Bulli locals can team up with their neighbours to cut power bills and modernise their homes as part of an expansion to an ambitious community-driven electrification push underway in the NSW Illawarra led by Rewiring Australia.
Households across Clifton, Scarborough, Wombarra, Coledale, Austinmer and Thirroul are being offered subsidies to ditch gas appliances as part of the ‘Electrify 2515’ initiative, with Bulli residents the latest now eligible to participate.
Under the scheme, households receive subsidies to replace gas heaters, cooktops and hot-water systems with modern electric alternatives and receive a free smart energy device to help monitor and control household power use.
Pilot Operations Manager John Buchelin said the program aims to remove barriers that stop households from electrifying and will study how efficient electric appliances, solar, and smarter energy use from up to 500 homes interact with the local grid.
“We’re collecting data and feedback from participants with a view to proving that electrification can cut power bills and make our homes safer and healthier. These are lessons which can then be scaled nationally,” Mr Buchelin said.
The pilot is being funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and delivered in partnership with Brighte and Endeavour Energy.
Electric vehicles, rooftop solar, EV chargers and batteries are not subsidised as part of the trial because separate federal and NSW incentives already exist, but households are still encouraged to include them where suitable.
Dr James Hazelton of Endeavour Energy said he hopes the experiment will put to bed fears the existing grid can’t cope and show it can handle broad scale electric homes with EVs, solar and batteries.
"We’re actively transforming today’s network into a dynamic, flexible platform that coordinates consumer energy resources in real time.
Customers can benefit from an accelerated clean energy integration which has the potential to lower costs for households who sign up.
"This community-led pilot is a blueprint for how communities, industry, and government can work together to cut emissions, reduce bills, and create healthier homes,” Mr Hazelton said.
Brighte Head of Partnerships Nigel Freitas said the biggest driver of the pilot to date has been the ‘neighbourhood effect’.
“Once one household on a street goes electric, others quickly follow,” Mr Freitas said.
“With incentives on the table and household budgets under pressure, it makes perfect sense for households to make the switch to electric hot water, cooking and heating and reap the benefits which follow.”
With subsidies on the table and a cost-of-living crisis among us, it makes perfect sense for households to make the switch to electric hot water, cooking and heating and reap the benefits which follow.”
Bulli residents are invited to attend a community info event on 22 March at 3pm at the Bulli Surf Lifesaving Club to learn more and apply to take part in the pilot.
For more info or to apply, visit electrify2515.org
Contact details:
Elsa Evers, Rewiring Australia, 0447 482 008
Nigel Freitas, Brighte, 0438 812 043
Anita Catalano, Endeavour Energy 0447 810 343
