In July, the City of Mount Gambier launched a community renewables program in partnership with solar technology provider Shinehub, offering bulk-buying rates for home solar and battery systems to residents.<\/p>\n
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Nearly 100 households have so far signed up for the first round of the program in Mount Gambier. (ABC South East SA: Samuel O’Brien)<\/p>\n
Council environmental sustainability business partner Aaron Izzard said nearly 100 households had signed up for the first round of the program.<\/p>\n
“Half of that is solar and battery systems and another 40 or so is just battery retrofits,” Mr Izzard said.<\/p>\n
“The number one motivator is electricity prices and reducing household costs.”<\/p>\n
Mr Izzard said he would like to see the partnership between the City of Mount Gambier and Shinehub replicated across regional South Australia.<\/p>\n
“The whole reason for a bulk buy is so you can activate more of that economy of scale so you can get installers and the equipment down and do it all in one go,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I would encourage other councils to have a look at it.”<\/p>\n
Elisabeth Champion, who had her system installed about a month ago, said the installation had transformed the way her family used electricity at home.<\/p>\n
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Elisabeth Champion has taken up the scheme. (ABC South East SA: Samuel O’Brien)<\/p>\n
“Our last bill was $90, most of which was service charges,” she said.<\/p>\n
“It’s been delightful for me because I can’t stand the cold. Every morning, I get up now and the heater is on.<\/p>\n
“We wouldn’t have done that previously; we’d turn the heater on when it’s absolutely freezing.”<\/p>\n
Ms Champion decided to install a battery as well, allowing her to take advantage of the power her panels generated during the day.<\/p>\n
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Elisabeth Champion with her new battery. (ABC South East SA: Samuel O’Brien)<\/p>\n
“[It] probably wouldn’t have been worth it for us without the battery because it means that by 11 o’clock in the morning the battery is full and we can run the rest of the day just on the battery,” she said.<\/p>\n
“It just gives us a little bit more freedom to use power that we wouldn’t have otherwise.”<\/p>\n
Battery uptake accelerates<\/p>\n