Andrew Bills started in consulting before moving into energy trading at Stanwell. He has held leadership roles at Babcock & Brown Power, Origin Energy and CS Energy before becoming CEO at SA Power Networks. He brings broad industry experience to the ENA Chair role with a career that covers the full energy value chain including renewables and logistics.

Why did you agree to be ENA Chair?
I believe industry associations are critical, especially now. I feel a responsibility to contribute to the sector. My experience across the energy value chain and at SA Power Networks helps me bring a balanced perspective and I aim to serve members and customers in a pragmatic, collaborative way.

What excites you about the energy transition?
I’m excited to be part of a dynamic, world-leading environment. Talented people are solving complex challenges that matter to society. I’m inspired by the chance to help a sector that’s embracing change and delivering real benefits for customers and communities. Working with great people, leading the transition, and enjoying the quality of life here (in South Australia) makes this the most rewarding time in my career.

What is the most important factor in the energy transition right now?
For me, it’s making sure our actions and reforms are practical and keep the customer at the centre. We need to stay flexible, invest in storage and orchestration at all levels, and avoid unnecessary complexity. A holistic approach – one that puts customer outcomes and system-wide benefits first – is essential for a successful energy transition.

What is the biggest challenge for the transition?
Balancing innovation with cost pressures. We must invest in new technologies and manage the complexities of the transition. At the same time, we need to make tough decisions to keep costs sustainable. Competing priorities make this hard, and leaders must ensure innovation doesn’t come at the expense of affordability and reliability.

What metric would you like to see on the dashboards of ENA members?                                           I want ENA members to track customer benefit from flexibility. Measure the average bill reduction per customer from orchestrated energy resources and flexible export settings. Include participation rates in these programs. This outcome-focused metric shows if our reforms deliver real value, keeps us customer-centric, and highlights the need to scale flexibility and orchestration.

What do you do when you’re not working?
I try to stay active. I love cycling and get out on my bike as much as I can. I enjoy good wine and music – South Australia is a great place for both! Travel is important to me. I’ve lived and worked in several countries, which gave me a real appreciation for new experiences. Most of all, I value time with my family. Being a cancer survivor makes me even more grateful for every moment together.

What’s on your Christmas wish list?
I’d like to see real progress toward practical, customer-focused reforms. I want flexible network tariffs, incentives for investment in storage and orchestration at all levels … and a commitment to simplicity and collaboration. Achieving these goals will keep our industry innovative, resilient, and focused on delivering value to customers as we move through the energy transition.