Origin Energy

Origin Energy was formed 18 February 2000, as a result of a spin-off from Boral.{{Cite web|url=http://www.originenergy.com.au/233/History|title=Our history|date=17 December 2020|publisher=Origin Energy|access-date=17 December 2010|archive-date=24 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224044433/http://www.originenergy.com.au/233/History|url-status=dead}} SAGASCO (formerly known as the South Australian Gas Company) became part of Origin Energy as part of the demerger.{{Cite web|url=https://barchart.websol.barchart.com/?filingid=2386621&module=secFilings&override=1&popup=1&symbol=OGFGF&type=CONVPDF|title=Origin Energy Ltd Form 20-F/A (Amended Annual and Transition Report)|access-date=2019-02-19|archive-date=23 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231023083721/https://barchart.websol.barchart.com/?filingid=2386621&module=secFilings&override=1&popup=1&symbol=OGFGF&type=CONVPDF|url-status=live}}

Between 2001 and 2002, Origin acquired a Victorian electricity retailer licence from distributors Powercor and CitiPower. In 2004, the SEAGas pipeline was completed, linking the Victorian and South Australian gas markets. During this time, Origin obtained 50% interest in the Kupe Gas Field and Edison Mission Energy's 51.4% interest in New Zealand's Contact Energy. Origin sold its 53% shareholding in Contact Energy to the market in 2015.{{cite press release| url=https://www.contact.co.nz/cenergymedia/contactenergy/files/pdfs/corporate/cen-origin-energy-sale-of-contact-completed.pdf| title=Origin Energy sale of Contact completed| date=5 August 2015| publisher=Contact Energy| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123015441/https://contact.co.nz/cenergymedia/contactenergy/files/pdfs/corporate/cen-origin-energy-sale-of-contact-completed.pdf| archive-date=23 January 2016}}

On 27 November 2006, the Government of Queensland announced the sale of Sun Retail, the former retailing arm of Energex to Origin for $1.202 billion.{{Cite press release|title=New dawn for Qld energy market |date=1 February 2007 |publisher=Energex |access-date=16 June 2014 |url=http://www.energex.com.au/media_centre/asp/media_release_display.asp?id=1363&index=0&archive=False |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208230443/http://www.energex.com.au/media_centre/asp/media_release_display.asp?id=1363&index=0&archive=False |archive-date=8 February 2007 }}

On 15 December 2010, Origin Energy announced that it would purchase the retail divisions of Country Energy and Integral Energy from the Government of New South Wales, at a total cost of A$3.25 billion,{{Cite web|title=Acquisition of New South Wales Energy Businesses|date=December 2010|publisher=Origin Energy|access-date=13 October 2017|url=http://reports.originenergy.com.au/2011/shareholder/operational_review/acquisition_of_new_south_wales_energy_business/|archive-date=19 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719220259/http://reports.originenergy.com.au/2011/shareholder/operational_review/acquisition_of_new_south_wales_energy_business/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/origin-buys-nsw-power-assets-for-3-25b-20101215-18x98.html|title=Origin buys NSW power assets for $3.25b|date=2010-12-14|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=2019-02-19|archive-date=20 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220063259/https://www.smh.com.au/business/origin-buys-nsw-power-assets-for-3-25b-20101215-18x98.html|url-status=live}} as well as entering a GenTrader agreement with Eraring Energy (in which Origin supplies fuel, pays certain charges, and can dispatch and sell electricity output, while Eraring Energy owns, operates and maintains the power stations). The transaction was completed on 1 March 2011.{{Cite press release|title=Origin completes acquisition of Integral Energy and Country Energy retail businesses and enters binding GenTrader arrangements with Eraring Energy|date=1 March 2011|publisher=Origin Limited|access-date=10 April 2011|url=http://www.originenergy.com.au/news/article/asxmedia-releases/1271|archive-date=2 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402091853/http://www.originenergy.com.au/news/article/asxmedia-releases/1271|url-status=live}}

In June 2022, it was announced that Origin had been fined $17 million for breaching its obligations to customers experiencing hardship and payment difficulties.{{cite news |last=Harmsen |first=Nick |date=29 June 2022 |title=Federal Court orders Origin Energy to pay $17 million penalty over breaching hardship obligations |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-29/origin-energy-ordered-to-pay-17-million-dollar-penalty/101193406 |publisher=ABC News|location=Australia |access-date=24 October 2023 |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031121609/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-29/origin-energy-ordered-to-pay-17-million-dollar-penalty/101193406 |url-status=live }}

In August 2022, the company announced a goal for net-zero direct and indirect emissions by 2050.{{Cite news |date=2022-08-26 |title=Australia's Origin Energy sets sights on net-zero emissions by 2050 |language=en |agency=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/australias-origin-energy-sets-sights-net-zero-emissions-by-2050-2022-08-26/ |access-date=2022-09-13 |archive-date=13 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913203735/https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/australias-origin-energy-sets-sights-net-zero-emissions-by-2050-2022-08-26/ |url-status=live }}

