Deadline: 7-Feb-25
The AusNet Services is currently accepting applications for its Energy Resilience Grants Program.
As climate change brings increasingly severe, frequent and unpredictable weather events, the risk of prolonged power outages also increases. The Energy Resilience Community Fund (ERCF) provides grants to community and not-for-profit organisations, local councils and small businesses to help build and strengthen community energy resilience. This means communities will be less impacted by and recover faster from extreme weather events and other electricity reliability challenges.
Focus Areas
- Energy resilience: They are committed to building community energy resilience solutions and education that leaves a positive legacy in the communities they serve.
- Supporting customers: They support customers experiencing vulnerability with access to resources and information that help build their energy resilience in a way that works for them.
- Community partnership: They partner with communities to identify priority projects that address the greatest needs for the greatest impact.
- Community engagement: They actively listen to communities to proactively respond to issues and incorporate feedback.
Funding Information
- Funding amount: $5k-$50k per grant.
Eligible Expenses
- Examples of what they may fund, include:
- generators, solar and storage solutions, backups for critical businesses or sections of main streets
- generator-powered mobile facilities, such as cool rooms, kitchens or showers to support a community during a power outage or emergency
- upskilling or training technicians to install energy resilience solutions in their local communities.
Ineligible Expenses
- Residential energy upgrades for individuals or households
- Insulation or high-efficiency window glazing
- Heating or cooling systems
- Feasibility studies
- Projects that duplicate an existing program or service
- Ongoing or recurring funding.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible organisations include:
- councils in AusNet’s electricity distribution network for projects within their electricity distribution
- network
- small businesses and sole traders providing an essential service and/or acting as a resilience centre or hub for their local community during a severe weather event or prolonged power outage
- community and charitable organisations including social enterprises
- community energy foundations
- sole traders may apply with a valid ABN and an annual turnover of $10m or less
- applicants must be able to demonstrate the ability to deliver the project within the specified budget and timeframe
- organisations do not need to have DGR (Deductible Gift Recipient) or TCC (Tax Concession Charity) status to apply
- if your organisation is not based in their electricity distribution network but delivers community energy resilience projects within their network, you may be eligible.
Assessment Criteria
- Your application will be evaluated and weighted against ERCF objectives and criteria that consider:
- how the project will build or strengthen community energy resilience
- the target beneficiaries, how broad the reach and impact is and any ongoing benefits
- where the project will be located or implemented
- community impact and how success will be measured
- if the project will be locally-led and delivered
- the completion date and key milestones
- evidence of the project’s financial viability, including itemized breakdown of costs and any other funding or project partners.
For more information, visit AusNet Services.