Hopes from one electricity retailer the government may underwrite generation projects

The government's expected to make decisions this month on reforming the energy sector - after it asked global consultancy company Frontier Economics to report back on what's needed.

Octopus Energy chief operating officer Margaret Cooney says underwriting's worked in the past with the ultra-fast broadband rollout.

She says the government could expedite the process by issuing tenders and getting long term contracts as soon as possible.