Watt’s next in EV charging

Major energy firms seek entry into EV charging, poised to disrupt the market and accelerate urban charging access across Australia.

24 Jun 2025

Australia’s shift to electric vehicles (EVs) may soon gain new momentum, but not from the usual suspects. Three electricity distributors, CitiPower, Powercor and United Energy, are seeking permission to install kerbside EV chargers using existing utility infrastructure. If approved, their proposal could mark a significant departure from the current model, where private firms dominate the rollout of public charging points.

The utilities argue that deploying chargers on city streets, particularly in areas where residents lack off-street parking, would help address a major bottleneck in EV adoption. Demand for EVs is rising, but access to convenient charging remains uneven, especially in urban areas.

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) is now weighing the request, which has drawn both support and suspicion. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) backs the plan, calling it a way to "bridge infrastructure gaps." The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) has also endorsed it, arguing that cooperation between public and private players is essential when the market alone lags behind societal needs.

Not everyone is convinced. The Electric Vehicle Council and private charging firms warn that letting large network providers into the market could chill competition and deter private capital. They are urging the AER to impose clear boundaries to prevent utilities from abusing their market power.

In response, the power companies have promised to ring-fence their EV operations from their regulated businesses and to comply with open-access data rules. That may not settle the matter. The fear remains that once entrenched, utilities could crowd out smaller rivals.

Still, the case for urgency is strong. Analysts say that a wider, faster rollout of public chargers is needed if EV uptake is to keep pace with expectations. Using existing poles and cables offers an efficient path, provided competitive safeguards are in place.

At stake is more than a trial. The AER’s decision could set a template for how Australia, and perhaps other countries, taps public infrastructure to support clean transport. The outcome will reveal whether utilities can become catalysts for change or if their power poses more risk than promise.