Liam Comer

Liam is an economist at Frontier Economics working across the energy, water, urban, biodiversity and regulatory economics teams. With a focus on modelling and analytical expertise as well as research support. He is experienced in developing complex models and evaluating and advising on the funding and regulatory impacts of different investments - for clients across the energy and water sectors in particular.

His sector expertise includes:

Water sector economic evaluation and public policy advisory

Within the water sector, Liam regularly develops complex cost-benefit analysis, financial analysis and adaptive pathways analysis models as well as advising on the funding and regulatory impacts of different water sector investments. He has also contributed to number of policy framework reviews. Examples include:

• Assessing the economics of portfolios of supply and demand-side measures to manage water security, new demands, wastewater constraints and/or meet service level or licensing requirements.
• Developing economic frameworks for valuing stormwater harvesting, water conservation and efficiency and resilience (and the non-market economic, social and environmental impacts associated with these).
• Undertaking reviews of key policy frameworks, including the Victorian groundwater management.

Energy market modelling, forecasting and market reform and regulatory

Liam also undertakes energy market modelling and forecasts electricity, gas and hydrogen demand. This includes the use of Frontier Economics’ proprietary Energy42 model. He also regularly develops retail electricity and gas prices forecasts, advises on retail price regulation and energy market reform, and has developed studies relating to the impacts of electrification and natural gas use. Examples include:

• Undertaking integrated market modelling for clients including Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER) and Queensland Government.
• Developing retail price models for regulated business as well as economic models more broadly to assess the costs, benefits and broader impacts of changes in gas and electricity demand for clients across the sector.
• Advising regulated business and government on policy design and impacts, including the design and impacts of renewable gas targets and the potential role for and level of hydrogen production targets.

Biodiversity measurement and market models

Liam advises clients on the value of measures to protect Australia’s unique ecosystems and biodiversity. Examples of his projects include:

• Evaluating the costs and benefits of managing a marine pest – the first application of the CEBRA Project 1608E methodology to guide responses to marine pest incursions.
• Identifying and assessing current and potential funding mechanisms for Australian Commonwealth biosecurity functions.

His technical expertise includes:

Cost-benefit analysis and business cases

One of Liam’s specialities is in developing and reviewing cost-benefit analyses (CBAs) and business cases for projects and government or regulatory policies, as well as developing novel economic valuation methodologies. He has developed or reviewed CBAs or business cases a number of sectors, including for Infrastructure NSW, NSW DCCEEW, Sydney Water, Hunter Water, SA Department of Environment and Water (DEW), VIC Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), and Commonwealth DCCEEW. For example:

• Complex CBA and adaptive pathways models for water, wastewater, recycled water and stormwater investments across a number of jurisdictions;
• CBAs and valuation methodologies for valuing energy sector resilience for both the Commonwealth and WA Governments; and
• Socio-economic assessments and non-market valuation studies for government and utilities.

Economic regulation

Liam also provides support to regulated businesses and regulators across the water and energy sectors, contributing to developing or reviewing pricing proposals, as well as a range of other regulatory advice. He has provided a range of modelling and strategic support prior to and throughout price review processes for various utilities and their regulators, including the Essential Services Commision (ESC), Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), Australian Energy Regulator (AER), and the WA Economic Regulation Authority (ERA). Other example of recent work include:

• Reviewing modelling submitted to the WA ERA in support of a proposed Accelerated Depreciation allowance.
• Providing regulatory support and advice to a distribution network service provider relating to strategies regarding their upcoming capital expenditure submission to the AER for a price submission.

We work as one team across the world

In Asia-Pacific, we do this from offices in Australia and Singapore. We work as a single team with expertise and people brought together as required by the problem we are solving for our clients.  Reach out to any of our economists and consultants to find out how we can help you.