Sophie Conlon
Cheaper access to solar energy could be on the cards for City of Mount Gambier residents, with council investigating how Community Renewables Programs are being run in other districts.
Councillor Max Bruins brought the idea forward at council’s April meeting.
“This came about as a result of a discussion with some friends down from Adelaide recently,” he said.
“They talked about how the City of Mitcham had done quite a bit of work in the renewable space over the past few years and it appears they’ve got a program that went out to procurement recently to get a better package deal on solar panels for residents.”
For the program, the City of Mitcham partnered with ShineHub to bulk buy solar panels, batteries, and virtual power plant solutions for residents, community battery solutions for the council and electric vehicle chargers for the council area.
The program had been funning for several years and City of Mitcham mayor Heather Holmes-Ross said more than 760 households have signed up, offsetting the power of three power plants.
Cr Bruins said a similar program in the City of Mount Gambier would help residents reduce their electricity costs and achieve better environmental outcomes.
His motion was carried and a report will be brought back to council at or before the October ordinary meeting, summarising the key components of the program and recommendations as to whether a similar program could be rolled out in the City of Mount Gambier.
