On Friday 2^nd February, Jemena hosted their JGN Advisory Board and Expert Panel meeting to discuss and preview the key findings detailed in the Jemena Gas Networks Draft 2025 Plan.

In Melbourne, 12, Advisory Board and Expert Panel members, supported by the Consumer Challenge Panel, gathered to close the loop on the work they have done to date with JGN and to reflect on the outcomes from the customer and stakeholder engagement. They also provided early feedback on how this has been incorporated into the Draft 2025 Plan.

The Advisory Board and Expert Panel have played a pivotal role in guiding our thinking and acting as a critical friend to JGN as we developed our Draft 2025 Plan for the 2025-30 period. They originally met in October 2022 and have been on the journey with us as we grapple with what the future our of network looks like, amidst fundamental transformation in the energy sector.

In the morning, attendees were given an overview of the Gas Networks 2050 stakeholder engagement to date along with a presentation from the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) on the Early Signal Pathway. This is a process to provide early feedback as to whether a network business is on track to meet the expectations of the Better Resets Handbook and allowing the opportunity for a more targeted review.

Michael Sykes, a customer of Jemena Gas Networks and participant in the Customer Forums provided his reflections to the group and Jemena, and discussed how the end-customer recommendations have been incorporated into the Draft 2025 Plan.

The second part of the morning involved rotating breakout group discussions on the key topics:

• Renewable gas connections
• Accelerated depreciation
• A new approach to connections
• How we manage our assets
• Tariff variation mechanism and
• Vulnerable customers.

Rosemary Sinclair, Chair of the Advisory Board, stated that renewable gases, depreciation, and how Jemena takes care of vulnerable customers were still very much a priority for Jemena.

“Gas Networks have a role to play in relation to vulnerable customers and planning for the future of the energy sector” Rosemary commented.. “Thank you to the Advisory Board and Expert Panel for their considered advice on this journey, culminating at our latest workshop together in February 2024.”

“Also thank you to the AER as their feedback added useful insight on the day.”

“The Draft 2025 Plan really helps us understand the journey for Jemena’s 2025-2030 Revenue Proposal.”

All attendees agreed on the complexity of the energy transition and how making decisions on trade-offs will impact different groups.

In the afternoon, we asked the Advisory Board and Expert Panel for their final reflections on the process and outcomes presented, including any advice they would like to give Jemena going forward.

As a result of the advice provided, JGN will be confirming the comfort levels with the Customer Forum participants in March on their key decisions.

For Jemena, the Price Reset is an opportunity to confirm customer product and service expectations and secure revenue to support efficient investment and operations to deliver these expectations.

JGN will submit an their initial proposal to the AER on 30 June 2024.

A big thank you to our Advisory Board and Expert Panel members for your time and contribution.

Read and make a submission on the Draft 2025 Plan by 4 March 2024 here.