News and Insights
At The Energy Charter, our purpose is to empower one another across the energy supply chain to deliver better energy outcomes for customers and communities. Discover a range of news articles, blogs and resources to stay informed with a range of initiatives, industry updates and much more.
Recent Blogs
Welcome to our March 2026 Newsletter and explore:
- Regional Energy Accord journey continues in NSW
- #BetterTogether Battery Safety initiative updates
- Independent Review: Walking the talk on better practice for social licence
- Social Licence Community of Practice with Sarah Downie, Shared Value Project
- Energy Charter Blood Drive 2026: 1 month check-in.
Welcome to our first newsletter for 2026. We’re kicking off the year with some major milestones:
- The Energy Charter turns 7
- John Cleland joins The Energy Charter Board
- New IWG Chair and Deputy Chair appointed
- Regional Energy Accord journey continues in NSW
- Customer‑led pricing focus groups
- The Energy Charter Blood Drive 2026.
In our final newsletter for 2025, we’re proud to share:
- The launch of the Energy Charter Disclosure 2025, showcasing real, measurable action and impact for customers and communities
- An overview of our 2025 CEO Council Forum
- The growing national momentum of the Regional Energy Accord, led by local voices across Victoria and NSW, and
- Introducing our newest Supporter, SEC Newgate.
This month’s highlights include:
📌 Power Outage Planning receives national award recognition
📌 Regional Energy Accord roundtables head to NSW
📌 Turning insights into action through our #BetterTogether Battery Safety initiative
📌An invitation to register for The Energy Charter CEO Council Forum on 8 December.
This month’s highlights include:
The 2024-25 Disclosures from our Full Signatories
The Regional Energy Accord heads to NSW
An invitation to join our #BetterTogether Battery Safety initiative + join the National Smart Meter Customer Code Council
A final call to register for our National Landholder + Community Engagement Training in Dubbo in October.
This month’s highlights include:
📍 An update on the Victorian pilot of the Regional Energy Accord
🚀 The launch of the National Smart Meter Customer Code and the Regional Energy Collaboration Framework
📣 Opportunities to have your say on better protections for Life Support Customers and get involved in our battery safety initiative.
Powering Together: July 2025
Genuine collaboration, real impact: July 2025 update As we mark the halfway point of 2025 — and of the energy transition continues to gather momentum — our commitment to putting
Powering Together May 2025
🌿 Putting Humans at the Heart of the Energy Transition: May 2025 Update We’re thrilled to share our latest The Energy Charter progress as we continue building bridges between industry
Guest blog: Ethics in the Energy Transition
The Energy Charter is a proud member of The Ethics Alliance, run by The Ethics Centre. In this guest blog, Ethics Alliance director Cris Parker tackles ethics in the energy
The Energy Charter News Update March 2025
In our March 2025 newsletter, you’ll find details of our new CEO Executive Council, exciting campaign launches and more: Introducing the new Lived Experience Panel for the Developer Rating Scheme,
Guest blog: Promoting electrification through technology specific rates, Ahmad Faruqui
Recently US economist and energy pricing expert Ahmad Faruqi spoke to a forum hosted by The Energy Charter on customer-led tariffs. In this guest blog, he unpacks an innovative approach to technology-specific energy rates.
Energy Charter Disclosure 2024
Putting humans at the heart of the energy transition Back in 2018, 15 forward-thinking CEOs from across the consumer and energy sectors came together with a bold vision: to deliver
November 2024 News Update
In the November 2024 news update, you can register for the upcoming online event: Powering Through: What to know if you rely on medical equipment during a power outage in
October 2024 News Update
In the October 2024 news update, we celebrate our CEO, Sabiene Heindl who has been announced the winner of the 2024 International Equality in Energy Transitions (EIET) Woman of Distinction
Featured Articles
Collaboration spotlight: Energy transformation that delivers benefits to regional Australia
Highlighting the Energy Charter’s passion for customers and communities, is our signing of a sector-first Collaboration Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RE Alliance. RE-Alliance is an independent, not-for-profit advocacy organisation working to
Foresighting the future for Customers + Communities
Energising Australians Foresighting Forum 2023 Energy Consumers Australia’s flagship Foresighting Forum brought together the energy sector to discuss key issues affecting consumers with the theme of “Energising Australians”. Leaders, decision
#BetterTogether – Agricultural Landholders and Transmission: On the Ground Insights
How could electricity transmission infrastructure and agriculture co-exist and create shared value? That’s the question we’re seeking to answer through our social licence research exploring co-existence and shared value opportunities
Customer and Community Insights
The Energy Charter News Update March 2025
In our March 2025 newsletter, you’ll find details of our new CEO Executive Council, exciting campaign launches and more: Introducing the new Lived Experience Panel for the Developer Rating Scheme,
Better Practice Renewables and Biodiversity: Opportunities for Collaboration Guide
Following a series of environment and energy cross-sector workshops in Queensland hosted by RE-Alliance, the Energy Charter and Powerlink Queensland, we are thrilled to announce the launch of the Better
Resilience Community of Practice – Natural disasters, the long-term customer experience
Australia is in the midst of a summer of extreme weather events – cyclones, monsoons, flooding, bushfires. The immediate response to these events is extensive, garnering a combined reaction from
Resilience Community of Practice – Bushfire Preparedness and Lessons Learnt
Preparing networks for extreme weather to keep customers and communities safe After three years of La Niña rains suppressed bushfire activity, this spring and summer may be the most active
Resilience Community of Practice – Preparedness, Disruptions and Impact
Compelling narratives to showcase the power of resilience in action In September, the Resilience Community of Practice explored how forward-thinking organisations: Proactively prepare for disruptive events The challenges of around
Register for the Energy Charter CEO Forum – Charting a Better Energy Future!
