First Peoples in Shepparton region helping shape the electricity network of the future

Powercor staff speak with the Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative at a recent engagement session.

First Peoples in Shepparton, Mooroopna and the surrounding region have highlighted affordability and reliability as the key priorities that should be considered when investments are being made in the electricity network, according to a new report released by Powercor.

The report summarises feedback received during a recent engagement session between Powercor and community members on Yorta Yorta Country through a collaboration with Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative.

General Manager Regulation, Renate Vogt, said that with electricity being an essential part of people’s lives, speaking and listening to all customers was critical to ensuring that Powercor was meeting the needs and expectations of communities.

“We want to invest in our networks in a way that delivers value for all our customers,” Ms Vogt said.

“The feedback from the Yorta Yorta community members, combined with feedback from a wide range of other customers is helping to shape our investments and plans for the future.”.

Twenty-four people took part in the three-hour engagement session held in March this year. The Yorta Yorta Country Consultation Summary Report examines priorities in relation to four broad themes covered in the session – reliability and resilience, affordability and equity, energy transformation and customer experience.

“The session was about listening to the participants’ views and understanding more about their perspective, which is incredibly important given their history and connection to this region,” Ms Vogt said.

“The participants provided some great insights, highlighting the need for better reliability and resilience of the network for Shepparton and Mooroopna, given the towns are in flood prone areas.”

The participants also identified the price of electricity, a need to better understand how to reduce their power bills, and the potential role of solar and batteries in achieving this as some of the key areas they’d like more information on from Powercor.

The insights gained will help design major projects or initiatives planned by the networks as well as refine the topics that will be subject to further consultation and engagement with people in 2023. The results are incorporated into new business plans (called regulatory proposals) that are built every five years and must be reviewed and approved by the Australian Energy Regulator.

Further Information:

The Powercor Broad and Wide Stakeholder Engagement program also held sessions in Torquay, Bendigo, Ballarat and Shepparton as well as online engagement targeting rural areas and culturally and linguistical diverse communities (CALD).

The insights gained will help design major projects or initiatives planned by the networks as well as refine the topics that will be subject to further consultation and engagement with people throughout the remainder of 2023.

To view the report, visit Future Regulatory Reset 2026 – 2031 | CitiPower & Powercor