- $10.8 million in funding awarded to Financial Wellbeing Collective for Energy Ahead
- Energy efficiency coaches are supporting households experiencing hardship
- Up to 9,000 eligible Synergy customers will benefit by June 2025
The Energy Ahead program, previously known as the Household Energy Efficiency Scheme, has received an additional $10.8 million in State Government funding.
Anglicare WA, on behalf of Financial Wellbeing Collective, has been awarded grant funding to deliver the Energy Ahead program to June 2025 supporting up to 9,000 Western Australian households.
Launched in November 2021, 167 Synergy financial hardship customers participated in the pilot with 85 community members attending energy literacy workshops.
Energy Ahead supports households facing financial hardship by addressing energy efficiency, a key factor that contributes to high energy bills.
The program replaces low-efficiency appliances, such as refrigerators, for households in relevant circumstances.
Meanwhile, Horizon Power is committed to delivering a similar program to its regional customers due to start in the West Kimberley in early 2024.
The regional energy provider is working closely with Synergy and community organisations to establish the program and understand the challenges and opportunities for its customers.
As stated by Energy Minister Bill Johnston:
“Energy Ahead complements other State Government relief measures supporting low-income families experiencing hardship.
“Financial Wellbeing Collective is uniquely placed to combine their member organisations’ knowledge, skills and complementary services to benefit Synergy customers in hardship.
“So far, the Energy Ahead program has successfully helped vulnerable Western Australians make changes to their homes and lifestyles that resulted in energy bill savings.
“In delivering practical measures like Energy Ahead, the State Government is helping to deliver better long-term outcomes for some of our most vulnerable families.”
