Community Electrification Engagement Program Fund

Sustainability Victoria (SV) is supporting communities to electrify through the Community Electrification Engagement program. Community organisations representative of their region can apply to deliver an engagement program to promote electrification to households within a targeted geographic area. Funded activities will focus on community engagement, education and stakeholder partnerships to encourage Victorian households to electrify their appliances and access Victorian Government electrification incentives such as the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) Program, the SEC electric Home Planner and Solar Victoria rebates.

The following are the guidelines for applying for this Fund.

1. Fund overview

1.1 Fund objectives

Projects under the Fund must meet the following objectives:

• • deliver an engagement project that increases community awareness of the benefits of electrification
  • deliver accessible and tailored support to reduce barriers to electrification upgrades; this could include campaigns, events, promoting awareness of VEU, SEC electric home planner and Solar Victoria incentives or connection with suitable accredited providers and installers
  • leverage partnerships with local government and other sectors to reach new household audiences such as sporting, faith, First Nations or culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities
  • gathering audience data to inform engagement approaches and evaluate the impact of engagement activities.

1.2 Funding available

Grants of up to $110,000 are available per Community Energy Group from a total funding pool of $700,000. Remaining funds may be distributed to successful applicants where scalable projects have been identified in the application process.

1.3 Co-contribution

Co-contribution from the Lead Applicant is required. A minimum of $1 for every $5 in grant funding must be provided. Up to 100% of the contribution can be in-kind. Funding from other grant programs can be included towards the contribution, provided it is not Victorian or Federal Government program funding.

2. Eligibility

2.1 Who can apply

Lead eligible organisations must be one of the following organisation types:

• • a registered charity on the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) charity register
  • an incorporated community group engaged in charitable or other community-based activity
  • a social enterprise (must be currently registered with Social Traders or prove accreditation before entering into a funding agreement)
  • distributing or non-distributing co-operative.

Note: If the Lead Applicant is a Trust, the Funding Agreement must be executed by the Trustee of the Trust (for example, XYZ Pty Ltd as The Trustee for the XYZ Trust). The Trust as the trading entity must meet all the eligibility requirements of the Fund (for example, ABN).

Lead Applicants must:

• demonstrate that they have the support of community energy groups or networks to deliver the project in targeted geographic areas. While we will accept applications from multiple organisations within a region, funding will support a maximum of one lead applicant in each region: Barwon South West, Gippsland, Grampians, Hume, Loddon Mallee, Melbourne.
• specify the household education and engagement activities that they will deliver in their respective regions.
• have a current Australian Business Number (ABN). If the Lead Applicant is a Trust, the Trust as the trading entity must meet this requirement.
• have been operating for a minimum of 2 years by the application closing date (to be validated by the date the organisation’s ABN is active from).
• be located in Victoria and the project needs to be located in one of the regions specified: Barwon South West, Gippsland, Grampians, Hume, Loddon Mallee, Melbourne.
• agree to comply with the Terms of Participation in Grant Programs
• agree to comply with the funding terms and conditions:
  • for grants $50,000 or less read the Short-form grant funding agreement
  • for grants more than $50,000 read the General grant funding agreement.

Lead Applicants who do not agree with the Grant Funding Agreement Terms and Conditions will be asked to provide full details of proposed amendments that would render the contractual provision acceptable to the Lead Applicant in the SmartyGrants application form. Lead Applicants should note that significant or substantive variations will not be viewed favourably unless the Lead Applicant is able to demonstrate the necessity for such variations. Should applicants be successful, no further amendments to SV’s standard terms and conditions will be considered beyond the variations included in the application form.

We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.

2.2 Who cannot apply

Grants will not be awarded to:

• individuals, local government authorities, state government agencies, research institutes, peak bodies or education institutions (including schools and universities)
• unincorporated entities
• commercial or for-profit entities.

2.3 What will be funded

Funding will support a maximum of one Lead Applicant in each region (Barwon South West, Gippsland, Grampians, Hume, Loddon Mallee, Melbourne) for projects that focus on engagement and that include all the following activities:

• community engagement that increases community awareness of the benefits of household electrification (this could include campaigns, events, tailored advice or connections to suitable accredited providers and installers)
• community engagement that reduces the barriers to electrification upgrades (this could include campaigns, events, tailored advice or connections to suitable accredited providers and installers)
• support for householders in accessing Victorian Government assistance offered by Solar Victoria, SEC electric home planner, and the Victorian Energy Upgrade (VEU) program to electrify homes.
• partnerships with stakeholders, such as local governments and/or other sectors to reach new household audiences (such as sporting, faith, First Nations or culturally and linguistically diverse communities)
• gathering audience data to inform engagement approaches and evaluate the impact of engagement activities (Note that an online survey will be developed by Sustainability Victoria for this purpose with the input of successful applicants).

