What Should Be the Evolving Role of a Modern Utility Company in Delivering Sustainable, Equitable Energy Access in the 21st Century?
Published by Prestel Group on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 05:29:18 PM UTC
Rural meter installation in Far North Queensland
If you're reading this, chances are you've never had to think twice about access to reliable power or internet. But across remote parts of the United States and Australia, thousands of communities still lack consistent access to either. Prestel Group develops smart-grid solar and hybrid telecom infrastructure to close these gaps not just delivering electricity and connectivity, but empowering long term opportunity. And this is only the beginning.
u·til·i·ty: the state of being useful, profitable, or beneficial
In our view, a utility company should do more than provide a service. It should uplift the communities it serves. Prestel Group's customers, rural families, First Nations communities, farmers, and entrepreneurs value not only having power and connectivity, but the support to use them productively. With backing from several innovation agencies and impact investors, we've launched programs that use distributed energy and telecom systems as a catalyst for economic mobility.
Our approach to community development blends social impact with operational growth. We track outcomes like improved digital access, economic participation, climate resilience, and education. Our innovation grants are milestone based, tied to achievements such as enabling access to internet-based work, providing inclusive finance options for energy-efficient appliances, and building local capacity through training and mentorship.
A CUSTOMER IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA PREPARES HER SMALL SCALE POULTRY OPERATION, POWERED BY PRESTEL'S SOLAR MICROGRID
One of our most widely adopted initiatives is BrightStart Poultry, a microenterprise program that provides households with climate controlled brooders powered by solar energy. Participants raise chickens from hatchlings and receive support to access buyers through Prestel's market platform. The resulting income enables families to cover school fees, medical expenses, and broadband access. Even our lowest-income customers can participate, and we've seen firsthand how access to reliable power can transform food security and household finances
All our community programs are designed with one clear goal: to foster local prosperity. We focus especially on empowering women and young people because we know that a utility's success is directly tied to the prosperity of the people it serves.
PRODUCTIVE ELECTRICITY CREATES JOBS, BUSINESSES, AND INDEPENDENCE. HERE, A PRESTEL CUSTOMER USES HER INTERNET CONNECTION AND SOLAR-POWERED GRAINFLOOR MILL TO SUPPORT HER FAMILY FARM
Power Brings Knowledge
Once smart grid infrastructure is in place, adding connectivity becomes a natural next step. As a licensed internet service provider, Prestel Group is building out affordable rural broadband solutions, including solar-powered WiFi hubs and modular cyber stations. We offer introductory digital literacy workshops and partner with ed-tech and remote work platforms to unlock new income streams like data annotation, customer support, and language services, right from the bush or the backcountry.
We believe utility companies must be more than silent infrastructure providers. In the 21st century, their role is to enable thriving, resilient, connected communities, and to do so sustainably, equitably, and with vision.