In November 2022, Origin received a takeover offer from a Brookfield Asset Management and EIG Global Energy Partners consortium for {{AUD|18 billion|link=yes}}.{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/origin-energy-fields-18b-takeover-bid-from-brookfield-20221110-p5bx1u.html |title=Origin Energy fields $18b takeover offer from Brookfield |date=10 November 2022 |last=Toscano |first=Nick |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=10 November 2022 |archive-date=10 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110010703/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/origin-energy-fields-18b-takeover-bid-from-brookfield-20221110-p5bx1u.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.afr.com/street-talk/origin-energy-bidders-ready-to-sign-on-the-dotted-line-20230309-p5cqw0 |title=Origin Energy bidders ready to sign on the dotted line |date=10 March 2023 |last1=Macdonald |first1=Anthony |last2=Thompson |first2=Sarah |last3=Sood |first3=Kanika |newspaper=Australian Financial Review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310212002/https://www.afr.com/street-talk/origin-energy-bidders-ready-to-sign-on-the-dotted-line-20230309-p5cqw0 |archive-date=10 March 2023 |url-status=live}} Origin agreed to the offer in March 2023, which sees its energy market business owned by Brookfield and its partners, while EIG's MidOcean Energy owns Origin's integrated gas business.{{cite news |last=Marchese |first=Adriano |date=27 March 2023 |title=Brookfield Renewable Enters Australian Renewable Energy Market with Origin Energy Deal |url=https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/brookfield-renewable-enters-australian-renewable-energy-market-with-origin-energy-deal-ee00bb1 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230402020949/https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/brookfield-renewable-enters-australian-renewable-energy-market-with-origin-energy-deal-ee00bb1 |archive-date=2 April 2023 |url-status=live}} In October 2023, the takeover was approved by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.[https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/accc-clears-canadian-fund-s-18-7b-takeover-of-origin-energy-20231010-p5eb1x.html ACCC clears Canadian fund's $18.7n takeover of Origin Energy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231010003726/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/accc-clears-canadian-fund-s-18-7b-takeover-of-origin-energy-20231010-p5eb1x.html |date=10 October 2023 }} Sydney Morning Herald 10 October 2023 The acquisition was terminated in December 2023 after Origin shareholders led by its largest investor, AustralianSuper, opposed the deal, failing to meet the required 75% threshold.{{Cite news |last=Murdoch |first=Scott |last2=Jackson |first2=Lewis |date=2023-12-04 |title=Origin investors reject $10.6 billion Brookfield bid, company open to other funding |language=en |agency=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/origin-investors-reject-brookfields-106-bln-bid-proxy-votes-2023-12-04/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |archive-date=11 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211013203/https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/origin-investors-reject-brookfields-106-bln-bid-proxy-votes-2023-12-04/ |url-status=live }}

File:Uranquinty Power Station 1.jpg

The company's portfolio includes the Bowen and Surat Basins in Queensland and the Browse Basin in Western Australia. In 2017, Origin sold its subsidiary Lattice Energy and its conventional upstream oil and gas business to Beach Energy for $1,585 million.{{Cite press release|title=Origin agrees to sell Lattice Energy for $1,585 million|date=28 September 2017|publisher=Origin Limited|access-date=1 May 2020|url=https://www.originenergy.com.au/content/dam/origin/about/investors-media/170928%20ASX%20release%20Origin%20agrees%20to%20sell%20Lattice%20Energy.pdf|archive-date=25 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325172635/https://www.originenergy.com.au/content/dam/origin/about/investors-media/170928%20ASX%20release%20Origin%20agrees%20to%20sell%20Lattice%20Energy.pdf|url-status=live}}

Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) is an incorporated company owned by Origin Energy, US giant ConocoPhillips and China's Sinopec.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/business/aplng-joint-venture-to-boost-gas-supply-to-east-coast-20171026-gz8i7z.html|title=APLNG joint venture to boost gas supply to east coast|first=Cole|last=Latimer|date=26 October 2017|website=The Age|location=Melbourne|access-date=28 September 2020|archive-date=18 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018043108/https://www.theage.com.au/business/aplng-joint-venture-to-boost-gas-supply-to-east-coast-20171026-gz8i7z.html|url-status=live}} The project consists of development of Australia Pacific LNG's gas fields in the Surat and Bowen Basins, construction of a 530 km gas transmission pipeline from the gas fields to an LNG facility on Curtis Island and construction of an LNG facility on Curtis Island.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aplng.com.au/about-project/about-project|title=About the project|publisher=Australia Pacific LNG|access-date=1 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304220539/http://www.aplng.com.au/about-project/about-project|archive-date=4 March 2014|url-status=dead}}

On 26 October 2017, gas producer and exporter APLNG entered into a sales agreement with Origin Energy, to supply 41 petajoules of gas under a 14-month contract starting 1 November. The contract brings the company's total commitment to 186 PJ for 2018, representing almost 30% of Australian east coast domestic gas market demand.

