Anne will give a brief review of energy policy issues in the Australian economy  and will outline what she is hoping to learn from her study visit to the US. The Energy Efficiency Policy team recently undertook a case study examining energy intensity in the US, with a particular focus on California. The case study was presented to senior officials in the Department of Industry who were particularly interested in finding out further details of energy policy and to understand factors behind the apparent ability of California to contain escalating electricity demand, with per capita demand in California being approximately half the US average. There are some Australian issues and policies that are unique to Australia and Anne will give some examples to provide a counterpoint to the US situation.