SEC: delivering for the Latrobe Valley and beyond

By SEC Chief Executive Officer Chris Miller

For over a century the Latrobe Valley has been at the heart of Victoria’s power generation.

With its highly skilled energy workforce and unparalleled access to Victoria’s transmission network, the region will continue to play a critical role as the state advances a once-in-a-century energy transition. It is a transition already well progressed, with renewables delivering 44.6% of Victoria’s electricity generation last year, exceeding the 2025 target of 40%.

In a region where SEC’s legacy runs deep, the renewed role of state-owned energy brings many new opportunities for communities and businesses in the Latrobe Valley, and Gippsland more broadly, to directly benefit from the renewable energy transition.

As a government owned renewable energy company, we are committed to delivering reliable, affordable, renewable energy for all Victorians – that means delivering for Victorian communities, consumers, and businesses. This public purpose underpins everything we do.

Investing in Gippsland

We’ve been deliberate in leveraging the skills and businesses in the Latrobe Valley as we invest in projects like the SEC Delburn Wind Farm which will deliver up to 205 megawatts of renewable electricity, enough to power more than 130,000 homes. It is creating more than 300 jobs during construction and delivering more than $22 million in neighbour and community benefits over its operational life.

We are also investing in the region as a centre for the development of new technologies to support our future grid, with the establishment of SEC Energy Works, a 143-hectare innovation precinct in Hazelwood North. Our vision is for the precinct to host multiple strategic energy infrastructure projects, developed in partnership with industry and creating opportunities for skilled local businesses and workers. SEC’s first project will be a long-duration energy storage solution developed in partnership with global clean technology company, Energy Dome.

Down the road, our Morwell hub serves as a welcoming and helpful resource for the community, as well as being a regional base for our staff.

Delivering for all Victorians

Our new investments in Gippsland complement our growing portfolio, including the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub in Plumpton and the SEC Renewable Energy Park – Horsham in the state’s west.

Collectively, these projects represent more than 1GW in renewable generation and storage, adding critical capacity, strengthening energy security, and supporting regional economic growth, including jobs, training and community benefit-sharing.

Since July 2025, SEC has been providing 100% renewable electricity to Victorian government customers and powers approximately 5% of Victoria’s electricity market, more than 4,400 sites across the state. This includes Traralgon College, TAFE Gippsland, Latrobe Regional Hospital and Morwell and Traralgon railway stations. We have now expanded our retail offering to Victorian commercial and industrial customers to help businesses reduce costs, build resilience and lower emissions.

SEC is also helping households reduce their energy bills and emissions by switching from gas to electric appliances through Easy Electric SEC. Our new platform provides trusted advice and allows users to find SEC-endorsed installers to manage their upgrades. Our network includes installers across Gippsland who play an essential role in helping Victorian households to electrify with confidence. We hope to grow this network over time.

Now nearly three years into our new chapter as a state-owned renewable energy company, SEC remains committed to putting Victorian communities, consumers and businesses at the centre of our energy future.

Central to this vision is Gippsland, a region at the forefront of Victoria’s energy transition and one that will continue its vital role in powering the state's economy.

This editorial was first published in the Latrobe Valley Express