13/08/2026
This is the reality of energy in remote First Nations communities across Australia and Zenadth Kes (the Torres Strait Islands).
π It would be the last resort for most Australian households to be disconnected from power because they hadnβt paid their bills.
Yet 49 disconnections occur per year on average for households using prepaid power.
It is standard in regions with significant First Nations' communities for households to pay for power upfront, which automatically disconnects as soon as the credit expires.
And many prepayment power schemes donβt even warn customers when their credit is low.
As extreme weather rises, cutting households off from power, becomes life-threatening.
Temperatures above 40Β°C are associated with significantly increased energy insecurity and disconnections, using data from Australiaβs Northern Territory.
This is the reality for Torres Strait Islands ShePowers leader, Barb Ibuai.
βOur communities deserve dignity, and our islands deserve the chance to cool from stressful heat relief, to breathe, and simply, to thrive," she said.
The Marlinja microgrid project proves communities can have energy independence!
The project is a First Nationsβ community-owned and grid-connected solar microgrid.
A fixed daily credit is applied to household meters, proportional to energy produced by the microgrid, replicating the benefits of rooftop solar in social housing and prepayment scenarios.
