To help potential grant applicants understand the areas of research and advocacy where we’d like to be making a difference, we have created Grant Priority Issues documents. These provide guidance on some of the types of high impact projects and themes we are interested in funding.

These are essential reading for anyone considering applying for funding under Energy Consumers Australia’s Grants Program.

1. Gas Transition in Homes and Small Businesses

If Australia is to achieve its net zero emissions targets by 2050, households and small businesses will need to eliminate their use of fossil fuel gas for heating, hot water, and cooking.

The alternative pathways to replacing fossil fuel gas are electrification or hydrogen, produced using renewable energy.

For consumers, the pace of change and the ability to easily and affordably switch away from using fossil fuel gas matters.

This will require consumers being well informed about the alternatives, before their appliances fail, and having the means to finance replacement appliances and the changes that will need to be made to wiring and plumbing.

Industry and the supply chain will need to have the skills and capability to support the transition.

Governments have an important role in ensuring that the transition is fair and that those with the least resources aren’t left to bear the burden of the costs.

Read the full report in the document below

2. Improving the Energy Performance of all Australian Homes

Poor energy efficiency in a home has a direct and material impact on people – it makes it hard to manage their energy usage in order minimise their bills, and adversely affects their health and wellbeing.

Making homes more energy efficient is a critical pathway to achieving affordable energy in 2050, and ensuring our homes are climate resilient. But people need help to electrify our homes, phase out gas appliances, and shift our usage to times when energy is abundant.

There is work underway, but we need to do more to ensure no one is left behind, and that homes and small businesses get timely, accurate and independent help tailored to their needs.

Read the full report in the document below

3. Removing Barriers in the Energy Market for all Australians

Households and small businesses can have very different outcomes in whether their energy costs are affordable.

Our research shows that a majority of households encounter barriers to managing their energy costs, and the energy transformation is likely to present new challenges. The experience of small businesses is very likely to be the same.

We need research on ways to support the diversity of consumers and effective support to overcome the barriers they face in managing their energy costs, now and in the future.

We need to understand how working with consumers to design and develop programs, products and services achieves better outcomes, and ensures the regulatory framework gives people agency and appropriate protections.

Read the full report in the document below

We welcome your ideas addressing this issue

Have questions?

If you have questions or need clarification about the grants application process, please email us at grants@energyconsumersaustralia.com.au and we’ll be happy to help.

You can also continue reading about great grants or start your application: