Essential Energy is a state-owned electricity infrastructure company which owns, maintains and operates the electrical distribution networks for much of New South Wales, covering 95 percent of the state geography.^[1] It also owns the reticulated water network in Broken Hill through Essential Water, formerly Australian Inland Energy and Water.^[2]

Essential Energy

Company type	State government owned
Industry	Utility
Predecessor	Country Energy Australian Inland Energy and Water
Founded	1 March 2011 (2011-03-01)
Headquarters	Port Macquarie, New South Wales , Australia
Services	Electricity distribution Water supply
Owner	Government of New South Wales
Subsidiaries	Essential Water
Website	www.essentialenergy.com.au

Essential Energy was formed from the previously state-owned energy business, Country Energy, when the retail division of the company, along with the Country Energy brand, was sold by the NSW Government in 2011 to Origin Energy.