Note: House electrification is defined as the replacement of existing or older gas appliances with energy efficient fully electrified appliances. Gas appliances typically include space conditioning (room heating and air conditioning), hot water heating, and cooking appliances.

Projects must be completed by 30 June 2026.

Eligible costs directly related to the project are as follows:

• staff costs (such as salaries)
• marketing, advertising and promotional costs
• venue hire and catering
• travel (fuel and accommodation).

It is expected that Lead Applicants can demonstrate that they have the support of place-based community energy groups or networks to successfully deliver the project within the targeted geographic areas. While we will accept applications from multiple organisations within a region, a maximum of one grant will be successful per region: Barwon South West, Gippsland, Grampians, Hume, Loddon Mallee, Melbourne.

2.4 What will not be funded

The following projects are ineligible for funding:

• projects that don’t focus on electrification of Victorian households
• projects that focus on electrification of businesses or other non-residential sectors
• community engagement activities that the Lead Applicant and/or project partners are already committed to undertaking
• initiatives that involve Unproven or Emerging Technologies
• community engagement activities that have been funded by other Victorian or Federal Government grants
• projects that are being undertaken to comply with regulation or a regulatory notice or order
• projects that operate as bulk buys of electrification appliances for consumers.

SV will not fund projects that have commenced before the Lead Applicant is notified by SV in writing that their grant application has been successful. Note: if applicants fail to execute a Funding Agreement, their eligible costs will not be reimbursed.

The following costs are ineligible for funding:

• capital purchases or financial contributions towards the purchasing or installation costs of household electrification appliances.
• lease or purchase of land
• permit, licensing, approval costs
• routine or cyclical maintenance works
• repair of facilities damaged by vandalism, fire or other natural disasters where damage should be covered by insurance
• operating costs (for example, electricity, water and other utilities)
• purchase or lease of vehicles (for example, front-end loaders, forklifts)
• research, in relation to the development and demonstration of unproven technologies
• leasing of equipment
• contingency costs.

3. Assessment process

3.1 Assessment criteria

The assessment panel will assess the application based on merit according to the criteria below.

What

Weighting: 35%

Demonstrate how the project will meet the fund objectives including:

• the project’s targeted geographic area, noting funding will support a maximum of one Lead Applicant in each region: Barwon South West, Gippsland, Grampians, Hume, Loddon Mallee, Melbourne
• the number of households that the project will engage
• providing a project plan, budget and risk assessment
• how the funded work would be additional to any existing projects or community engagement activities that the Lead Applicant is currently undertaking.

Who

Weighting: 20%

Demonstrate that the Lead Applicant has the ability to deliver the project including capability (skills) and capacity (resources), including relevant examples of past projects. Demonstrate that you have the support of relevant place-based community energy groups as project partners to deliver the project in your targeted geographic area.

Why

Weighting: 10%

Describe why the project is needed in your targeted geographic area.

How

Weighting: 35%

Describe how the project will be delivered including:

• how it will address the barriers to electrification
• how you will support access to VEU, the SEC electric home planner and Solar Victoria incentives and electrification upgrades
• how you will engage households
• how you will engage relevant networks and partners to promote the program
• how you will track and evaluate the project outcomes, including how you will track the number of households that have been engaged
• how you would manage the project to ensure that it will be delivered on time.

3.2 Diversity consideration

SV will allocate funding to achieve a geographic spread across Victoria, with the aim of one project per region.

3.3 Due diligence checks

A risk-based approach will be used to assess the Lead Applicant’s social, economic, safety and environmental risks in relation to the project. This assessment will include the Lead Applicant’s Related Entities and may include Project Partners and/or Project Participants (see Section 9: Program definitions).

Lead Applicants (and their Related Entities and, if applicable, their Project Partners and/or Project Participants) must:

• have had no Environmental, Safety or Workplace Breaches in the last five years or, if there was a breach, Sustainability Victoria may assess a satisfactory level of risk the Lead Applicant’s breach poses
• have not been the subject of an enforceable undertaking or successful litigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman for a breach of the Fair Work Act 2009 or a fair work instrument within the last five years
• demonstrate financial capability to undertake the Project
• have adequate insurance as outlined in the funding agreement and below:
  • Public liability $20 million minimum
  • Professional indemnity $5 million minimum
  • WorkCover (if required)
• have not failed to satisfactorily progress or complete previous Projects funded by Sustainability Victoria within funding program timelines and without sufficient reason
• manage any conflicts of interest adequately.

