The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy
The Hon Kirsty McBain MP, Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government
Fiona Phillips MP, Member for Gilmore
The Albanese Government is driving down power bills and boosting energy reliability for households in Maloneys Beach, Leeton and Goulburn with three community batteries switched on.
Hundreds of homeowners in each of these New South Wales suburbs will receive direct cost-of-living relief, with around a $75 discount off their energy bills every year for five years.
The annual saving will be applied directly to retail bills and appear as a credit, similar to the Commonwealth's energy relief rebates.
Australia now has more than four million rooftop solar installations - a testament to our incredible sunshine and unprecedented access to the cheapest and cleanest form of energy.
The Albanese Government's Community Batteries for Household Solar program is making our energy system fairer, by ensuring all Aussies can reap even more rewards from this renewable resource, regardless of their solar or battery status.
Only Labor is delivering the clean, cheap, reliable and resilient energy system that Australians deserve which is supported by the experts.
But Peter Dutton's $600 billion taxpayer-funded nuclear scheme risks all this progress. It will mean coal for a lot longer - making bills more expensive, risking blackouts and shrinking our economy.
Community batteries absorb excess rooftop solar during the day and feed it back to homes during peak times. They can also avoid or defer costly upgrades to the electricity network's poles and wires, benefitting all consumers through reduced network tariffs.
Each of the three Essential Energy batteries can produce 192kW of power and store 530kWh of energy.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen:
"We're bringing cleaner, cheaper and more reliable renewable energy to communities right across Australia, including Maloneys Beach, Leeton and Goulburn.
"The rain doesn't always fall, but we always have water on tap because we store it for when we need it - community batteries will do the same thing with reliable and affordable renewable energy.
"The Albanese Government is delivering immediate cost of living relief and building an energy grid for the future, which is why we have brought online new, affordable electricity equivalent to more than three Snowy Hydro schemes."
Quotes attributable to Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain:
"Every cent counts, which is why this community battery is great news for hundreds of households in Goulburn, because it will save them money on their power bills, and also improve their energy efficiency.
"Discounts from this battery will build on the Energy Bill Relief we've already delivered to households and small businesses in Goulburn, as part of our commitment to easing cost of living pressures."
Quotes attributable to Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips:
"Maloneys Beach Residents Association wanted a community battery for the community, I'm pleased that's what I've delivered.
"It will help reduce power bills, providing that bit of relief. Importantly it will also help store clean renewable energy from the sun for when it's needed most."
