We’ve been partnering with RACE for 2030 project Scenarios for Future Living over the past 12 months to better understand how the energy needs and preferences of customers is evolving. The project is led by leading academic researchers from across Australia including the Monash University’s Emerging Technologies Research Lab.

Phase one of the project has explored how Australians’ living situations, routines and preferences are shaping current energy use and will influence future demand consumption as we transition away from carbon based energy. This is an important program for us in that will support:

• more accurately preparing future demand and connection forecasts
• better network planning to anticipate evolving and trends and preferences
• developing more targeted and effective network tariffs
• developing new demand management products and services
• building an ongoing understanding of our customers’ future needs, preferences and energy use trends.

Drawing on a national survey of more than 5,000 Australians conducted between April and May 2025, we heard:

• Australians located in flood, bushfire and rural areas are twice as likely to face energy hardship than those in other areas
• households identified as facing energy hardship are more likely to be exposed to climate risks, limiting their access to cool and clean air
• many daily routines, such as working from home, present opportunities for demand management and network support
• most Australians welcome smart technologies and greater automation of their energy use but want to remain in control of their devices.

These insights are being leveraged by our business to support our understanding, responses to policy issues and decision making. The program has a further two years to run with the ultimate goal to integrate customer behaviour through every aspect of network planning. We look forward to the next phase of results we hope to share soon.

Linked here are the results from the first phase: Household and home business research: Emerging lifestyles preferences and practices - Scenarios for Future Living