Dear Clare Savage,
Re: Backing Regional Victorian’s Energy Security
In October this year, Farmers for Climate Action (FCA), in partnership with Powercor, brought together regional Powercor customers from across Western Victoria to discuss the 2026-31 Regulatory Reset. The Rural and Regional Energy Summit, which was the culmination of two years of productive consultation, ensured that farmers, industry, local community leaders, and other customers were able to have their say on how the future distribution network could best serve them.
From the discussions at the summit, it was clear that regional Victorians want a network that better serves them. Currently, the Powercor network comprises more than 21,850 kilometers of single wire earth return (SWER) powerlines. These types of powerline significantly limit the energy security of connected households, and inhibit customers from being able to generate and export renewable energy to the grid; directly impacting on farm business productivity and profitability across the region. At the summit some customers noted that they had paid out of their own pocket to upgrade the SWER lines that connected their property to the grid, demonstrating the necessity of the upgrades and the disproportionate impact felt by customers in regional areas. Powercor had proposed an investment of $45 million to upgrade 440 kms of SWER lines, however it was clear that many regional energy users wanted to see a greater investment which would deliver 3,000 customers with improved service by upgrading 1,000 kms of SWER.
FCA, on behalf of all of those signed, calls on the Australian Energy Regulator to respond and action the findings from the Rural and Regional Energy Summit Report [LINK], to ensure that regional Victoria has energy security, reliability and the opportunity to participate and generate income from renewable energy.
Yours sincerely,
Natalie Collard
CEO
Farmers for Climate Action