Join our panel of Energy Charter CEOs from across the nation on 6 December 2023 for our CEO Forum: Charting a Better Energy Future, hosted by Cath Smith, Chair of the
Community of Practice – Stories from the frontline of the cost-of-living crunch
In our October Know Your Customers + Communities – Community of Practice, we heard firsthand from financial counsellors across Australia about how customers are managing the cost-of-living crisis specifically their
Community of Practice – Financial and mental wellbeing
A dive into financial and mental wellbeing with Beyond Blue In our August Know Your Customers + Communities – Community of Practice, we heard from Beyond Blue and how their
Resilience Community of Practice – Responding to trauma
An essential connection to services and assistance The Energy Charter’s Disaster Response Playbook recognises that following a disaster event, utility service providers are often a first point of contact for people
Humanising the renewable energy transition
The Australian Clean Energy Summit 2023 (ACES23) brought together leaders across the renewable energy sector to discuss the state and outlook for the Australian clean energy industry, together with challenges
Community of Practice – Engagement with Older Australians
Many older people have AND are carers and may have another person who regularly acts on their behalf. Older people are more likely to struggle with smaller print, quiet audio
Community of Practice – Lived Experience Voices
Context vs. Content: when designing products and services for our customers, context expertise (or lived experience) is just as important as including content expertise.. The Energy Charter’s Better Practice Customer
Renewables in Ag – Where to from here?
On 22 June, the Energy Charter teamed up with the Ag Energy Taskforce and the 2023 National Renewables in Agriculture Conference and Expo to host a special Ag + Energy
First Nations Engagement Community of Practice: Sherrie Anderson learn by coming with me
Our First Nations Enagement Community of Practice was launched by Transgrid’s Yura Ngura Indigenous Advisory Team. The team drive reconciliation through inclusive and respectful engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Resilience Community of Practice – Using new tech to improve customer outcomes
In the Energy Charter’s first-ever Resilience Community of Practice, we heard from Endeavour Energy on how they collaborated with others and used new-tech to deliver better outcomes for flood-affected communities. In 2022,
Unlocking Better Practice in Social Licence
What does social licence look like in practice? Love it or loath it, the term ‘social licence’ is being discussed in the board rooms of energy businesses across Australia. It’s
Community of Practice – Inclusive and Accessible Engagement
‘Hard to reach’ or ‘easy to ignore’? That’s the question communication, engagement and customer specialists need to ask when they use the phrase “hard to reach”. Cohorts of the community
Community of Practice – Compassion in Conflict
“Conflict is simply energy – the energy caused by a gap between what you want and what you are experiencing. This energy can be misused in ‘drama’ or harnessed to create
#BetterTogether – Bringing the Customer Voice to Board
Top-level leadership putting customers at the centre of decision making is what Principle 1 of the Energy Charter is all about. But what does this look like in practice? What
#BetterTogether – Elevating Inclusion in Innovation
With the proliferation of new technologies and household energy products, and a new energy future rapidly unfolding across households and neighbourhoods, does an opportunity exist for organisations to elevate inclusion into
#BetterTogether Cost of Living – Insights from Business NSW
Key take-aways from our recent “review and reflect” on how customers in vulnerable circumstances have been supported through COVID-19 is that we need to think broadly about who needs support
#BetterTogether – Human centred co-design of the National Customer Code Energy Comparators and Energy Moving Services
The importance of developing a rich understanding of customer experiences was central to successfully human-centred co-designing and launching the recent National Customer Code Energy Comparators and Energy Moving Services (the
#BetterTogether – supporting customers in vulnerable circumstances
How can I better manage my energy bills? What financial support is available and how can I access it? What about energy efficiency? These are some of the questions asked
Monthly News Updates and Announcements
The Energy Charter News Update March 2025
In our March 2025 newsletter, you’ll find details of our new CEO Executive Council, exciting campaign launches and more: Introducing the new Lived Experience Panel for the Developer Rating Scheme,
February 2025 News Update
Find out what's in store for The Energy Charter in 2025 as we tackle energy issues for customers + communities.
