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 improve or increase community energy resilience for their communities.

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.
• Sole traders in our electricity distribution network.

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. 
• Your project must clearly improve or increase community energy resilience for the relevant communities.
• Organisations can submit multiple applications, however, we will only award one grant per organisation per category.
• 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.
• Applications must clearly explain how the project will be delivered within the specified timeframe and budget.
• Successful applicants must sign a funding agreement with us. 
• If you’re still unsure whether you are eligible, call our ERCF manager Kim Sullivan on 0499 781 580 or email ERCF@ausnetservices.com.au before submitting an application.

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.

Our grant programs

Round one opens at 11am on Monday 29 July 2024

The ERCF has three grant programs:

• Major Grants - $50-500k per grant
• Energy Resilience Grants – $5-25k per grant
• Energy Education and Literacy Grants – $5-50k per grant

These include funding 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. 

By negotiation, we may also fund eligible projects that fall outside the funding rounds or broader eligibility criteria.

Due to the expected high volume of applications, if an application meets the eligibility criteria but is unsuccessful in a funding round, it may be considered in future rounds.  

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.