In an industry first, the Clipsal by Schneider Electric Partner Business has announced a commercial marketing alliance with Australia’s largest lighting retailer, Beacon Lighting. [ + ]

The National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) has issued an electrical safety warning to residents as wild weather continues to cause problems around Australia with floods in northern NSW, threatened floods in southeast Queensland and a tropical cyclone set to hit northern Western Australia. [ + ]

Security 2013 Exhibition & Conference will be held from 24-26 July at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre. Now in its 28th year, the event is expected to attract 4500 visitors from government and private enterprises, and more than 150 local and international suppliers will be showcasing the latest business security solutions for the Australasia market. [ + ]

According to a release from Master Electricans Australia, prior to the mid-1980s Australia was one of the highest users of asbestos in the world. Today, Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos-related disease in the world. [ + ]

NCAR is spearheading a project to develop technology that gives 36-hour forecasts of incoming solar energy that could eliminate guesswork for solar power plants. [ + ]

The National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) has issued a warning that under no circumstances should electrical apprentices ever undertake live electrical work nor work without suitable supervision. [ + ]

Master Electricians Australia (MEA) has called on the Queensland Government to restrict power price rises for off-peak energy tariffs, in order to ease pressure on the grid, reduce the amount of investment needed and cut costs to consumers. [ + ]

GE’s Power Conversion business was instrumental in bringing Australia’s largest seawater desalination plant into operation by providing technology that delivers a rainfall independent water supply to complement catchments and storages in the area around Melbourne. [ + ]

Dr Lan Lam, the primary inventor of the UltraBattery, and his team took the world’s 150 year-old battery technology and revolutionised it in the laboratories of CSIRO. [ + ]

Securing funding for one of Australia’s largest geothermal projects and establishing Perth as one of the world’s top five ‘geothermal cities’ were celebrated as some of the major achievements of the Western Australian Geothermal Centre of Excellence (WAGCOE) at its conclusion last week. [ + ]

For the twelfth year running, CeBIT Australia returns to the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre from 28-30 May 2013 as the number one business technology event of the Asia-Pacific business calendar. [ + ]

Making new tracks, Rockwell Automation on Tour will visit multiple locations in both metropolitan and regional centres around Australia. The free educational workshop series allows attendees from all industries to explore the latest aspects of the company’s Integrated Architecture approach to plantwide control and information systems. [ + ]

Major construction projects in Queensland are predicted to decline by more than $7.5 billion, the President of the Queensland Major Contractors Association has said. [ + ]

Australian-produced ChargeIQ electric vehicle charger has been given the ‘green light’ by a Victorian Electric Vehicle Trial participant, with the innovation receiving high points for user friendliness, flexibility, cost savings and sustainability. [ + ]

AusGrid is inviting interested parties to the latest Smart Grid, Smart City seminar, for an update on the Rooftop Solar Trial. [ + ]