Communities can now apply for funding under the first round of AusNet’s $12 million Energy Resilience Community Fund, which was established following the storms in February 2024.
AusNet said that close to $3 million has already been distributed to help support communities impacted by these storms.
AusNet Executive General Manager, Liz Ryan, said the fund was created with a focus on supporting local recovery efforts in the short term and helping communities become more energy resilient in the longer term.
“Through the fund we are aiming to strengthen community energy resilience and help ensure they are better prepared to withstand future weather events and other electricity reliability challenges,” Ms Ryan said.
The Energy Resilience Community Fund will provide grants to community and not-for-profit organisations, local councils, and small businesses. Funded projects must be located within AusNet’s electricity distribution area and improve community energy resilience.
AusNet’s grants program includes Major Grants (from $50,000–$500,000 per grant), Energy Resilience Grants ($5,000–$50,000 per grant) and Energy Education and Literacy Grants ($5,000–$25,000 per grant).
“Major Grants applications we expect will include things like community hubs, ‘shower and power’ centres, generators, community batteries, solar and storage solutions and smaller scale generation and storage,” Ms Ryan said.
“We anticipate that the Energy Resilience Grants may fund things such as generators, solar and storage solutions, critical businesses backups and generator-powered mobile facilities.”
The Energy Education and Literacy Grants are expected to fund learning and development resources as well as communications and promotional campaigns to educate community members about energy and using it wisely.
For more information on the grants and how to apply, go to www.ausnetservices.com.au/ercf.
Featured image: Dorothy Chiron/shutterstock.com
