Energy Resilience Community Fund

Overview

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.

Building community energy resilience plays an important role in a community’s overall resilience. 

The ERCF was developed using a community-informed approach, through conversations and collaboration with councils, local members, community organisations, peak bodies and community members.

Funded projects must be located within our electricity distribution area, and clearly demonstrate how the project will improve or increase community energy resilience.

Who can apply?

• A single organisation or a collaborative project submitted on behalf of multiple organisations.
• Local councils within our electricity distribution area. There are 27 local government areas (LGAs) in our network.
• Community and charitable foundations and organisations.
• Social enterprises.
• 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. *Sole traders must have a valid ABN and an annual turnover of $10m or less. 

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Eligibility

• Projects must be located or delivered within our electricity distribution area. To check if your project falls within our network, enter your project’s address on the Find your energy distributor website. 
• Applications must clearly demonstrate how your project will improve or increase community energy resilience communities.
• Applications must clearly explain how the project will be delivered within the specified timeframe and budget.
• Only one grant per organisation per category will be awarded.
• All applicants must have a valid ABN and an Australian bank account linked to that ABN.
• Business applicants must have a valid ABN and an annual turnover of $10 million or less.
• Applications from sole traders will be accepted if they have a valid ABN and can clearly show their ability to deliver the project.
• Tax endorsements such as Deductible Gift Recipient Status (DGR) or Tax Concession Charity (TCC) status are not required.
• Successful applicants must sign a funding agreement with us. 
• If you’re unsure whether you are eligible, call our ERCF manager Kim Sullivan on 0499 781 580 or email kim.sullivan@ausnetservices.com.au before submitting an application.

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What we won’t fund

• 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.
• Other categories, at our discretion.

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Our grant programs

Round two opens at 9am on Wednesday 27 November 2024

• Energy Resilience Grants: $5-50k per grant
• Energy Education and Literacy Grants: $5-25k per grant

Funding is for physical and mobile energy resilience assets and education, awareness and literacy programs to help build and strengthen community energy resilience, and help communities prepare for and recover after a severe weather event or outage. 

For more information or to discuss your project or application, please call our ERCF manager Kim Sullivan on 0499 781 580, or email ERCF@ausnetservices.com.au.

Grant guidelines and assessment process

All applications must be submitted through our ERCF grants portal before the closing dates below:

• Energy Education and Literacy Grants: 5pm Friday 7 February 2025
• Energy Resilience Grants: 5pm Friday 7 February 2025.

If you would like to discuss the eligibility of your project or need clarification on the application process, please contact the ERCF manager Kim Sullivan on 0499 781 580 or email at ERCF@ausnetservices.com.au before submitting your application.