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Lisa Papanicolaou
Partner, Adelaide
With a focus on electricity industry regulation and major procurement projects, I advise large energy corporations, government owned entities, and the public sector on a range of complex regulatory and transactional matters in the energy and resources industry.

I am a trusted advisor to clients in relation to compliance with the NEL and NER and state-based electricity requirements in South Australia, the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia. My particular focus areas include electricity networks, generators, retailers and customers, as well as energy and other large infrastructure projects. I also have deep experience across energy law, construction law, commercial transactions and corporate governance.

I am a Committee Member and former Chair of the SA Branch of the Australian Institute of Energy, and a member of the Energy and Petroleum Committee of the South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME). I have also been recognised as a recommended lawyer in Doyle's Guide for Energy & Resources, and rising star for Corporate & Commercial.

Career highlights

  • South Australian Government: Advised the Office of Northern Water Delivery on the Northern Water Project involving a 260 megalitre desalination plant on the Eyre Peninsula and 600 kilometres of pipeline to provide a sustainable water supply for the mining and agricultural industries in the north of South Australia.
  • SA Power Networks: Advised on its regulatory proposals to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) for the 2015-20, 2020-25 and 2025-30 regulatory control periods and implementation of the National Energy Retail Law small compensation claims regime in South Australia, and completed a secondment in an in-house counsel role providing legal advice and support to the network and regulation parts of the business.
  • Evoenergy: Drafted and negotiated a range of project and connection agreements, and advised on required electricity licences and exemptions, and pricing, for a number of solar farms, BESS and other large procurement and customer projects and connections in the ACT (including registered and non-registered BESS connections at Williamsdale, Molonglo and Holt).
  • Alinta Energy: Advising in relation to the connection arrangements for the Reeves Plains BESS project in South Australia, including negotiations and drafting of the connection agreement with ElectraNet, and fast frequency response agreements with third parties.
  • Alinta Energy: Acting in relation to the procurement arrangements for the Cataby gas fired power station project in Western Australia.
  • Neoen: Advised in relation to the connection arrangements for Bulgana Green Power Hub and Goorambat East Solar Farm in Victoria, including negotiations and drafting of the Project Construction and Coordination Agreement, Connection Services Agreement and Use of System Agreement with AEMO and AusNet Services (as relevant).
  • Northern Territory Government: Advising in relation to the landmark reforms to the NT electricity market, excision of system control and market operator functions  from Power and Water Corporation into NTESMO and establishment of NTESMO, and assisted with the disaggregation of Power and Water Corporation into three separate government owned corporations for network, retail and generation in 2014 in preparation for the introduction on the National Electricity Market in the Northern Territory.
  •  Alinta Energy (now Flinders Power): Assisted in relation to the closure of its operations at the Port Augusta Power Stations and Leigh Creek Coal Mine in South Australia.
  • ElectraNet: Assisted with regulatory issues relating to the State-wide blackout in South Australia in later 2016.
  • SA Power Networks, Alinta Energy, Evoenergy, the NT Utilities Commission, Jacana Energy, Territory Generation, Epic Energy, Neoen and other energy businesses: Advised in relation to various aspects of compliance with the NEL, NER, NERL, NERR, and state-based electricity requirements, and review rights under those instruments.
  • Drafted and reviewed a range of construction contracts for clients including Leyton Property, Leyton Funds, Commercial & General, Unity Housing, Resthaven, Uniting Communities, SYC Limited, Drake Supermarkets, Northern Territory Airports, Adelaide Oval SMA Ltd, ICAM, Corporate Heath Group, Sagle Constructions, City of Mitcham, City of Holdfast Bay and City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters, including experience with Australian Standards contracts and general contractual commercial and legal risk management strategies.

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