Jemena has put forward its Electricity Pricing and Services plan for the period of 2026–31 to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), aiming to deliver significant savings on energy bills for its customers.
The proposal details Jemena’s pricing structure and service delivery for its electricity network, which caters to over 380,000 clients in north-west Melbourne. It also outlines Jemena’s contributions to Australia’s energy transition over the upcoming financial years.
Expected Savings for Residential Customers
According to Shaun Reardon, Jemena’s Executive General Manager of Networks, if the AER approves the plan, the average annual bill for a typical residential customer is set to decrease by $156 by the conclusion of this period compared to the 2025–26 financial year.
Reardon explained that this proposed price reduction is made possible by an increase in electricity usage within the network, mainly attributed to growing demands from data centres and additional connections. Existing customers are also utilizing more electricity for heating and cooking in their homes.
Customer Engagement
In developing this proposal, Jemena actively engaged with thousands of customers through various platforms, including their GridTalk website, face-to-face sessions, and their virtual People’s Panel.
Mr Reardon noted that the utility hosted 80 engagement events and dedicated nearly 300 hours to discussions with customers over the last two years.
“This proposal truly reflects the concerns of our communities today while preparing the electricity network for a sustainable energy future,” he stated.
Understanding Customer Priorities
Many customers expressed that energy affordability and cost-of-living remain their highest concerns. Additionally, feedback highlighted the importance of maintaining the reliability of the electricity network and enhancing its resilience against extreme weather conditions.
The engagement process also involved soliciting insights from a diverse group of customers, including residential clients, large commercial entities, and small to medium businesses.
Actions from the 2026–31 Proposal
The 2026–31 Proposal encompasses several strategies informed by customer input:
Affordability Initiatives
A typical residential customer’s average annual billing is expected to drop by $156 by the conclusion of the next period compared to the previous year.
Future-Ready Plans
Jemena plans to connect over 33,300 new residential clients and 2,585 businesses in north-west Melbourne. The company will also introduce new tariff structures aimed at encouraging better network utilisation and enhancing price equity for solar and non-solar customers.
Furthermore, the proposal includes the introduction of advanced digital technologies to improve electricity management and facilitate new sustainable products and services. There is also a comprehensive redevelopment plan for zone substations to ensure reliability remains high, alongside the establishment of large-scale assets to support significant customers like data centres and hospitals.
Enhanced Communication with Customers
Improvements are set to be made in updating systems to keep customers informed, providing near real-time updates during critical moments.
A new customer portal will be developed to deliver personalised energy information tailored to individual preferences and language needs.
Looking Ahead
The AER is set to review Jemena’s 2026–31 Proposal and will release a draft decision in late 2025. Following this, Jemena will submit a revised proposal, with the AER’s final decision slated to take effect from 1 July 2026.
To view Jemena’s initial 2026–31 Proposal, please visit: https://gridtalk.com.au/2026-2031-proposal