Origin has approximately 4.217 million customers, servicing both large energy customers and the residential and small business market.{{Cite web|url=https://www.originenergy.com.au/about/investors-media/reports-and-results/financial-history.html|title=Five Year Financial History – Origin Energy|first=Origin|last=Energy|date=27 May 2020|website=originenergy.com.au|access-date=3 July 2017|archive-date=14 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614165550/https://www.originenergy.com.au/about/investors-media/reports-and-results/financial-history.html|url-status=live}}

Origin operates is able to generate 6,010 MW of electricity capacity. This represents approximately 13 per cent of power generation capacity in the National Electricity Market.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aer.gov.au/node/9772|title=Generation capacity and peak demand|date=3 August 2015|publisher=Australian Energy Regulator|access-date=28 April 2015|archive-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405220755/http://www.aer.gov.au/node/9772|url-status=live}}

In January 2017, The Guardian reported allegations of whistleblower Sally McDow, a former compliance manager at Origin. She claimed that the company had ignored various wellfield integrity problems, including failing to maintain hundreds of wells across Australia and New Zealand, failing to seal wells after their active lives and failing to report incidents internally or to the appropriate regulators. She also described a culture of bullying and harassment within the organisation. She said that she had advised the CEO at the time, and Grant King (then President of the Business Council of Australia) but that King did not want the incidents reported. He allegedly stated that the incidents could be used by opponents of the unconventional gas industry to delay or halt current or future projects. Origin denied the allegations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jan/27/origin-energy-ignores-coal-seam-gas-well-leaks-whistleblower-says|title=Origin Energy ignores coal seam gas well leaks, whistleblower says|last=Slezak|first=Michael|date=2017-01-26|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-05-10|archive-date=30 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630161552/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jan/27/origin-energy-ignores-coal-seam-gas-well-leaks-whistleblower-says|url-status=live}}

{{POV section|date=August 2020}}

Origin was approved by the Northern Territory government to start fracking in August 2019{{Cite web|url=https://www.katherinetimes.com.au/story/6343634/second-approval-for-fracking-quickly-follows-the-first/|title=second approval for fracking quickly follows the first|website=Katherinetimes.com.au|date=22 August 2019|access-date=2020-08-15|archive-date=15 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015042651/https://www.katherinetimes.com.au/story/6343634/second-approval-for-fracking-quickly-follows-the-first/|url-status=live}} and drilling commenced in October 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://originbeetaloo.com.au/engaging-with-traditional-owners/|title=Engaging with Traditional Owners – Origin Beetaloo|access-date=2 September 2020|archive-date=12 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812121918/https://originbeetaloo.com.au/engaging-with-traditional-owners/|url-status=live}} Fracking began in September 2020 following a six-month COVID-19 induced stand down.{{Cite news |title=Fracking to start in the Beetaloo |date=21 September 2020 |work=Katherine Times|access-date=22 September 2020 |url=https://www.katherinetimes.com.au/story/6933446/fracking-to-start-in-the-beetaloo/?cs=1459 |archive-date=24 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924015926/https://www.katherinetimes.com.au/story/6933446/fracking-to-start-in-the-beetaloo/?cs=1459 |url-status=live }} Origin has postponed production at their Kyalla well site to the second half of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news |last=Finnanne |first=Kieran |date=2020-03-26 |title=COVID-19 pauses Origin's Beetaloo activity {{!}} Alice Springs News |language=en-AU |work=Alice Spring News |url=https://alicespringsnews.com.au/2020/03/26/covid-19-pauses-origins-beetaloo-activity/ |access-date=2020-11-20 |archive-date=22 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922020542/https://alicespringsnews.com.au/2020/03/26/covid-19-pauses-origins-beetaloo-activity/ |url-status=live }}

