Local action to spark a national movement

The research and advocacy organisation Rewiring Australia is turning to local communities in its mission to electrify everything and help build a national electrification movement.  

They’re launching a new program to support ten volunteer groups to run ‘Electrify My Community’ campaigns in their own communities. 

Rewiring Australia argue that the benefits of electrification can be most felt in local communities and it's also where electrification can have the biggest impact.  

Their research found that 70%of Australia's domestic emissions occur at the household and business level, from the energy used to power appliances and cars. That means the bulk of domestic emissions are related to decisions taking place around kitchen tables and meeting rooms, such as where to buy electricity from, how to heat homes and water, and how to get to and from work.  

RewiringAustralia says these are decisions that can be influenced by trusted sources at the community level.  

“When a household electrifies, they open up a range of financial, health and environmental benefits,” says Kristen McDonald, Mobilisation and Engagement Manager for Rewiring Australia, and the coordinator of Electrify 2515, the community group championing electrification in NSW's Illawarra region.  

“When a community electrifies, that impact can be exponential - lower emissions, cleaner air, a supported local economy and more collective power.” 

Rewiring Australia will initially select ten groups to participate in the new program which aims to foster and build collaboration. The groups will receive access to resources, advice, a small grant and a collaborative space to start or grow a community electrification campaign. 

Electrify 2515 has already been working with Rewiring Australia to help apply for funding for an electrification pilot, increase community awareness about electrification, and support locals electrify their houses. 

"We found that community members turned to our volunteer group when they were trying to work out which hot water system to buy and how to go about it,” says McDonald.“That’s because we represented independent advice and were part of their local trusted network."

"Both through my volunteer community work and with my work at Rewiring Australia, it's been wonderful to see the number of individuals and community groups reaching out who want to get on with the job of electrifying", McDonald says. 

"People and groups from all over the country are getting in touch asking us for advice and support on how to start or further their own community campaign." 

The previous NSW Minister for Energy Matt Kean recognised the power of local communities in the energy transition when he announced an $8 million program to pilot innovative ways to fully decarbonise homes in up to three local communities across NSW, a program endorsed by Rewiring Australia. 

However, the current NSW Minister for Energy, Penny Sharpe is yet to make a commitment as to whether she will continue with the pilots. 

“It is disheartening to hear now the NSW Government might shelve plans to fund an electrification pilot,” says Kristen McDonald who believes community pilots can provide important research to determine the most efficient and cost-effective ways for existing houses to be electrified at scale. 

Meanwhile, Rewiring Australia hope that the initial ten groups that are selected for the Electrify My Community campaign will forge a pathway for other groups across Australia to follow suit and help build a national electrification movement, in turn passing on insights, resources and connections. 

The groups will be encouraged to run engagement activities designed for their own communities, whether that's information events, bulk buys of solar panels, electric vehicles or batteries, working with council. or developing community energy initiatives.

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The application to participate in the Electrify My Community program is open until Friday 8 September and can be accessed here.

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Kristen McDonald can be heard on the SwitchedOn Australia podcast with her colleague Francis Vierboom here.