True resilience – if it is to be a meaningful term – must begin with resilient people and resilient communities…Communities that are better placed to prepare for extreme events, respond to them in the moment and recover from them in the aftermath.
Energy resilience is front of mind for many households and small businesses, with climate change altering the nature and location of severe weather events. Our June 2024 Energy Consumer Sentiment Survey finds that 62% of households and 60% of small businesses are concerned about the increased frequency of electricity outages in the next three years, due to such events.
Our submission to the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC)’s Consultation Paper on the rule change request submitted by the Honourable Lily D’Ambrosio, Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, commends the Victorian Government for its attention to reducing the likelihood and impact of prolonged power outages.
But we’re also concerned that the proposed framework for distribution network resilience expenditure will increase costs for consumers, without necessarily ensuring better consumer outcomes.
We recommend:
- Any approach to electricity resilience needs to focus on consumer outcomes and be equitable.
- Of the four aspects of resilience assessed, consumers are clear that responsiveness and readiness are required from distribution network services providers (DNSPs).
- Electricity resilience is best delivered through collaborative approaches and is not the sole responsibility of the electricity network business.
- Electricity network businesses have a preference for capital investments in network equipment.
- Electricity network businesses are required to undertake risk assessments. This includes natural hazards, as owners and operators of Systems of National Significance.
Download our full submission to find out more.