Have your say on renewable energy technology upgrades

We’ve released a consultation paper inviting customers and stakeholders to provide input into the future of consumer energy resources. The paper addresses the increasing adoption of solar panels and electric vehicles, which is changing the way customers generate and consume energy.

Input is being sought to inform our investment and product plans for the 2026–2031 period (known as the regulatory reset).

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) forecasts that customers are set to almost double their use of roof-top solar by 2031, surging from around 4,200 MW today to 9,300 MW by 2031. Solar capacity has already doubled over the last five years as investment in renewable technologies has surged, supported by government policies such as the Solar Homes program.

Meanwhile, forecasts show there could be up to 1.5 million electric vehicles (EVs) on Victorian roads by the same time, with a significant number likely to be situated in CitiPower and Powercor’s networks.

CitiPower and Powercor customers are being invited to have their say on how the distribution networks should respond to the increased uptake of these technologies, as well as who should pay for them, as part of their extensive consultation program to inform their regulatory reset proposals for the 2026-2031 period.

“Customers are increasingly driving the energy transition, as they look for ways to reduce their emissions, reduce their electricity bills and achieve greater energy independence,” said Ms Renate Vogt, General Manager, Regulation at CitiPower and Powercor.

“It’s critical that our customers are at the centre of our network investment and product decisions, as they’re the ones who ultimately pay for, and benefit from, this infrastructure. This is an opportunity for Victorians to have their say on how we respond to these technologies, to ensure our plans for the network meet their expectations and deliver value.”

Customers are also invited to help shape the way Powercor supports regional and rural customers, in addition to vulnerable customers, to participate in the energy transition.

The consultation follows research conducted by Monash University’s Emerging Technologies Research Lab on behalf of CitiPower and Powercor, which identified several key trends in how customers expect to use solar and EVs in the future.

The research found that 77% of respondents who have an EV, or are intending to purchase one in the next five years, are planning to charge it at home, which is expected to place pressure on peak demand, create additional capacity constraints and increase the frequency of low voltage events.

In addition to the call for written submissions, an in-person summit will be held on 28 November 2023 where customers, local council representatives and special interest groups involved in the energy transition will convene to discuss and debate the key themes outlined in the paper.

CitiPower and Powercor’s regulatory proposals for the 2026-2031 period are being developed through extensive engagement with customers and stakeholders. Proposals will be submitted to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) for review and approval in January 2025.

For more information and to have your say, visit:

• CitiPower customers – https://engage.powercor.com.au/service-level-futures-citipower
• Powercor customers – https://engage.powercor.com.au/service-level-futures-powercor