Assessment of satisfactory level of risk will include but not be limited to Sustainability Victoria‘s consideration of:

• the seriousness of any finding/s
• whether the finding/s has been resolved to the satisfaction of the relevant enforcement agency, or the Lead Applicant can demonstrate it is working effectively to resolve the finding
• the efforts made by the Lead Applicant including implementation of management systems, to ensure no further finding/s occur
• whether, since the finding, the Lead Applicant has had a satisfactory level of compliance with relevant Environmental and Safety Laws and Workplace Laws.

Sustainability Victoria may conduct due diligence checks on the Project Partners and/or Project Participants involved in the delivery of the project. The Lead Applicant must ensure that any Project Partners and/or Project Participants agree to cooperate with this requirement and will provide information at Sustainability Victoria’s request.

Sustainability Victoria reserves the right not to award funding to Lead Applicants where the due diligence risk (including that of Project Partners and Project Participants) is unsatisfactory or not able to be managed.

4. Funding conditions

Successful Lead Applicants approved for funding must do the following.

4.1 Before starting the project

• Participate in an inception meeting to discuss their project and the funding agreement.
• Agree to realistic evidence-based and performance-based milestone payments.
• Provide Sustainability Victoria with insurance certificates of currency.
• Sign Sustainability Victoria’s funding agreement within 30 days of approval.

4.2 During and after the project

• Prepare an updated project plan including a communication and engagement plan for submission as part of the milestone 1.
• Deliver the project as outlined in the application and comply with the funding agreement.
• Contribute to regular project progress updates or meetings.
• Notify Sustainability Victoria immediately about any delay or change to the project.
• Provide update reports to Sustainability Victoria at agreed milestones with evidence of expenditure, progress and performance.
• Provide adequate monitoring and evaluation of the project according to the funding agreement.
• Collect and release data to Sustainability Victoria. SV may share or report on the data.
• Contribute to the project’s promotional activities (for example, provide Sustainability Victoria with support by reviewing and approving written stories or videos).
• Participate in and contribute to Sustainability Victoria activities to distribute the findings to broader stakeholders (for example, government and industry).
• Acknowledge that Sustainability Victoria has contributed funding in all communications related to the project.

5. Timeline

Dates may change.
There is no date for the announcement of application outcomes. We will provide applicants with updates as much as possible and when necessary.

Applications open: Monday 17 March 2025

Applications close: Wednesday 16 April 2025

Information session: Wednesday 2 April 2025

Notification of outcome: Estimated June 2025

Funding agreements established: July 2025

Projects commenced by: July 2025

Project completed by: 30 June 2026

6. How to apply

The grant program involves a competitive, merit-based application process.

1. Ensure that your organisation can apply in section 2.
2. Ensure that your project is eligible in section 2.
3. Read Sustainability Victoria’s funding agreement. You must meet the terms and conditions to ensure funding.
   1. For grants $50,000 or less read the Short-form grant funding agreement.
   2. For grants more than $50,000 read the General grant funding agreement.
4. Read Sustainability Victoria’s Terms of participation in grant programs.
5. Create an account and start your application on the SmartyGrants website.
6. Submit your application by 11:59 pm, Friday 27 May 2024. Late applications will not be accepted except under exceptional circumstances.

Your application

• Allow adequate time to plan, research, gather support documentation and to draft your application.
• As this is a competitive grant, we cannot review drafts or provide feedback.
• You must use SmartyGrants unless you have written permission from Sustainability Victoria.

Tips for using SmartyGrants

• Click ‘Save progress’ every 10 to 15 minutes. This prevents your data from being lost if something happens when you’re filling in the form. You will be automatically logged out of the system after 60 minutes of inactivity (where you did not click ‘Save progress’ or navigate between pages). Once logged out, you will close any changes that were not saved.
• Wait for your file to be uploaded. Wait for your document to be successfully attached before going to another page. If not, the file upload will be cancelled. The maximum size per file is 25MB.
• Once you’ve submitted your application, you cannot make any changes. Check your application carefully.
• You will receive a confirmation email. When your application has been submitted successfully, you will get an automatic receipt from SmartyGrants.
• For any technical issues, please contact SmartyGrants on +61 3 9320 6888 during business hours.

7. Assistance available

7.1 Contact us

We cannot review drafts or provide feedback.

