Gas Networks 2050 Retailer Engagement Session Four, held Monday 4 September, provided Jemena with the opportunity to check in with New South Wales retailers on their initial thoughts from Sessions Two and Three.

15 participants attended including representatives from; Red Energy, Energy Australia, Alinta Energy, Origin, Powershop and AGL.

Our objectives for the session were:

• to gather feedback on what we had heard from Session Three, held in July as part of Jemena’s retailer forum
• provide an overview of potential future scenarios
• provide an update on customer feedback gathered in our Customer Forums to date, and
• seek clarification on specific response areas within the 2025 - 2030 Access Arrangement.

Specifically, we were looking to clarify some of the views we had heard on a new approach to gas connections, renewable gas, the Reference Service Agreement (RSA) and tariff engagement timelines.

Retailer feedback around new gas connections included:

• votes for a ‘medium’ scenario whereby “some costs are shared across customers.”
• comments that higher connections costs would drive customers to go all-electric.

Retailer feedback around the future of renewable gas, electrification and the uncertainty ahead included:

• comments that a renewable gas future would meet the needs of customers “as highlighted by customers, choice is important to them”.
• comments that domestic customers may reduce their gas use, but large industrial customers need intense heat.

Retailer feedback focused on allowing sufficient time for engagement when it came to the Reference Service Agreement (RSA) and tariff engagement content and topic areas.

Currently, a draft Reference Service Agreement will be circulated to retailers in February 2024 with the initial proposal being submitted to the AER in June 2024.

Thank you so much to everyone who attended and provided their views. We look forward to future engagement sessions with retailers in different formats throughout the remaining Access Arrangement Engagement program.