News

Engaging with First Peoples community members and stakeholders

13 February 2025

Our offices and depots are located on the traditional lands of the Bunurong and Boonwurrung (Brooklyn), Wadawurrung (Ballarat and Geelong), Dja Dja Wurrung Clans (Bendigo and Maryborough), Yorta Yorta Nations (Cobram, Echuca and Shepparton), Eastern Maar (Colac), Latji Latji (Mildura), Wotjobaluk (Horsham), Taungurung (Kyneton) and Eastern Maar and Gunditjmara (Warrnambool) Counties.

Given First Peoples are our customers, as part of the 2026-2031 Powercor Regulatory Reset we undertook direct engagement initiatives with these customers to better understand their electricity experiences.

engagement event

What we've done

We engaged with community members, organisations, Registered Aboriginal Parties and attended the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy roundtable to better understand First Peoples energy priorities.

We established a First Peoples Advisory Committee (FPAC) in June 2023. The purpose of the FPAC is to be an advisor to the networks on engaging with First Peoples customers to provide insight and feedback on initiatives/proposals being considered by the networks. The FPAC is independent body and comprised of 4 members representing a broad spectrum of the community. The Chair of the FPAC also sits on the Customer Advisory Panel.


What First Peoples told us

Throughout our engagement, a number reoccurring priorities were identified by First Peoples:

  • Access to energy is a human right

    First Peoples noted that Elders in the community are withholding from using their heating or cooling due to concerns about energy use.

  • Access to energy literacy

    First Peoples noted the importance of easy to read, independent and unbiased energy literacy resources.

  • Access to renewables

    First Peoples expressed a desire for funding to conduct feasibility studies or build and own renewable energy resources.

  • Network resilience

    First Peoples are often affected by major weather events and want things in place for their communities when these events occur.


  • First Peoples liaison

    First Peoples sentiment was to have First Peoples liaison officers to engage with communities when emergencies occur and to deliver tailored programs for their communities.

  • Energy upgrades

    First Peoples acknowledged the inefficiencies of old appliances, but stressed they didn't have the funds to upgrade old appliances.

How we've responded

We've accepted First Peoples recommendations and are incorporating them for lodging our final proposal with the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) in January 2025. Actions we are taking include:

  • upgrading and operationalising the Customer Assistance Package which includes a community energy literacy program and a First Peoples 60+ energy program
  • continuing direct engagement with First Peoples and ensuring that we are being responsive to First Peoples changing needs and priorities
  • continuing to update the FPAC on the initiatives being put forward and any additional feedback we receive.

Engagement report

For more information on the above activities and the methodology underpinning the, read the full First Peoples Engagement Report below.

Next steps

Feedback from our First Peoples engagement has been incorporated into our 2026–31 regulatory pricing proposal.

To get involved and have your say, visit the Regulatory Reset project page and click +Follow at the top of this page to receive email updates.