Email: grants.enquiries@sustainability.vic.gov.au

In the subject line, use the grant name Community Electrification Engagement Program.

8. Why the Victorian Government is providing this funding

The Victorian Government allocated $5.933 million for the establishment and coordination of the Community Power Hubs program (CPH) as part of its $1.6 billion renewable energy package in the Victorian Budget 2020-21. Following the successful completion of CPH, the remaining $700,000 will be allocated through the Community Electrification Engagement Program to further support communities in transitioning to electrification.

Over 2 million Victorians use gas in their homes and businesses, more than any other state or territory. Gas usage contributes around 16% of Victoria’s net greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainability Victoria’s State of Sustainability research indicates that 88% of Victorians are using gas appliances at home. Most households have more than one gas appliance in use, with 40% classified as ‘all or mostly gas’, that is, they have heating and/or hot water, and one or two cooking appliances all using gas.

Almost all Victorians (95%) indicated they would consider switching at least one specific appliance from gas to electric, and when asked if they would consider going 'all-electric', 53% said yes. When asked conceptually about moving away from fossil fuels like gas, 60% of Victorians agree that this shift is important.

Despite this underlying positive attitude, and the high levels of willingness to switch at least one appliance, the State of Sustainability research indicates that there are challenges when it comes to the practicalities of moving completely away from gas.

The research shows that younger people are more willing to switch to electric and those aged over 55 years are less willing. This is problematic given that those aged over 55 are more likely to use gas appliances. It also demonstrates respondents’ preference for cooking with gas and a reluctance to switch to induction cooking.

Research recently undertaken in Australia has begun to identify the reasons behind this hesitancy to move completely away from gas. There are a number of different perceptions being held, which suggest there is a lack of information to make a fully informed decision around electrification and appliance choice. These include the perception that: it is too much effort to change; the cost of change would be too high; gas is better for heating and cooking; it is a more comfortable option for their home; and is more energy efficient. Additionally, concerns around electricity prices and lack of familiarity with the new technologies are also contributing to higher perceived risks.

ANU research has shown that tailored advice is what is needed, rather than one-way information – people need to be able to ask questions and to have an expert understand their specific needs and situation.

Community engagement programs are a place-based strategy for supporting Victorians to move from inertia to action on electrification upgrades and renewable energy. Community organisations have proven to be effective intermediaries for delivering local campaigns and community engagement activities to support uptake of Victorian Government incentives.

This program will support the acceleration of electrification in Victorian communities through using independent, local, trusted intermediaries to drive information and engagement to address the barriers to household electrification and uptake of Victorian Government incentives for electrification upgrades. This includes upgrades supported through the VEU program (such as, space and water heating and cooking technologies) and Solar Victoria (solar, battery and heat pump technologies).

9. Definitions

Charity

A Charity is an organisation that is not-for-profit and has only charitable purposes that are for the public benefit. A Charity must not be an individual, political party or government entity, and must be registered on the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Charity Register.

Co-operative

A co-operative is a democratic organisation, owned and controlled by its members for a common benefit. Members share in the group’s investment and operational risk and losses, as well as its benefits.

Co-operatives can be either distributing or non-distributing.

Community Energy Group

Any organisation engaged in charitable or other community-based activity operating under Australian law and not established for the purpose of making a profit. This definition can include not-for-profit entities pursuing a range of ‘for-profit’ commercial activities. It can also include organisations engaged in advocacy or other activities that may not be primarily charitable in nature. Unincorporated entities are ineligible to apply. Groups must:

• have a track record of delivering completed or near completed renewable energy, energy efficiency or energy storage projects relevant to households
• have a track record of delivering localised community engagement, education and marketing programs with a focus on household and/or Small Business clean energy action
• be able to demonstrate that the community will be involved in initiating, developing, owning, operating and/or sharing in the benefit (economic, environmental, social) from the Community Energy Initiative.

Direct Jobs

Actual new full-time positions created by your business. This can include training or upskilling of employees who would otherwise be made redundant through the implementation of your project.

Environmental, Safety or Workplace Breach

An environmental or safety breach is any past or current prosecution, reportable incident, investigation, notice, penalty, warning, regulatory intervention or enforcement action from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Victorian WorkCover Authority (WorkSafe) or Fair Work or failure to comply with any environmental, safety and workplace laws.

