The South Australian Government and local battery manufacturer sonnen will offer each householder who rebuilds their home after the bushfires a free home battery.
Minister for Energy, Dan van Holst Pellekaan, said, “Installing a battery as part of the rebuild will help make bushfire victims new homes more sustainable, more resilient and allow them to access cheaper electricity.
“People who lost their homes in the fires need a helping hand to reestablish themselves and a battery worth more than $10,000 will reduce their future electricity bills whilst adding value to their new home.
“Participants in the State Government’s Home Battery Scheme have cut their electricity bills significantly, sometimes to almost nothing, so this initiative represents an ongoing benefit to families rebuilding their lives after the trauma of losing their homes.”
sonnen Australia Chief Executive, Nathan Dunn, said the recent bushfires across the country have had a devastating impact for Australians.
“sonnen is and will continue to be invested in supporting the wider South Australian community rebuild,” said Mr Dunn.
“This initiative will help add significant value to those rebuilding their homes, alleviating pressures of energy costs and provide them with the control to manage their energy needs more independently.”
The State Government secured local manufacturing of batteries in South Australia by sonnen in late 2018 after negotiating a new agreement with the German company as part of the government’s plans to see 40,000 home batteries installed in South Australia.