We are pleased to announce the latest projects to be awarded funding through our Grants Program. We received a range of high calibre applications from which the Board chose three projects to fund. We are confident these projects will advance the needs of Australian energy consumers and provide valuable insights to the broader sector.
Want to get involved? Find out more about our Grants Program.
Deakin University – The Benefits of Hyper-utilisation of Consumer Energy Resources (CERs) through a Virtual Energy Network (VEN)
Australians are rapidly adopting consumer energy resources, driving the transformation of our energy system. But to create a flexible, consumer-centric energy system, many challenges need to be overcome, including how to help consumers get more value from the energy they produce, and enable people to share energywith their community and those who can’t easily access CER. To do this, more robust evidence is needed on the potential benefits of peer-to-peer energy trading.
Building on the lessons learnt from WinZero in the Wingecaribee community and with partners QuantumNRG and ReThink Sustainability, Deakin University’s project will conduct a virtual energy network (VEN) trial to build this evidence base. This trial will allow residents and small businesses to trade energy virtually and share surplus or stored energy with one another. By testing how these networks operate in practice, the project will provide valuable insights into how VENs can boost local renewable energy use, and reveal the potential value of peer-to-peer trading for consumers and the grid alike.
This project has been awarded as a Collaboration Grant.
For more information about the project, contact Andrea La Nauze: a.lanauze@deakin.edu.au
Financial Counselling Victoria – Rank the Energy Retailer 2025: assessing hardship policies and practices of energy retailers to remove barriers to affordable energy
Financial counsellors often see clients with astronomical energy debts who qualify for financial assistance, but struggle to access information about how to do so. As a result, many people who are eligible for power bill concessions miss out. For example, it’s estimated that up to 38% of eligible South Australians don’t receive one. A leading factor is that energy retailers can be inconsistent in how they help consumers in financial stress.
This project will analyse data from a national financial counsellor survey, along with secondary data from energy regulators, to better understand how energy retailers support customers experiencing financial hardship. This project builds on Financial Counselling Victoria’s Rank the Retailer report in 2016. The project will take a national approach through partnering with Financial Counselling Australia as the national peak body, as well as working with State peak financial counselling associations, and the Consumer Policy Research Centre. The findings and recommendations from the report will help regulators more effectively monitor the performance of retailers, encouraging a culture of improvement, ultimately leading to better outcomes for vulnerable consumers.
This project has been awarded as a Collaboration Grant.
For more information about the project, contact Georgina Molloy: gmolloy@fcvic.org.au
Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University – Using smart meters smarter: understanding real-world deployment
By 2030, every Australian home will have a smart meter, opening up new ways for people to participate in the energy system and pay for their energy use. However, many questions remain about how the rollout will unfold, and what it will mean for consumers. For the smart meter rollout to be successful, consumers need to understand how smart meters can benefit them, whether they will be better off with flat rates or time-of-use pricing, and what behaviour changes and technologies may be required to optimise the benefits.
The project by the Urban Transformation Research Centre at Western Sydney University will conduct surveys with Australians to understand their awareness of smart meters and decision-making behaviours regarding pricing. This will be complimented by analysis of household energy use patterns and assessments of the types of households that would be better or worse off under time varying retail pricing. Together, these insights will enable consumers to make informed decisions to get the most out of their smart meters.
This project has been awarded as an Influence Grant.
For more information about the project, contact Tom Longden: t.longden@westernsydney.edu.au
Interested in applying for a grant?
For more information about our Grants Program, including how to apply for a grant, visit here.