Regional Cities NSW Emphasizes Importance of Energy Transition Benefits for Host Communities

Regional communities in New South Wales (NSW) are advocating for equitable treatment during power outages, spotlighting the need for energy transition benefits for host communities. This appeal comes as Regional Cities New South Wales (RCNSW) reaches out to Energy Minister Penny Sharpe for crucial reforms aimed at providing locally-generated electricity during emergencies.

Calls for Energy Equity in NSW

The RCNSW is requesting that local energy generators, including solar farms, wind projects, and battery storage, be allowed to deliver power directly to surrounding towns during blackouts. This situation has gained urgency following the severe outage that affected Broken Hill and the Far West in 2023, when over 12,000 households lost power for as long as two weeks due to storm damage to transmission lines.

Impact of the 2023 Blackout

Lismore Mayor and RCNSW Chair, Cr Steve Krieg, highlighted the challenges faced by rural communities. He stated that residents were left without power despite being near renewable energy sources, a situation exacerbated by outdated regulations and inadequate crisis management.

• Cr Steve Krieg: “What happened in Broken Hill is a warning for every regional area hosting major energy projects.”
• Cr Tom Kennedy, Mayor of Broken Hill: Described the outage as “extraordinary” and noted its negative effects on essential services.

The blackout resulted in dire consequences for six towns, including the loss of access to clean drinking water and disruptions to 20 healthcare facilities and five aged care homes. Furthermore, local businesses reported significant financial losses, marking one of their toughest periods since the pandemic hit.

Recommendations for Reform

In their letter to Minister Sharpe, RCNSW outlined five key recommendations to improve energy reliability and community resilience:

• Mandatory disclosures on outages and asset conditions for regulators and emergency agencies.
• Funding for regional infrastructure resilience, including local battery storage and microgrids.
• Emergency communication protocols tailored to regional needs.
• Regulatory empowerment to enforce compensation for unmet service obligations.
• Establishment of a Regional Energy Equity Taskforce to incorporate community perspectives in planning.

Cr Krieg emphasized that investing in infrastructure and communication systems is vital for safeguarding regional communities against future crises. “Our communities deserve reliable access to power,” he stated, adding that improved planning and systems are essential for both lives and livelihoods.

NSW Legislative Response

Recently, the NSW Legislative Assembly Committee on Environment and Planning published a report examining the 2024 Broken Hill blackout. The findings revealed notable weaknesses in energy reliability and emergency response in remote areas.

RCNSW represents a coalition of 15 regional cities, contributing over $44 billion to the NSW economy and serving more than 777,000 residents. The organization urges the state government to act promptly on the committee’s findings to ensure community energy equity for those hosting essential infrastructure.

“Action now will ensure communities aren’t left in the dark in the future,” Cr Krieg concluded, reinforcing that those who host energy projects must be guaranteed a secure power supply.

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