News

Understanding First Peoples energy needs and priorities

14 February 2025

United energy employee speaking with a customer completing a survey.

Community Engagement at Nairm Marr Djambana BayMob Expo

What we did

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 of 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.

  • 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 them, 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.