More NSW households will have access to local help with energy bills, rebates and home upgrades after the NSW Government awarded $4.7 million to 12 community and not-for-profit organisations.
The funding comes through the Community Energy Activation Program, which supports local groups to provide practical energy advice and help households reduce their energy use and costs. The grants were awarded in July, with projects running through to April 2029.
The support will cover advice on energy-efficient appliances, insulation, draught-proofing, rooftop solar and home batteries, along with help accessing rebates, concessions and other government energy programs. Renters, apartment residents, low-income households and multicultural communities are among those specifically targeted.
NSW Climate Change and Energy Minister Penny Sharpe said households are looking for practical ways to bring down their energy costs.
“There are more options than ever to save energy and reduce costs, but people don’t always know where to start.”
12 Organisations Receive Funding
The grants will support organisations working across metropolitan, regional and statewide communities.
The recipients are Asian Australians for Climate Solutions, Community Power Agency, Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre, Electrify Bouddi, Energyze North Shore, Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand, Illawarra Multicultural Services, Owners Corporation Network of Australia, Pingala Community Energy, Repower Shoalhaven, Rewiring Australia Research and Advocacy, and Southern New England Landcare.
Their projects have different local focuses.
Southern New England Landcare, for example, will work with households in the New England region. In the Illawarra, Illawarra Multicultural Services will provide support for multicultural communities, while Owners Corporation Network of Australia will work with apartment and strata communities across areas including Western Sydney, the Inner West, Newcastle, Wollongong and Shellharbour.
Pingala Community Energy will also work across the Hunter, Central Coast and Inner Sydney, with a focus that includes opportunities for solar, batteries and EV charging in strata communities.
Support Will Focus On Practical Energy Decisions
The program is designed to take energy advice into local communities rather than leave households to work through the available options on their own.
Funding will support workshops, one-on-one assistance, community education and training for local organisations. Households can receive guidance on reducing energy use, accessing available assistance and choosing upgrades that suit their circumstances.
The NSW Government says the program builds on its earlier $2 million Inclusive Energy Outreach Grant, which funds 10 community organisations providing culturally appropriate energy education for vulnerable people and groups.
The new grants form part of the NSW Consumer Energy Strategy, which aims to give households greater access to lower-cost and more efficient energy options.
For households dealing with high power bills, the immediate change is not a new $4.7 million household rebate. Instead, more local organisations will now be funded to help people understand their options, find available support and make decisions about energy upgrades.
The funded projects must be completed by April 2029.
