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Gas network consultation program

To assist in the development of our 2021–26 gas five-year plan, we undertook our most comprehensive consumer engagement program to date to hear from the community about their views and priorities for the future of our ACT and Queanbeyan-Palerang gas network. This feedback helped to shape our plan and we thank everyone who has engaged with us to date on this important topic.

We submitted our 2021–26 plan for the gas network to the Australian Energy Regulator at the end of June 2020, however we will continue to engage with the community through our Energy Consumers Reference Council, as we gather feedback in the lead up to submitting a revised plan to the Australian Energy Regulator in January 2021.

Find out more about the Australian Energy Regulator’s key dates and milestones in their review and decision making process, or to participate in the Australian Energy Regulator consultation process, visit https://www.aer.gov.au/networks-pipelines/determinations-access-arrangements/evoenergy-access-arrangement-2021-26

Survey
Evoenergy’s gas five-year plan survey was open from 1 September 2019 to 15 November 2019, designed to gauge consumer views toward gas.

We received 114 responses with some clear results including:
- 10% of respondents identified as having a disability or were low-income earners
- 75% owned their own property, 25% rented
- 20% were landlords, 80% weren’t
- 16% were small to medium business owners
- 60% of respondents used gas for cooking, heating and hot water
- 60% of respondents expected to use the same or more gas in the next 5–10 years
- 40% of respondents expected to use less or no gas in the next 5–10 years
Of our respondents, 56% were male, 43% female and 1% other, and evenly spread across age groups and geographic locations.

Thank you to all of our community members who completed the survey. We used these results to inform the development of our draft plan.

Events

Date	Date	Title	Details
2019 08 27	27 August 2019	Energy Consumer Advocacy Workshop	This workshop, delivered in partnership with the ACT Council of Social Service explored how we can ensure that the needs of energy (gas) consumers who are on low incomes, experiencing disadvantage, or at-risk are taken into account in the Evoenergy Gas Network 2021-2026 Access Arrangement review (GN21) for the ACT and Queanbeyan-Palerang region.
2019 09 12	12 September 2019	ACTSmart Business Expo	Evoenergy hosted a stall at The ACTsmart Business Expo, Canberra’s largest business expo to talk to the business community about the draft plan and gather feedback. Energy Matters is Evoenergy’s flagship event for our large customers. This year’s event explored the challenges and opportunities for large customers in a decarbonised future.
2019 09 27	27 September 2019	Energy Matters	Energy Matters is Evoenergy’s flagship event for our large customers. This year’s event will explore the challenges and opportunities for large customers in a decarbonised future.
2019 10 11	October – November 2019	Citizen Jury	Our Citizens’ Jury will gather representatives of our local community to provide advice to us on customer views and expectations. The Jury’s recommendations will inform the development of our draft plan.
2020 02 05	5 February 2020	Woden Valley Community Council	Evoenergy update on the draft plan at the Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden from 7:00pm – 9:00pm.
2020 02 12	12 February 2020	Gungahlin Community Council	Evoenergy update on the draft plan at the Gungahlin Library, Corner Hibberson Street & Gozzard Sttreet Gungahlin from 6:30pm – 8:00pm.
2020 02 26	26 February 2020	Weston Creek Community Council	Evoenergy update on the draft plan at the Raiders Club, Liardet Street Weston Creek from 7:30pm – 9:00pm.
2020 02 27	27 February 2020	Weston Creek drop-in session	Evoenergy will be available for a drop-in session with members of the community at Weston Creek Community Centre Parkinson Street (at Cooleman Court) Meeting room 2. We encourage everyone to drop-in anytime between 10:30am – 1:30pm to learn more about our draft plan for the gas network.
2020 03 03	3 March 2020	Tuggeranong Community Council	Evoenergy update on the draft plan at the Vikings Town Centre Club, Corner Athlon Dr & Rowland Crescent, Greenway from 7:30pm – 9:00pm.
2020 03 04	4 March 2020	Tuggeranong drop-in session	Evoenergy will be available for a drop-in session with members of the community at the Tuggeranong Library 175/245 Cowlishaw Street, Greenway. We encourage everyone to drop-in anytime between 10:30am – 1:30pm to learn more about our draft plan for the gas network.
2020 03 10	10 March 2020	Inner South Community Council	Evoenergy update on the draft plan at the Eastlake Football Club, 3 Oxley Street, Kingston from 7:30pm – 9:00pm.
2020 03 11	11 March 2020	Griffith drop-in session	Evoenergy will be available for a drop-in session with members of the community at Griffith Community Meeting Room, 53 Stuart Street, Griffith. We encourage everyone to drop-in anytime between 11:00am – 2:00pm to learn more about our draft plan for the gas network.
2020 03 12	12 March 2020	Gungahlin drop-in session	Evoenergy will be available for a drop-in session with members of the community at the Gungahlin Library (main library floor upstairs), Corner Hibberson Street & Gozzard Street, Gungahlin. We encourage everyone to drop-in anytime between 10:30am – 1:30pm to learn more about our draft plan for the gas network.
2020 03 12	12 March 2020	Topic Deep Dives	The Topic Deep Dive sessions will explore specific aspects of the future of the gas network. We will provide participants with the opportunity to listen to, reflect and contribute to discussion about certain topics and learn more.
2020 03 13	13 March 2020	Queanbeyan gas presentation	Evoenergy will present on the draft plan for the gas network at the Queanbeyan Library Meeting Room, 253 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan from 11.30am – 2.30pm, including Q&A. This is a free event for anyone in the community that wishes to attend.
2020 03 16	16 March 2020	Bungendore gas presentation	Evoenergy will present on the draft plan for the gas network at the Bungendore Community Centre, Corner of Majara Street and Turallo Street, Bungendore from 6.30pm – 8.30pm, including Q&A. This is a free event for anyone in the community that wishes to attend.
2020 03 17	17 March 2020	Belconnen Community Council	Evoenergy update on the draft plan at the Belconnen Library Community Room from 7:30pm – 9:00pm.
2020 03 19	19 March 2020	Belconnen drop-in session	Evoenergy will be available for a drop-in session with members of the community at the Belconnen Library, 12 Chandler Street, Belconnen. We encourage everyone to drop-in anytime between 12:30pm – 3:30pm to learn more about our draft plan for the gas network.
2020 03 25	25 March 2020	Dickson drop-in session	Evoenergy will be available for a drop-in session with members of the community at the Dickson Library. Antil Street, Dickson. We encourage everyone to drop-in anytime between 10:30am – 1:30pm to learn more about our draft plan for the gas network.
2020 09 16	16 September 2020	Stranded asset risk deep dive workshop	The Stranded asset risk deep dive workshop was held on 16 September 2020 with 32 external stakeholders to better understand risk associated with the phasing out of gas connections in the ACT and promotion of electric alternatives to gas. Download a copy of the Stranded asset risk deep dive workshop outcomes.

