Community organisations across NSW have been given another opportunity to secure funding and support to help households understand home electrification and navigate the practical decisions involved in making the switch.
Rewiring Australia has reopened applications for its Rewiring NSW Communities Program, extending the deadline until midnight on Thursday 10 September.
The organisation is seeking community groups to work with it over the next 18 months to help households reduce energy bills, electrify their homes and access available government rebates and support.
Successful organisations can receive grants of $5,000, $15,000 or $30,000, depending on the activities they propose.
Building a local network for electrification
The purpose of the program extends beyond funding individual community projects.
Rewiring Australia is seeking organisations with established community connections that can provide local information and assistance to households considering electrification.
Successful partners will receive training and practical resources alongside NSW-specific data and information. They will also receive access to Electric Saul, Rewiring Australia’s home electrification tool, and ongoing support from the organisation.
The approach is intended to give community organisations resources they can use when helping households understand options for moving away from fossil-fuel appliances and using electricity for more of their household energy needs.
Rewiring Australia is looking for groups with an idea for helping households in their area electrify and the community connections needed to deliver that work locally.
Grants support different levels of activity
Three levels of funding are available through the program, with grants of $5,000, $15,000 and $30,000 offered to successful applicants.
The funding sits within an 18-month partnership between participating community organisations and Rewiring Australia rather than operating as a standalone grant payment.
Along with financial support, participating organisations will have access to information, training and tools designed to help them work directly with households.
The program is focused on helping households reduce their energy costs, understand electrification and connect with government rebates and other available support.
Another opportunity to apply
The latest application period follows an earlier call for NSW community organisations to join the program.
Rewiring Australia said it decided to provide another opportunity to apply following the NSW Government’s announcement of funding for community-led energy support on 8 September.
That separate NSW Government announcement confirmed $4.7 million had been awarded to 12 community and not-for-profit organisations through the Community Energy Activation Program.
Rewiring Australia was itself one of the 12 organisations awarded funding through that NSW Government program, which supports community education, local engagement and energy advice for households.
Rewiring Australia said the NSW Government’s renewed focus on delivering household energy support through trusted community organisations prompted its decision to give NSW groups another opportunity to apply to partner through the Rewiring NSW Communities Program.
Short window for community organisations
The extended application period leaves interested organisations with a limited window to put forward their proposals.
Applicants need strong community connections and an idea for helping households in their area electrify, with successful groups then working with Rewiring Australia over the following 18 months.
For organisations in the Hunter that already work directly with households or local communities, the reopened round provides another opportunity to secure funding, tools and technical support for locally delivered electrification activities before applications close at midnight on Thursday 10 September.