Concerns were expressed by local officials on the fracking operation, fearing that it could affect their ability to get groundwater and stating the local officials did not fully understand the contracts they were signing with petroleum companies. Accusations that Origin did not consult with traditional landowners before starting their planned exploration{{Cite web|url=https://www.katherinetimes.com.au/story/6271126/traditional-owners-banned-from-origin-energy-fracking-meeting/|title=Traditional owners banned from Origin Energy fracking meeting|first=Roxanne|last=Fitzgerald|date=12 July 2019|website=Katherine Times|access-date=28 September 2020|archive-date=7 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107234349/https://www.katherinetimes.com.au/story/6271126/traditional-owners-banned-from-origin-energy-fracking-meeting/|url-status=live}} were refuted by the Northern Land Council which stated it understood the text in the contracts and consulted with traditional Aboriginal landowners.{{cite news |title=NLC backs Origin in fracking stoush with traditional owners |url=https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/nlc-backs-origin-energy-in-beetaloo-basin-fracking-stoush-with-traditional-owners/news-story/26e44608fd11b4e5bb038f7f5bf5bb64 |access-date=25 October 2021 |work=The Northern Territory News |date=23 October 2020 |location=Darwin}} Origin stated that it conducted multiple checks when installing a well and that fracking stops if a check fails.{{Cite news |last=Perkins |first=Miki |date=2019-10-05 |title=Fractured future: Water fears as drilling for gas begins in the NT |language=en |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/fractured-future-water-fears-as-drilling-for-gas-begins-in-the-nt-20191003-p52xfj.html |access-date=2020-11-20 |archive-date=15 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015042641/https://www.smh.com.au/national/fractured-future-water-fears-as-drilling-for-gas-begins-in-the-nt-20191003-p52xfj.html |url-status=live }}

Origin divested from projects in the Beetaloo Basin in the Northern Territory in 2022.{{cite news |last1=Breen |first1=Jacqueline |last2=Morgan |first2=Thomas |date=19 September 2022 |title=Origin Energy backs out of investment into on-shore gas exploration in Beetaloo Basin |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-19/nt-beetaloo-origin-divestment/101453094 |publisher=ABC News|location=Australia |access-date=24 October 2023 |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031121607/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-19/nt-beetaloo-origin-divestment/101453094 |url-status=live }}

In December 2020, Origin was fined $126,000 after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission issued an infringement for misleading information regarding price increases in a letter sent out to Victorian customers in December 2019. Origin stated in the letter that electricity prices were changing because of the Victorian Essential Services Commission's increase to the Victorian Default Offer, an unrelated price set by the Essential Services Commission. However, the ACCC stated that the price increase was entirely Origin's choice and they chose to increase prices.{{Cite web|last=Commission|first=Australian Competition and Consumer|date=2020-12-22|title=Origin Energy pays penalty for allegedly misleading electricity customers|url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/origin-energy-pays-penalty-for-allegedly-misleading-electricity-customers|access-date=2021-03-30|website=Australian Competition and Consumer Commission|language=en|archive-date=2 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402004133/https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/origin-energy-pays-penalty-for-allegedly-misleading-electricity-customers|url-status=live}}

In October 2021 Origin was fined $5 million for charging 22,371 customers prohibited exit fees totaling $489,774. Origin received complaints about the fees in 2018 but continued charging them until 2020. The Essential Services Commission stated "Origin Energy knew at all times about the changes in the law banning exit fees and they even reviewed 19 different contract templates but didn’t remove the exit fees". By October 2021 fewer than half the wrongly charged exit fees had been reimbursed.{{cite news |title=Origin Energy pays $5m fine for exit fees |url=https://7news.com.au/business/finance/origin-energy-pays-5m-fine-for-exit-fees-c-4324917 |access-date=25 October 2021 |work=7News |agency=Australian Associated Press |date=25 October 2021 |archive-date=25 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025090334/https://7news.com.au/business/finance/origin-energy-pays-5m-fine-for-exit-fees-c-4324917 |url-status=live }}

In September 2022 Origin Energy pleaded guilty to releasing nearly 800,000 litres of polluted water from its coal seam gas operations in Queensland's Western Downs region, north-west of Brisbane.{{Cite web |last=Hope |first=Zach |date=2022-09-06 |title=Origin Energy pleads guilty to releasing contaminated coal seam gas water |url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/origin-energy-pleads-guilty-to-releasing-contaminated-coal-seam-gas-water-20220906-p5bfpg.html |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=Brisbane Times |language=en |archive-date=13 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913204911/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/origin-energy-pleads-guilty-to-releasing-contaminated-coal-seam-gas-water-20220906-p5bfpg.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2022-09-06 |title=Origin Energy fined $60,000 in Brisbane Magistrates Court |url=https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/development/origin-energy-fined-60000-in-brisbane-magistrates-court-for-contravening-condition-of-environmental-authority-near-wandoan/news-story/7f05877895a5ddcc8609be7a4a0f5908 |website=The Chronicle}} According to the Department of Environment and Science, heavy rain caused water to overflow from coal seam gas tanks into a nearby waterway, including a landholder's dam.

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• [http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/solar-cells-wait-for-their-day-in-the-sun/2007/04/29/1177787972754.html Solar cells wait for their day in the sun]
• [http://home.nestor.minsk.by/build/news/2007/06/1503.html GE Energy, CH2M Hill to build power plant in Australia]

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