Make embedded networks work for consumers and the energy transition, not profits

Embedded networks — private electricity systems in apartments and housing communities — could become a cornerstone of Australia’s clean energy future, helping residents generate, store, and share renewable power. But without urgent reform, they risk trapping households in systems that serve profits rather than people, and lock consumers out of the energy transition. Reform is long overdue after a major 2017 review by the Australian Energy Market Commission was shelved. Law Quarter director and principal Connor James explains how embedded network operators currently overcharge tenants and block access to renewables. But citizen-led models like Narara Eco Village on the NSW Central Coast show what’s possible when residents control their own networks — combining solar, batteries, and smart energy management to cut costs and emissions.