Program Looks to Halve Electricity Costs for Charities

Charities have the chance to slash their power bills by up to 50 per cent through an energy-efficiency program set to expand across Australia.

Electricity company EnergyAustralia’s Power for Good program will complete energy audits of participating charities to identify how they can use energy more efficiently, and then install batteries, solar panels, and smart energy management systems for these organisations.

As more charities join, EnergyAustralia expects the program will eventually create one of Australia’s largest “virtual power plants”, whereby thousands of solar and battery systems are linked and managed remotely.

Andrew Perry, EnergyAustralia’s NextGen executive, said he believed the program could reduce annual electricity bills for charities by up to half.

“When we find ways for a charity to spend less on electricity, it means more of the funds they raise can go towards doing what they do best – helping vulnerable people in need,” Perry said.

The program will be backed by an estimated $15 million raised from the sale of renewable energy certificates to other retailers.

Berry Street is one of EnergyAustralia’s charity partners through its workplace giving program, and it is working towards becoming the Power for Good’s foundation participant.

“We are excited at this opportunity to even further reduce our costs, so that more of our funds can go towards helping children and families in need,” Berry Street CEO Michael Perusco said.

The program will soon be expanded to include other charities and other states, in order to create virtual power plants that will ease demand on the electricity grid at peak times.

This announcement follows EnergyAustralia’s partnership with VincentCare last year, that saw the company provide $500,000 of energy efficient heating and cooling systems at the Ozanam House homeless hub and resource centre in North Melbourne.

“Our partnership with EnergyAustralia is leading the way to not only better energy solutions for our flagship Homeless Hub, but also to cleaner and more efficient solutions for a future energy grid,” VincentCare CEO Quinn Pawson said.

Charities can express interest in the Power for Good program by emailing PowerforGood@energyaustralia.com.au