November 2024 News Update
In the November 2024 news update, you can register for the upcoming online event: Powering Through: What to know if you rely on medical equipment during a power outage in
October 2024 News Update
In the October 2024 news update, we celebrate our CEO, Sabiene Heindl who has been announced the winner of the 2024 International Equality in Energy Transitions (EIET) Woman of Distinction
September 2024 News Update
In the September 2024 news update, we’re excited to announce the launch of the emPOWER Podcast, tailor-made for those driving the energy transition on the ground in regional Australia. You can
August 2024 News Update
In the July 2024 news update, we share the Melbourne Institute Report on the Energy Charter’s National Concessions Awareness and Engagement Campaign “Keep the Money. It’s Yours.” which showed that
July 2024 News Update
In the July 2024 news update, we share the Melbourne Institute Report on the Energy Charter’s National Concessions Awareness and Engagement Campaign “Keep the Money. It’s Yours.” which showed that
June 2024 News Update
In the June 2024 news update, we warmly welcome our new Director, Energy Transition Heather Wagland! Heather joins the small but mighty team at the Energy Charter, bringing a passion
May 2024 News Update
In the May 2024 news update, read more about our partnership with the Queensland Renewable Energy Council to bring renewable developers, agricultural, local government, conservation, First Nations and other community
April 2024 News Update
In the April 2024 news update, annual Disclosures were published by EnergyAustralia and SA Power Networks, our CEO Council met in Sydney with special guests Brendan French, CEO Energy Consumers
March 2024 News Update
In our March 2024 News Update, read about the second round of Landholder Engagement Training in Brisbane, the launch of the first-ever Better Practice Renewables and Biodiversity: Opportunities for Collaboration Guide,
February 2024 News Update
Today, Energy Charter Signatories welcome Seán Mc Goldrick, CEO of Tasmania’s electricity transmission and distribution network TasNetworks, as the new Chair of the CEO Council for 2024. Read the Media Release
November 2023 News Update
In the November 2023 News Update, CEO Council Chair, Guy Chalkley shares share strategic highlights from the annual Energy Charter Disclosures as well as future priorities for collaboration for customers
October 2023 News Update
In this October 2023 News Update, we’re excited to announce the Energy Charter Signatory 2022-23 Disclosures* are now live on our website! These Disclosures are part of our annual Accountability
September 2023 News Update
In the September 2023 News Update, CEO Council Chair, Guy Chalkley states the importance of the accountability and transparency mechanism for better outcomes for consumers and communities. At the end
August 2023 News Update
In the August 2023 News Update, CEO Council Chair, Guy Chalkley welcomes AusNet Services as a Full Signatory and Marinus Link as a #BetterTogether Collaborator. The Knock to Stay Connected
July 2023 News Update
In the July 2023 News Update, CEO Council Chair, Guy Chalkley welcomes new Signatoriy SA Power Networks and celebretes the launch of the Knock to Stay Connected Customer Code. We
June 2023 News Update
In this June 2023 News Update, CEO Council Chair, Guy Chalkley highlights the upcoming launch of the Knock to Stay Connected Customer Code, the roll out of National Concessions Awareness
May 2023 News Update
In this May 2023 News Update, CEO Council Chair, Guy Chalkley highlights the upcoming launch of the Better Practice Social Licence Guideline with an impressive panel across the agricultural and
April 2023 News Update
In this April 2023 News Update, CEO Council Chair, Guy Chalkley highlights our Concessions Campaign, AG + Energy Social Licence Roundtable as well as updates on our Collaboration on Biodiversity.
March 2023 News Update
In this March 2023 News Update, CEO Council Chair, Guy Chalkley, highlights our sector-first Collaboration Memorandum of Understanding with RE Alliance. We also share on recent events, plus our #BetterTogether
Energy Charter announces cost-of-living support for customers and new CEO Council Chair 2023
Energy Charter signatories today welcomed Guy Chalkley, CEO of NSW electricity distributor Endeavour Energy, as the new Chair of the CEO Council for 2023. “The Energy Charter is a voluntary,
November 2022 News Update
Message from the Chair of the CEO Council, Rebecca Kardos CEO at Aurora Energy, Collaboration Spotlight, Customer Voice Gavin Dufty, General Manager, Policy and Research, St Vinnies, Priority #BT Landholder
October 2022 News Update
Message from the Chair of the CEO Council, Rebecca Kardos CEO at Aurora, 2022 Disclosure Reports live, Customer Voice Jayden Bregu, Youth Panel Members GCC, Landholder and Community Social Licence
September 2022 News Update
Message from the Chair of the CEO Council, Rebecca Kardos CEO at Aurora, #BetterTogether Know Your Customers and Communities, Biodiversity and Renewables, Priority #BT Customer Code to Knock to Stay
August 2022 News Update
Message from the Chair of the CEO Council, Rebecca Kardos CEO at Aurora, New Energy Charter Full Signatory Jacana Energy, Priority #BT Updates, Customer Voice Anthony Cooper #BetterTogether First Nations
July 2022 News Update
Message from the Chair of the CEO Council, Rebecca Kardos CEO at Aurora, #BetterTogether Landholder and Community Social Licence, #BetterTogether Customer Code for Knock Before You Disconnect, Financial Counselling Australia
