As local and state governments and communities commit to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, we are also implementing strategies to reduce emissions from our operations.
Our target is to achieve a 30% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 compared to 2019 levels.
Distribution line losses from our networks are the source of 89% of our carbon emissions. By enabling greater penetration of residential rooftop solar as well as large-scale renewable connections, the CO2 associated with each unit of electricity we distribute falls.
In addition, we’re reducing the environmental impact of our operations through improved network efficiency, environmental protection initiatives, waste and recycling and adoption of Zero Emissions Vehicles.
Meanwhile, the resilience of our networks to the impacts of climate change is a high priority. The regions we operate in are characterised by high bushfire risk and susceptibility to climate change impacts such as extreme wind and storms and rising sea-levels.
Our asset management plans provide a long-term approach for how we invest in and manage our infrastructure in this context. Increasingly, they depend on technology for control operations, despatch, communications and supply chain management, making a rigorous cyber security program essential for sustaining our businesses.
From a customer perspective, the benefit of this work is felt in highly reliable power supplies. We aim to reduce both the number of customers affected and the duration of any power outages occurring due to either planned works or unplanned reasons like animals or vegetation hitting the lines.
This is reflected in targets set annually for our networks by the Australian Energy Regulator. Each year, we aim to outperform the targets set by the regulator. These targets vary by network and reflect the differences between a rural network where the average powerline is 137km long in Powercor, and CitiPower’s metropolitan network with shorter powerlines and supply systems with a double backup in place.