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THE MARKET
Origin is one of Australia’s largest energy
providers, offering gas, electricity and related
services to over 3.6million residential and business
customers in Australia, New Zealand and the
Pacific. Today Origin is proud to be Australia’s
number one green energy provider – at the forefront
of sustainability.
Origin has taken advantage of growth
opportunities provided by the continuing
deregulation of Australia’s retail energy industry
whichbegan in1996,meaningcustomers inVictoria,
SouthAustralia, Queensland andNewSouthWales
are able to choose their electricity and gas retailer.
Deregulation has resulted in a significant increase
in competition and a newera for the energy industry.
Origin is an integrated energy company which
means that in addition to retailing energy, Origin
also is an oil and gas producer and electricity
generator.
Origin has more than 3,400 employees on 250-
plus sites across Australia, New Zealand and the
Pacific. The company has more than 105,000
shareholders.*
ACHIEVEMENTS
Origin is Australia’s leading provider of green
energy, supplying more customers than any other
retailer in Australia. It is also Australia’s largest
supplier of grid-connected solar systems.
Over the years, Origin’s initiatives have gathered
many accolades. Origin received Employer of
Choice accreditation by the Equal Opportunity for
Women in theWorkplaceAgency. Origin was also
recognised for sustainability leadership at the
Ethical Investor Australian Sustainability Awards,
for taking a leadership role in the climate change
debate. The PrimeMinister selected the Origin-led
consortium to deliver Australia’s first Solar City
project inAdelaide.
By the end of 2007, Origin will celebrate over
quarter of amillion customers buying green energy
from them, securing its position as Australia’s
number one green energy provider. Origin has a
maximum five star rating in Ethical Investor
magazine’s corporate monitor in all three areas of
assessment - environmental performance, social
responsibility and corporate governance.
Origin has been recognised for leading the way
in sustainability practices at theVictorian Premier’s
Sustainability Awards. Origin was recognised for
its efforts to raise the issue of sustainability, and
received the prestigious Victorian-based Fire
Awareness Community ServiceAward (FACSA) in
the Business award category for Origin’s Home
Safety Program.
Origin also demonstrates leadership in the
community through the Channel 7 Sunrise “Cool
the Globe” challenge, which helped to reduce over
100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions; by
becoming official provider of green energy to the
2006 Commonwealth Games; and by helping Live
Earth Sydney, July 2007 be a carbon neutral event.
HISTORY
Origin Energy was listed on the Australia Stock
Exchange inFebruary2000.However,Origin’s roots
date back to 1859 when the Launceston Gas
Companywas formed.
In 2001 and 2002, Origin further increased its
customer base and electricity retailing capability
with the acquisition of the Powercor and CitiPower
electricity retail businesses in Victoria. Origin’s
Otway Basin investments came to fruition with the
discovery of two new large gas fields – Thylacine
and Geographe – which will supply the growing
gas needs of south eastern Australia.
In 2004 the construction and commissioning of
the SEA Gas Pipeline was completed, linking the
Victorian and SouthAustralian gasmarkets. In this
same year, Origin also acquired a 50% interest in
the Kupe Gas Field and reached an agreement to
acquire EdisonMission Energy’s 51.4% interest in
Contact Energy in New Zealand.
In 2005, production commenced at Origin’s
SpringGully gas processing facilities inQueensland
and at the new SLIVER solar cells demonstration
plant in South Australia.
The BassGas Project, capable of meeting almost
10% of Victoria’s gas needs, was commissioned in
2006.
In2007OriginacquiredSunRetail inQueensland
and 840,000 customers to firmly establish its
electricity base in South East Queensland, which
will significantly boost its already established
natural gas andLPGas customer base in thismarket.
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