Mr Hubbard said the COAG Energy Market Review recommendations reflect many of the industry's concerns and more importantly, their ambitions for the future.

He said the COAG findings raised many of the issues outlined in a PwC report released last week titled, A World of Difference - strategic options for Australia's energy sector, which examined the strategic models expected to emerge as Australia's energy market evolves to meet the challenges of over a decade of ongoing industry reform.

At the beginning of the COAG Energy Market Review, PricewaterhouseCoopers analysed the public submissions to identify the top five matters for consideration. These issues are largely reflected in today's report.

The top five most mentioned issues from the review of public submissions were: Greenhouse and emissions abatement; Regulation; Market design; Transmission and Demand side participation

"Australian utilities operate in a tough environment. Industry participants believe they are being hindered by the lack of a consistent national policy and regulatory approach," said PwC's Mr Hubbard.

"We look forward to all Australian Governments using this exercise as a catalyst for further energy market reform," he concluded.

The full report is avalable from www.miningnews.net/images/ern/DW2WebOptimised.pdf