AusNet

What does switching from gas to electricity actually mean for our network?   This was one of the key questions Joanna Kaptein, our Community Energy Engagement Advisor, tackled at the Electrify Your Home event, hosted by Totally Renewable Beechworth last weekend.    Jo's presentation included early results from our ElectriFAIRcation trial in Morwell, where we partnered with Gippsland Climate Change Network Morwell Neighbourhood House and local Morwell tradies and suppliers to electrify 50 homes experiencing hardship and vulnerability.    A few key insights: ⚡ Household electrification is set to grow 10-fold by 2031. ⚡ The biggest shift right now? Moving from gas heating to electric. ⚡ That shift is already impacting both winter and summer peak demand.   With insights across both electricity and gas networks, we’re in a unique position to see these changes in real time.   Great to see such strong community engagement in Beechworth as we navigate the energy transition together. #Electrification #EnergyTransition #CommunityEnergy #WeBringTheEnergy

AusNet supports the introduction of new technical performance requirements for data centres connecting to the electricity network. Unlike traditional loads, data centres behave differently, and these differences need to be recognised to maintain a secure and reliable power system.   A coordinated approach will be critical to supporting system security while enabling Australia’s continued digital and economic growth.   We have provided a submission to the Australian Energy Market Commission’s Improving the NEM access standards – Package 2 Draft Determination, which: - Shares insights from our investigation into how data centres interact with the power system - Supports defining “inverter-based loads” separately to better address their unique characteristics - Proposes an alternative approach for applying performance requirements to distribution-connected data centres - Supports the overall direction of the proposed requirements, with recommendations to strengthen them   Read our full submission here: https://lnkd.in/gcpTbXJQ

What a career! Super proud of Julie Warke - one of our women in operations superstars⭐️ If you're a #NAWO member, tune in to the conversation on Thursday, 28 May.

What a great day out volunteering with Foodbank Victoria at the Farms to Families market in Dandenong. 🌱🥕 Huge thanks to our People & Safety team for bringing the energy, teamwork and all the smiles. Together, they helped support 𝟮𝟳𝟭 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 and distribute over 𝟰.𝟯 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 and pantry staples — an absolute cracker of a result. A special shout-out to Kym Smith for shining in the carrot and potato section! 👏 This is a team who work hard and play hard – so it was great to get them out the office giving their time to help local communities stress a little less and eat a little better. Thank you to Foodbank Victoria for the meaningful partnership – we’re grateful to support the incredible work you do. #CommunityImpact #Volunteering #PeopleAndSafety #FoodbankVictoria #GivingBack #WeBringTheEnergy

Yesterday, the Australian Energy Regulator approved $𝟮.𝟲 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 for AusNet to maintain and upgrade the electricity distribution network across eastern and northern Victoria 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀. The investment will help support safe and reliable services, increase network capacity, strengthen resilience to extreme weather and prepare for rising demand driven by electrification and population growth. While the decision is an improvement on the draft determination, it is $𝟴𝟬𝟬𝗺 𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝗡𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 – which will make meeting evolving customer needs more challenging. For example, addressing the low voltage network issues and capacity requirements to address the rapid electrification we are seeing will be tough. Planning for an electricity network that must remain reliable today while also preparing or a rapidly changing future is complex. We will now review the decision in detail and consider the implications for our customers and communities. Our focus remains on delivering reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity for the communities we serve – today and as Victoria’s energy system continues to change. 🔗 More on AusNet’s response to the AER’s decision: https://lnkd.in/g7mcDN3u

Earlier this week, on 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘆, we were reminded that caring for our planet isn’t driven by a single moment - it’s shaped by everyday action. 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲, 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿, 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁, captures this perfectly. Environmental progress is sustained by communities, educators, workers and families taking practical steps to protect the places where we live and work. To mark the day, the Legal team from #AusNet spent time volunteering alongside Landcare Australia, helping to restore the natural environment along 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁, 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮. Together, the team: ✅planted 200 native seedlings ✅used pole cameras to monitor nest boxes for sugar gliders ✅contributed as citizen scientists by recording data in the iNaturalist app A big thank you to our volunteers for giving their time, energy and curiosity - and to Landcare for the impact you create every day through local, hands-on environmental action. 🌱 #EarthDay #EnvironmentalVolunteering #CommunityImpact #WeBringTheEnergy

We’re pleased to be participating in the 𝗖𝗘𝗗𝗔 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 & 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 – an important forum bringing together industry, policymakers and leaders to discuss Australia’s energy future. Liz Ryan, Executive General Manager of Transmission, will join the panel “𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱”, exploring the strategic choices required to support the next decade of energy system transformation. The discussion will examine how Australia can strengthen grid capacity, accelerate clean energy projects and safeguard system reliability while progressing towards national emissions targets. We’re looking forward to contributing to the conversation! #CEDA202 #ClimateAndEnergy #EnergyTransition #CleanEnergy #Transmission #EnergyFuture

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸 (𝗪𝗥𝗟) $𝟰 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 – with grants up to $𝟯𝟬𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 available for locally led projects in the seven Local Government Areas along the proposed route in western Victoria. To support a strong and diverse range of applications, WRL is offering 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 and practical guidance to help you refine your project idea and strengthen your application. The workshops are designed to be insightful and practical for both first-time applicants and experienced grant writers seeking a refresher. 🔗 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿:  https://lnkd.in/grx2U-ZQ #CommunityGrants #GrantWriting #CommunityBenefits #WesternVictoria #EnergyTransition

𝗟𝗶𝗹𝘆𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗲’𝘀 𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻🐣 Every Easter, Andrew Webber (Group Leader, Urban Development) gives the team at our AusNet Lilydale Depot a gentle - and very tasty - nudge to take part in the annual Easter baking competition, proudly supporting The Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal. And every year, it delivers 🙌 From an impressive turnout across AusNet and Zinfra to the creativity (and skill!) on display, it’s a great reminder of the community spirit 'baked in' to the day-to-day work we do. A big congratulations to Alexis Higham from Zinfra, who took out this year’s honours with a 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗼. With votes for both presentation and taste - and a $136 donation raised for the Appeal - it was a fantastic result all round. We're already looking forward to next year! #GoodFridayAppeal #RoyalChildrensHospital #CommunitySpirit #Lilydale #TeamAusNet #Zinfra #Easter #WeBakeTheEnergy