A special meeting of community members and energy providers impacted by lengthy electricity outages in remote South Australia has resolved to implement measures that engage First Nations stakeholders to improve power security in regions.
The impact of the power disconnections from massive storms in the Flinders and Northern Flinders ranges region of SA last October is still being felt in some First Nations communities, after with some outages in Quorn, Hawker, Leigh Creek, Beltana, Copley, Nipapanha (Nepabunna) and Iga Warta, lasting up to six days.
The extent and length of outages in communities led to considerable suffering and hardship, some of which are still being felt, attendees told the meeting.
The regions' energy resilience, and particularly its impacts on First Nations supply security, was a source of much debate, as was access to affordable power and clean energy solutions.
The meeting a fortnight ago by the First Nations Clean Energy Network, Outback Communities Authority and Flinders Ranges Council, left industry and government attendees with a better understanding of the lived experiences of residents during and after the storms, while energy providers gave their insight on issues.
Attendees from affected communities and Adnyamathanha homelands told the meeting – which included emergency response teams, SA Power Networks, ElectraNet, Telstra and the SA Police – of the financial impacts of unreliable power supply and higher prices.
Many lost fridges and freezers full of food and medicine during the severe storm, and were not updated on power restoration while services were down, while others suffered major anxiety from losing contact with close ones. Subsequent high costs fuelling back-up generators for interim power was also a common burden.
Glen Wingfield, from the First Nations Clean Energy Network, said solving energy issues in the region would be a big task but consultation was an important first step.
"Our First Nations and non-First Nations communities are suffering because of electricity outages," he said.
"That suffering can't be for nothing. We need to listen, learn and plan for the future.
"Community and utilities and government talking face to face is a positive step in that direction."
SA Power Networks said unique factors and structural limitations led to large areas suffering power outages, and for so long, with reliability upgrades and active back-up facilities promised in the Upper North SA by 2030.
Community attendees were adamant microgrid solutions also be investigated as a long-term measure, reminding industry and government that outback service delivery had to fit local power needs and respect cultural heritage.
They said collaboration was crucial, asking industry and agencies (SAPN, Telstra, ElectraNet, SAPOL) to avoid future similar events and develop a coordinated response to such events.
Key providers Electranet, SAPN and Telstra told the meeting it was committed to a model for energy resilience in the region, with a report due in three months on future steps.
Programs to increase supply of generators to community members in areas regularly affected by power cuts and increasing sovereign capacity of communities to generate their own energy locally were mooted as solutions, as was employing solar and battery systems and community microgrid concepts.
Outback Communities Authority director Marg Howard said it was important to start conversations on self-sufficient energy power.
"We need to think about ways of delivering essential services in outback SA, such as energy, that results in outcomes those residents in larger regional towns and our capital city enjoy," she said.
Community members interested in engaging SA Power Networks about energy issues and solutions for the region can contact its regional and remote team online.