Expert advice and assurance on customer and community engagement, research, and insight
The Customer Advisory Panel Role
The Customer Advisory Panel (CAP) exists to provide focus, expert challenge and insight on customer issues and engagement, to inform and influence strategic decisions and operational delivery by Powercor, CitiPower and United Energy. This input is provided in the context of both the regulatory reset process and the ongoing work of the three networks, and covers the diverse interests of household, commercial and industrial customers
Key functions include
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Information flows and insights from the organisations and communities where CAP members work and members' broader relationships
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Identification of significant consumer issues and informed and knowledgeable debate and advice about them
News
The following blog posts are shared directly from the United Energy's Customer Advisory Panel
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CAP reports on draft regulatory proposal
The Customer Advisory Panel has reviewed our draft 2026-2031 regulatory proposal and issued a report with a series of recommendations for incorporation into our final plan.
CAP reports on regulatory proposal
The CAP has reviewed our final proposal submitted to the AER and published a report that includes a series of recommendations for further consideration.
Meet the members of the Customer Advisory Panel
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Philip Cullum - CAP Chair
Philip is an consumer advocate and regulator and a United Energy customer. He is principal of Consumer-wise Consulting, working on strategy, policy, engagement and governance.
He is a board member for Clean Energy Council and Consumer Action and Consumers’ Federation of Australia, and board chair for Financial Basics Foundation.
Philip has held roles at the Australian Energy Regulator, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, UK energy regulator Ofgem, and UK consumer organisations.
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Hilary Newstead - Deputy Chair
Hilary’s experience covers energy and carbon markets, sustainability, energy productivity and product development.
Her work centres around creating sustainable futures for heavy industries and infrastructure portfolios - driving strategy and engagement on decarbonisation, renewable energy, and climate resilience.
Hilary is currently General Manager - Strategic Energy Management within the GFG Alliance, and is also a board member of the South Australian Hydrogen Technology Cluster.
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Natalie Collard
Natalie is CEO of Farmers for Climate Action and former CEO of Food and Fibre Great South Coast.
She is a highly-regarded advocate for agriculture, renewable energy, innovation and women’s leadership and represents farmers and regional communities serviced by United Energy.
Her board experience includes the Australian Government’s Council of Australian Latin American Relations, Landcare Australia, Agsafe, and the Victorian Government Agriculture Energy Investment Plan Independent Advisory Council.
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Dean Lombard
A qualified social worker, Dean lead several community development roles before spending over a decade in energy policy advocacy at the Victorian Council of Social Services.
Now based at Renew, Dean is focused on policy analysis and advocacy in national and state energy markets, with an emphasis on making the energy system work better for consumers while also reducing environmental impact.
His recent work includes DER enablement, tariff reform and consumer protections in emerging energy markets.
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Helen Bartley
Helen is an professional researcher and accredited statistician, with an Advanced Certificate in Engagement.
She is a principal consultant with Bartley Consulting where she leads social research, evaluations and consumer engagement with a focus on the water and energy sectors.
Helen was a member of AusNet Services' Customer Forum during its 2021-25 regulatory review. She is a current member of the Australian Energy Regulator’s Consumer Reference Group and Consumer Challenge Panel.
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Gavin Dufty
Gavin runs the Policy and Research unit at St Vincent de Paul Victoria. ver the past 30 years he has participated in numerous electricity distribution, gas distribution and transmission regulatory resets across Australia.
Gavin is currently a representative on Australian Energy Regulator’s and Essential Services Commission's customer consultative groups and an Energy Consumers Australia board member.
He's also sat on AEMC’s Reliability Panel and AEMO’s Integrated System Plan Consumer Panel.
