ElectraNet, SA Power Networks and Telstra have shared a range of commitments they will undertake to address significant power unreliability and storm damage in the Flinders Ranges region in South Australia.

Following massive storms on 17 October 2024 which destroyed 19 transmission towers between Davenport Substation and Leigh Creek, households experienced prolonged electricity outages and extreme hardship in searing heat.

On-grid power supply was cut to numerous households in Quorn, Hawker, Leigh Creek, Beltana, Copley, Yappala, Nipapanha and Iga Warta, with many left without power for a week.

Food and medicines were spoiled, communications were lost, refrigeration and medical equipment failed, and residents were left anxious and isolated, many without clear information about when power would return. Temporary generators, where available, brought their own burden through high fuel costs.

Everybody deserves access to clean, reliable and affordable power

Local community members impacted by the outages contacted the First Nations Clean Energy Network to raise their concerns.

In partnership with Outback Communities Authority and Flinders Ranges Council, the Network and community members hosted a landmark regional workshop to shine a light on the devastating consequences of the storm.

Held in Hawker in May 2025, the workshop was attended by members of state government, SA Power Networks, ElectraNet, Telstra and others, and was funded by Energy Consumers Australia.

Community members at the workshop called for urgent investment in emergency back-up infrastructure to assist in prolonged power outages, to avoid a repeat of failures and prepare for the next storm season (from October to March each year). That includes back-up generators, rooftop solar and batteries to keep communities powered, and telecommunications back-up for when the next storms roll around again.

“Can we get the generators out there now, put them in place, just in case? In October it took days for the generators to arrive,” said one community participant.

Community members called for increased engagement from energy providers to better understand the profile of people and households in remote areas, the prioritising and protection of cultural heritage sites, and a framework for better coordination and allyship across agencies to be developed.

They also championed the co-design of longer term community-owned and led clean energy solutions to better meet community energy needs, delivered through microgrids and standalone power systems (SAPS).

Energy providers gave a commitment to address the concerns of the community.

Key commitments from energy providers

Those commitments have been formalised in correspondence to the First Nations Clean Energy Network, Outback Communities Authority and Flinders Ranges Council, and have been sent to a list of stakeholders and community members.

• SA Power Networks is committing to over $5 million in regional improvement programs between 2025–2030, targeting reliability improvements across the Upper North, low-reliability feeders and remote supply restoration.
• ElectraNet confirmed that the region’s 132 kV transmission line, while historically reliable, is increasingly vulnerable to climate impacts and changing energy needs. To address this, ElectraNet has committed to do a Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T) including network alternatives such as stand-alone power systems (SAPS) or microgrids, alongside traditional network solutions.
• Telstra has committed to working with Flinders Ranges Council on a potential enterprise-grade Starlink installation at the Hawker Community Sports Centre, creating an emergency communications hub and digital inclusion space.

Click to review the full text of the commitments here, from SA Power Networks, ElectraNet, and Telstra.

Energy provider commitments need more detail and short-term response

Cat Beaton, SA Coordinator with the First Nations Clean Energy Network says there is widespread recognition there is no single or quick fix.

“The long term commitments mark a step in the right direction, however, the devastating consequences of the October storm cannot be for nothing. We welcome the utilities addressing the community's long term energy concerns but action is needed in the short term.

“Community members have already identified that they need back-up generators deployed now, rooftop solar and batteries installed to keep communities powered, and telecommunications with adequate backup.

“Both short and long term energy reliability must be addressed.”

Marg Howard, Director of the Outback Communities Authority, noted the need for more detail and for the providers to work together.

“There are many elements of these commitments that are promising, but they need to be brought together into a coherent plan demonstrating collaboration across all three providers and clear timelines and objectives.

“We also need to ask: if a severe weather event occurred tomorrow, would anything be different? Effective solutions for short-term resilience need to be designed and implemented now.”

Next steps

Energy security, affordability and reliability in communities “at the end of the line” remain in sharp focus — with an urgent need for co-designed fit-for-purpose solutions. Communities have a clear desire to be involved in energy matters moving forward.

As agreed at the workshop, the commitments from SA Power Networks, ElectraNet and Telstra are being shared by the First Nations Clean Energy Network, Outback Communities Authority and Flinders Ranges Council and with people and communities impacted by unreliable energy in the Flinders Ranges region.

This will ensure that feedback is obtained and actions are taken going forward that meaningfully address energy insecurity both now and into the future, through investment, engagement and communication.

Meanwhile, the First Nations Clean Energy Network will continue to work alongside residents, utilities and government to ensure the current commitments translate into real, lasting improvements in energy resilience, connectivity and self-determination.

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