Powering Communities Program

What is the Powering Communities Program?

The Powering Communities Program is an initiative that provides grants to not-for-profit community organisations to improve their energy efficiency practices and technologies.

Background

The Powering Communities Program provides each of the 151 Federal electorates with $67,700 to fund small projects. These projects aim to assist community organisations improve their energy efficiency practices and lower their energy bills. Federal Members of Parliament (MPs) identify potential projects and invite applications from their electorate.

Community consultation is a critical element of the program. In consultation with their community, each MP must identify potential applicants and projects in their electorate and invite them to apply for a grant. Invited applications will be assessed against the program’s eligibility criteria through a closed non-competitive process.

The Powering Communities Program will run over 2021–2022. This aims to reduce energy use, improve energy productivity and reduce carbon emissions.

Objectives

The Powering Communities Program will assist organisations to:

upgrade equipment to reduce energy consumption
undertake energy management activities and assessments, such as energy systems assessments and feasibility studies
invest in energy monitoring and management systems
invest in on-site renewable energy and solar-connected batteries.

Funding

The grant amount will be up to 100% of eligible project expenditure. Grants will be between $5,000 and $12,000. You must fund any expenditure over the grant amount they are awarded. You should complete your project by 30 June 2022.

Eligible Projects

To be eligible your project must:

be aimed at saving energy and reducing energy bills for your community group
be nominated to apply by your MP
be located at an address in your MP’s electorate
include eligible expenditure as defined in section 5.2 of the guidelines
have at least $5,000 in eligible expenditure
be undertaken in the project period and completed by 30 June 2022.
include one or more of the eligible activities listed in Section 5.1.1 to 5.1.6 of the guidelines

Eligible Applicants

To be eligible you must:

be invited to apply by your MP
have an Australian business number (ABN)

You must also be one of the following incorporated entities:

an incorporated not for profit organisation
an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust with responsibility for a community asset or property

Incorporated not-for-profit organisations can include:

incorporated associations
non-distributing co-operatives
companies limited by a guarantee
Indigenous corporations
religious organisations incorporated under legislation

Timing

Applications close 20 September 2021.

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