Keeping First Nations communities on electricity prepayment arrangements connected to power is being discussed at an implementation workshop being in Unley, South Australia today.

The Right to Power Implementation Workshop is reviewing recommendations from The Right to Power - Keeping First Nations communities on prepayment connected report released November 2025, with a view towards identifying solutions towards practical actionable reforms.

The Right to Power report, with research conducted by Original Power and the First Nations Clean Energy Network in partnership with Western Sydney University, Tangentyere Aboriginal Corporation, Nulungu Research Institute and Jabalbina Aboriginal Corporation, determined more than 15,000 First Nations’ households or 65,000 people access electricity via prepayment supply arrangements across Australia. 

Household prepayment power meters must be topped up with credit to power the home. When credit runs out, the home is automatically disconnected, cutting off access to lights, power, refrigeration and cooling; all the basic functions of a healthy home.

The report showed that First Nations’ energy customers using prepayment are among the world’s most energy insecure, experiencing an average of 49 disconnections a year - or nearly one a week.

It offered 6 key recommendations for practical reform to enhance energy security, affordability and access for prepayment customers and communities across each State and Territory.

The Right to Power Implementation Workshop is the opportunity to review those report recommendations specific to the South Australian prepayment context, and collaborate with prepayment customers, community service representatives, industry, retailers and government to increase awareness of potential solutions and work towards a shared program of implementation.

The workshop is being hosted by the First Nations Clean Energy Network, SA Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation Network, and SA Council of Social Services (SACOSS).