Real cost-of-living relief for those who need it most
Low income households can register now to potentially save hundreds each year off their energy bills, as community batteries power up across the state.
The June State Budget included an additional $15 million over four years to continue the rollout of the emPowering SA community batteries program, with access prioritised for SA Housing Trust tenants that do not already have solar or battery at their home.
A partnership between the Malinauskas Government and energy retailer AGL, the emPowering SA program is rolling out a fleet of community batteries that, when complete, will bring bill savings to more than 10,000 nominated households facing cost of living pressures.
Hundreds of low income households are already seeing cost-of-living savings on their energy bills through the established batteries in Magill and Edwardstown, while construction on the latest battery in Port Pirie was completed just weeks ago.
A new awareness program is now underway, inviting potential participants to register their interest in signing on for lower-cost renewable energy through emPowering SA.
While priority is being given to SA Housing Trust tenants in council areas where emPowering SA community batteries are already installed and operational, new batteries will join the fleet regularly, so eligible tenants are being encouraged to register their interest now at www.empowering.sa.gov.au/join to ensure they can be contacted as soon as places come available.
Households nominated by the South Australian Government will have access to a special electricity plan from AGL that delivers large discounts against the Default Market Offer (DMO), the default price for electricity.
The electricity plan currently delivers electricity rates 26 per cent below the DMO. On current figures, this means a typical household benefitting from emPowering SA could save up to $608 off their annual electricity bill (based on the annual saving estimate for a new residential customer with an annual energy consumption of 4,000 kilowatt-hours per year when compared to the 2026/27 DMO).
The emPowering SA fleet currently consists of three active batteries, in the City of Marion, Campbelltown City Council, and Port Pirie Regional Council areas, with more in the pipeline. When complete, the fleet of 18 batteries across the state is expected to deliver around $60 million of value to low-income and energy hardship households across South Australia over the life of the batteries.
Community batteries store excess energy from the grid when renewable energy is abundant and make it available at night, during periods of high demand, or when the grid needs support. In addition to direct financial benefits to connected households, community batteries also serve to improve the stability of the electricity grid, improve understanding of household energy use patterns, and help reduce barries to the deployment other large-scale community energy infrastructure.
Councils and local communities are supporting the emPowering SA roll out by helping to identify suitable locations for the batteries. The Australian Government has also contributed funding through its Community Batteries for Household Solar program.
Quotes
Attributable to Tom Koutsantonis
For many South Australians, putting solar panels on the roof or installing a home battery simply isn’t an option. If you’re living in a Housing Trust home, renting or managing a household budget on a low or fixed income, you might not have the same opportunities to lower your electricity bills as other households.
That’s why we’re encouraging South Australians living in eligible Housing Trust homes to register their interest in participating in the emPowering SA program.
The Malinauskas Government’s investment in a fleet of community batteries and this partnership with AGL can allow you to share in the benefits of renewable energy easily and with no changes to your home or how you use electricity.
Too often, people are forced to make difficult choices about using heating and cooling or cutting back on other household necessities because of energy costs. We want to change that.
emPowering SA is about making sure more South Australians can access cheaper, cleaner energy and share in the benefits of the energy transition. Community batteries are helping make that transition fairer, more affordable and more accessible for the people who need it most.
Attributable to Hartley MP Jenn Roberts
Housing Trust residents in the Hartley community are already seeing the benefits of the first tranche of community batteries under the emPowering SA program.
This is providing eligible customers real cost-of-living savings, but we want to see more eligible households sign up to receive the benefits.
A typical household benefitting from emPowering SA could save up to $608 off their annual electricity bill.
Attributable to Morialta MP Matthew Marozzi
Ultimately more than 10,000 South Australian households will see the same benefits already being seen in the eastern and north-eastern suburbs, as well as in the south where the Edwardstown battery is located.
We know that energy is one of the cost-of-living pressures households feel the most, and these savings help take some of that pressure off for those who need it most of all.