ENAcommissioned  a Climate Risk and Resilience project to develop a Guidance Manual (Manual) that would assist energy network businesses in Australia review and plan to adapt to potential climate change impacts. The Manual is now available (at the time of this conference) as an interactive pdf and is being used by energy network businesses across Australia.  This paper evaluates the approach taken in the Mnaul from a user prespective.  The findings are based upon pilots undertaken earlier in 2014 with a number of the network companies.

The Manual aims to provide a consistent approach across the industry, that is robust, demonstrates best practice thinking and would allow prudent expenditure decisions to be developed, which could be included in pricing proposals to the regulator, including the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) and the WA Economic Regulation Authority (ERA). A detailed study to assess best practice approaches to adaptation in the energy sector internationally was undertaken. The importance of taking a Decision Centred Adaptation approach was apparent from the outset of the project.

The approach to develpment of the Manual used a variety of data collection methods including: review of national and international literature; case studies; survey of six network businesses weather fault data records; review of ENA member climate risk and adaptation reports; interviews with stakeholders, industry forum, advisory group meetings and industry consultation on draft material. This paper considers how useful each element of this material has been used in practicce by companies implementing the Guidance Manual.