In late 2018 the energy sector was not in a good space. The sector faced unprecedented complexity through widespread disruption and transformation. There was also a lot of confusion about business costs and consumer prices which saw community trust levels fall to all-time lows.

The traditional approach to regulating energy businesses simply wasn’t enough to encourage the broad cultural change that was needed to rebuild confidence. It was against this landscape that the Energy Charter was born on 31 January 2019. Read Blog: The Energy Charter - Insights by Gabby Sundstrom 

Fast forward six short months. Eighteen signatories from across the energy supply chain have listened intently to end-user representatives’ legitimate requests for authenticity and transparent disclosures about how they are living up to commitments to the five Energy Charter principles.

The Energy Charter has become more than simply a disclosure regime, it’s become a platform for conversations on how to collectively deliver better customer outcomes through tangible programs of work.

The Energy Charter has become more than simply a disclosure regime, it’s become a platform for conversations on how to collectively deliver better customer outcomes through tangible programs of work.

The signatories have gone deep within their businesses to “bring out their skeletons”, as one courageous CEO put it. The organisations have asked hard questions internally and externally about what they are doing for customers, why they are doing it, and most importantly, what outcomes have they achieved?

Failures are welcome. Indeed, the Energy Charter disclosures present a unique opportunity for energy companies to ‘own up’ to challenges and share what they could do differently next time. Be open, learn and improve. They’ll need to say it as it is, not how they’d like it to be.

Through this, the Energy Charter has become a platform for collaboration, to be bold and think big.

There is also a growing recognition that consumer outcomes are not just the remit of retailers who have direct contact with consumers. Businesses that have traditionally not thought of themselves as consumer suppliers, are becoming more familiar with the knowledge that the person at the end of the energy supply chain, whether that be a Brisbane family, a Tasmanian farmer or a Newcastle aluminium smelter, is their customer in the broad sense. Every action that they take will ultimately impact all household, community and businesses consumers in some small or large way.

Energy Charter signatories also acknowledge that they can do more for customers facing vulnerability. There is an increasing awareness that Australians expect that nobody should be left behind in the energy transition currently underway.

Energy Charter signatories also acknowledge that they can do more for customers facing vulnerability. There is an increasing awareness that Australians expect that nobody should be left behind in the energy transition currently underway.

Be invested and make a difference. While this may mean different things for energy businesses depending on where they sit in the supply chain, collaborations like the Thriving Communities Partnership provide exciting synergies to create systemic change. We’re proud that Energy Charter signatories AGL, Energy Australia, Energy Queensland and Origin have played a strong role as Thriving Communities Partnership Founding Partners.

As a unique across-the-supply-chain vehicle for collaboration and genuine conversations, we are optimistic that we can start to rebuild trust and confidence with the Australian community and deliver tangible and measurable improvements for all customers and the community.

Is the Energy Charter a quick fix or silver bullet for all the complex issues that the energy sector is grappling with? No, absolutely not. Yet as a unique across-the-supply-chain vehicle for collaboration and genuine conversations, we are optimistic that we can start to rebuild trust and confidence with the Australian community and deliver tangible and measurable improvements for all customers and the community.

For more information or to get involved, please contact me, Sabiene Heindl, Energy Charter Director via email sabiene.heindl@theenergycharter.com.au or on M: 0412 039 747.