Environmental and Safety Laws

Environmental and safety laws are the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, Environment Protection Act 2017 or any other legislation, regulation, order, statute, by-law, ordinance or any other legislative or regulatory measure, code, standard or requirement relating to the protection and safety of persons or property or which regulate the environment including laws relating to land use planning, pollution of air or water, soil or groundwater contamination, chemicals, waste, the use, handling, storage or transport of dangerous goods or substances, greenhouse gas emissions, carbon trading, or any other aspect of protection of the environment.

Environmental, Safety or Workplace Breach

An environmental or safety breach is any past or current prosecution, reportable incident, investigation, notice, penalty, warning, regulatory intervention or enforcement action from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Victorian WorkCover Authority (WorkSafe) or Fair Work or failure to comply with any environmental, safety and workplace laws.

Environmental and Safety Laws

Environmental and safety laws are the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, Environment Protection Act 2017 or any other legislation, regulation, order, statute, by-law, ordinance or any other legislative or regulatory measure, code, standard or requirement relating to the protection and safety of persons or property or which regulate the environment including laws relating to land use planning, pollution of air or water, soil or groundwater contamination, chemicals, waste, the use, handling, storage or transport of dangerous goods or substances, greenhouse gas emissions, carbon trading, or any other aspect of protection of the environment.

Full-Time Equivalent Employees (FTE)

The hours worked by one employee on a full-time basis.

Calculating FTE

The calculation is used to convert the hours worked by several part-time employees into the hours worked by full-time employees. For example, you have 3 employees working the following: 40, 40 and 20 hours per week, giving you 100 hours per week in total.

Assuming full-time hours are 40 hours per week, your full-time equivalent calculation is 100 hours divided by 40 hours which equals 2.5 FTE.

Lead Applicant

The Lead Applicant is the entity that applies for the funding and is responsible for all details in the grant application and the contractual obligations under the funding agreement with Sustainability Victoria if successful for grant funding. Lead Applicants must be legally constituted organisations and with a current ABN that has been active for a minimum of 2 years by the application closing date.

The funding that Sustainability Victoria will grant to successful Lead Applicants is public money which SV must ensure is expended prudently, accountably and to achieve maximum impact. By requiring businesses to have been in operation for a minimum of 2 years, governments can reduce the risk of investing in businesses that may not have fully established their business model or market demand. This requirement also ensures that the business will have two years of financial returns which can be reviewed to assess whether the business is financially viable and able to acquit the project for which it seeks funding, thereby maximising the sustainability impacts of the funding.

Not-for-profit

A not-for-profit (NFP) organisation is an entity that does not operate for the profit or gain (either direct or indirect) of particular people. Unincorporated entities are ineligible to apply.

Project Partner/s

An organisation/s working in partnership with the Lead Applicant that have a critical role in the project such as promoting and supporting delivery, and contribution skills and knowledge relevant to household electrification.

Related Entities

Entities which are related to the Applicant, including:

• Holding companies of the Lead Applicant
• Subsidiaries of the Lead Applicant
• Subsidiaries of holding companies of the Lead Applicant
• Companies with common directors or shareholders as the Lead Applicant
• Companies that are a beneficiary under a trust of which the Lead Applicant is a trustee
• Trustees of a trust under which the Lead Applicant is a beneficiary
• Companies that conduct business at the same address as the Lead Applicant, or the same address as the location of the activity for which the funding is sought.

Related Person/s

Related Person means a director, officer, employee, agent, board member or contractor of the Lead Applicant or a Related Entity.

SEC Electric Home Planner

The State Electricity Commission (SEC) of Victoria is a government-owned energy company that provides renewable energy to Victoria. It has developed the SEC Electric Home Planner to create a personalised household electrification plan, including indicative appliance costs, government rebates, anticipated return on investment, and emissions reductions.

Social Enterprise

A social enterprise is a business that trades to intentionally tackle social problems, improve communities, provide people access to employment and training, or help the environment.

Social enterprises:

• are driven by a public or community cause, be it social, environmental, cultural or economic
• derive most of their income from trade, not donations or grants
• use the majority (at least 50%) of their profits to work towards their social mission.

Solar Victoria

Solar Victoria sits within the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) with a mission to help households access affordable, clean, and reliable energy.

Unproven or Emerging Technologies

Technology that requires legislative changes or further research and development in order to be implemented.

VEU program

The Victorian Energy Upgrades program established under the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Act 2007 (Vic) administered by the Essential Services Commission (ESC).

Workplace Laws

Workplace laws are the Fair Work Act 2009, or any other legislation, regulation order, statute, by-law, ordinance or any other legislative or regulatory measure, code, standard or requirement relating to the provision of fair, relevant and enforceable minimum terms and conditions for all persons and to prevent discrimination against employees.