People’s Panel delivers recommendations to help shape Tasmania’s energy future

After four months of learning, listening and collaboration, the Revenue Reset People’s Panel has formally delivered its recommendations to TasNetworks.

Bringing together 43 Tasmanians from across the state, the People’s Panel was established to provide a community perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing Tasmania’s electricity network and help inform future investment decisions.

Over the course of the process, Panel members took part in 44 hours of engagement and six and a quarter days of learning, hearing from 34 speakers and presenters and exploring topics including reliability, resilience, consumer energy resources, digital capability, customer experience, investment, pricing and fairness.

Panel members were encouraged to ask questions, challenge assumptions and share their own experiences and perspectives. As their understanding grew, so too did the depth of the conversations, with members exploring the complexities involved in balancing cost, reliability, investment and fairness for different customers and communities.

The Panel’s learning was supported by TasNetworks subject matter experts, the People’s Panel Manual and a series of animated videos designed to make complex topics easier to understand. External perspectives also formed an important part of the process, with Energy Charter CEO Sabiene Heindl sharing a national perspective on the energy transition and the importance of fairness, equity and customer outcomes.

From learning to recommendations

Day 4 marked an important turning point, as Panel members began translating what they had learned into draft recommendations.

Working together, members considered the information they had received and developed practical and balanced ideas that reflected both customer expectations and the long-term needs of the network.

The draft recommendations were then considered by TasNetworks and shared with Stakeholder and Customer Advisory Groups, allowing the Panel to hear additional perspectives before returning to refine their thinking.

The final day of deliberations was held in Launceston on Saturday 13 June. After hearing TasNetworks’ response to their draft recommendations and having the opportunity to ask further questions, the Panel formally handed over its 10 final recommendations to TasNetworks Chair Roger Gill and Deputy CEO Renée Anderson.

The handover marked the culmination of months of learning and collaboration, as well as the strong connections and relationships that developed throughout the process.

Panel members brought diverse experiences and perspectives to the table, demonstrating a willingness to listen, consider different points of view and work together on some of the complex challenges facing Tasmania’s energy future.

The journey continues

While the formal deliberations have now concluded, the Panel’s work will continue to inform the Revenue Reset process.

Panel members will be invited to return for a Recall Day in late October, where they will see how their recommendations have influenced the development of TasNetworks’ draft proposal and continue discussions on key options being considered.

The recommendations will help inform the Combined Proposal TasNetworks plans to submit to the Australian Energy Regulator in early 2028.

The People’s Panel has provided a valuable opportunity for community voices to be heard directly in decisions about the future of Tasmania’s electricity network, and its contribution will continue to be an important part of the journey ahead.