Jemena welcomes the AER’s 2026-31 electricity distribution price review determination

• Jemena welcomes the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) endorsement of its Pricing and Services Plan for 2026-31.
• Under the plan, Jemena’s electricity distribution charges will be reduced by an average of $38 per annum over the next five years for a typical residential customer.

Leading energy infrastructure company Jemena today welcomed the AER’s approval of its 2026-31 Electricity Pricing and Services Plan, which will strengthen Jemena’s role in the energy transition while reducing distribution costs for customers.

The plan outlines the fees Jemena will charge customers of its electricity network for a range of services including electricity distribution, network upgrades and future system planning over the next five years. Jemena’s electricity network delivers electricity to more than 380,000 homes and businesses across Melbourne’s north-west.

Jemena’s Executive General Manager of Electricity Networks, Shaun Reardon, said the AER’s determination was positive news for customers.

“As part of our 2026-31 electricity distribution price review determination, distribution and metering charges on an annual electricity bill by 2030-31 will be $189 lower for a typical residential customer and $516 lower for a typical small business customer compared to an annual bill in 2025-26. This reduction will be passed on to energy retailers to share with customers.”

“This decrease in distribution charges was made possible by an increase in electricity consumption across our network which means a lower cost for each kilowatt used by our customers. This has been driven by new major connections and higher demand by existing customers as they increasingly use electricity to heat their homes and cook their meals.”

“The plan also reflects how Jemena is responding to anticipated growth across its electricity network over the next five years as part of the broader energy transition. As our electricity network evolves it enables efficiencies right across the network which ultimately benefit customers.”

Mr Reardon said Jemena undertook more than 300 hours of customer engagement over a two-year period to develop its pricing and services plan.

“I’d like to thank all of our customers who took part in our engagement process to help shape our plan. This is truly a customer-led approach designed to meet the needs of our customers today and into the future.”

In 2025, Jemena was awarded the Engagement Institute’s Core Values Award in the energy category in recognition of the extensive customer engagement undertaken to develop its 2026-31 Electricity Pricing and Services Plan.

Overview of Jemena’s 2026-31 Pricing and Services Plan

Affordability:

• A typical residential customer will save on average $38 per annum and a typical small business customer will save on average $103 per annum over the five-year period beginning 1 July 2026.

Preparing for the future:

• Jemena forecasts connecting more than 23,000 new residential customers and more than 600 businesses in north-west Melbourne between 2026-31.
• New tariff structures will be introduced which encourage better network utilisation and improve price equity between solar and non-solar customers.
• New digital technologies will be introduced to improve electricity system management and enable new sustainable products and services.
• A broad-based zone substation redevelopment program will be delivered to maintain current reliability levels.
• Large-scale assets will be built to serve new large customers such as data centres and hospitals.

Keeping our customers informed:

• Systems will be upgraded to keep customers better informed with information at times they need it the most.
• A new portal will be developed to provide tailored energy information based on customer preferences and language needs.

Jemena Media Contact
0428 742 804