volatility in electricity prices and international competitiveness of Australian industries. In a consultation response submitted in 2019, Delta Electricity opposed an expansion of the Renewable Energy Target (RET), and additional supportive measures for renewable energy at state-level. The company also appears to use support for the National Energy Guarantee to oppose more ambitious state-level emission reduction targets.

Positioning on Energy Transition Delta Electricity position on the energy transition appears to be negative, with the company seeming to support a long-term role of fossil fuels in the energy mix. In 2019, Delta Electricity lobbied for a continued role of coal and gas in power generation over the coming decade as the NEM transitions to a lower carbon intensity. Similarly, in its 2020 consultation response to ESB’s roadmap of energy market reforms, the company advocated that ESB should recognize the potential value of life extensions of existing thermal synchronous generators in facilitating energy transition rather than seeking to drive the exit of them.

Moreover, Freedom of Information documents requested by the Guardian suggest that, in 2019, senior executives of Delta Electricity reached out to the offices of Environment Minister Melissa Price and Energy Minister Angus Taylor through a consultant to advocate for a review of how climate change policies could be used to upgrade coal-fired power stations. In an August 2021 letter to policymakers, Delta Electricity, alongside several other energy companies, stated support for government reform that would pay coal and gas generators to guarantee future capacity, with a likelihood of continuing the role for coal in the energy mix. In a June 2021 consultation response, Delta Electricity stated support for the maintenance of thermal coal supply and investment in Australia's energy mix through a physical Retailer Reliability Obligation (RRO), a mechanism that would effectively subsidize ageing gas and coal plants.

Industry Association Governance Delta Electricity’s engagement with industry associations is not transparent. InfluenceMap has not been able to find a dedicated disclosure of Delta’s industry association membership and reviews of their alignment on climate change.