Ongoing

Hydrogen test facility tours

Evoenergy and the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) have partnered to build a first-of-its-kind hydrogen test facility at CIT’s Fyshwick campus. The facility is looking at the role that renewable gas can play in the future of the gas network and testing it to ensure that it can provide a reliable, dependable and safe supply in our local environment. If you would like to learn more or register your interest in going on a tour of the facility, please visit https://www.evoenergy.com.au/hydrogen

Feedback

What do you want to see in the future of the gas network? Submit your feedback online.
Citizens' Jury

Evoenergy has now completed a Citizens' Jury which provided advice to us on consumer views and expectations on the future gas network.

We invited 31 independent local representatives to come together over two weekends in October and November 2019.

The Jury was given the following question to consider: The ACT Government has legislated for net zero greenhouse gas emission by 2045. Evoenergy is committed to transform the gas network to meeting this target. As part of this transition, what are our consumers expectations of the service provided to them?

The Jurors received presentations from a range of experts across organisations such as:

ACT Climate Change Council
ACT Council of Social Service
ACT Government
ANU
Conservation Council ACT Region
Energy Consumers Australia
Evoenergy
Jemena
St Vincent de Paul Society
World Energy Outlook

Jurors also visited a number of Evoenergy's sites including the Hydrogen Testing Facility at CIT Fyshwick.

The Citizens' Jury report and recommendations is an important part of Evoenergy's consultation on long-term planning for a network that meets the ACT's emissions target. We've used the Jury's recommendations to inform the development of our proposal to the Australian Energy Regulator's 2021–26 gas network regulatory review process.

Download a copy of the final report.

Download a copy of Evoenergy’s response to the citizens’ jury recommendations

Download a copy of Minister Rattenbury’s response to the citizens’ jury recommendations

Partnering with the community

To better understand customer needs, we have an ongoing program of activities that includes focus groups, community presentations, meetings with customers groups and organisations.

Learn more