Time is running out for Big SA Energy Switch

More than 19,000 South Australian households have joined the Big SA Energy Switch campaign to get a better deal on their electricity bill.

The campaign aims to unlock group-discounted electricity deals with retailers by using the buying power of thousands of households.

Joining the campaign is obligation-free and cost-free. By signing up, householders will receive information about the discounted electricity offers, which can then be compared with their current contract to get the best deal for their home.

The campaign will be seeking offers for both solar and non-solar customers. Gas offers may be available if retailers wish to make them, though the focus is on electricity.

Households can join the Big SA Energy Switch for free and see the offers without obligation until 4 March.

Got your guide?

The Guide to electricity, gas and SA Water services has been distributed to approximately 1200 community workers across South Australia.

The guide includes information about consumer advocacy, financial assistance, connection and supply, meters and billing, consumption advice, and where to access other information or support if needed.

If you haven’t received your copy of the guide, please email us. You can also register online to be notified when the guide is updated.

Carbon neutral first for Uniting Communities

Uniting Communities has become the first South Australian organisation and the first registered charity in Australia to receive certification under the Federal Government’s Carbon Neutral Program. The certification comes after a five-year commitment from the organisation to significantly reduce its carbon footprint.

‘Becoming carbon neutral makes sense for our organisation; we have a strong moral compass and research tells us that climate change will most affect people in our client base – the elderly, socially disadvantaged and people on lower incomes,’ says Simon Schrapel, Chief Executive of Uniting Communities.

The organisation has worked with suppliers who can provide 100% carbon neutral products, such as locally distributed carbon neutral copy paper and stationery.

Other carbon reduction activities have included energy-efficient building upgrades to two residential aged care facilities and the city-based head office. With 85 sites across South Australia, Uniting Communities has supported staff to commit to lowering emissions by switching off lights and computers when not in use and reducing waste to landfill.

Since 2010, Uniting Communities has saved over $1million and are expecting to save more than $330,000 each year as they continue with their efforts.

Find out more about how Uniting Communities became carbon neutral.

Affordable SA in the palm of your hand

The Affordable SA app provides your clients with up-to-date information on services available in their local area including housing, utilities, transport, health, education, finances, food and justice. Clients can also receive helpful hints on managing their finances.

In 2016, the Affordable SA team can visit your workplace, team meetings and forums to explain how the app can help your organisation and how to use it with your clients.

The app is free to download from the iPhone app store or, for those with an Android device, the Google Play store.

For more information, please email Azadeh Tavakoli at the Salvation Army or call 8100 8129.

Sustainable Adelaide

The Adelaide City Council is building its reputation as a ‘green’ city that adapts to climate change, reduces carbon emissions and uses resources wisely. To help residents and businesses meet these goals, the Council offers a range of grants as part of the Sustainable City Incentives Scheme. 

Grants are available for a range of energy efficiency measures, including installing solar photovoltaic systems and/or battery storage, replacing halogen downlights with LEDs, installing an energy monitoring system, and replacing an existing gas or electric water heater with a solar one.

To find out more about funding availability and eligibility, email the Sustainable Policy team or call 8203 7203.

Which Bill will you choose?

Check out the City of Charles Sturt’s new animated video to see how one Big Bill affects a household!

The short film explores how householder behaviour and choices create their energy bill and shows how some simple changes can help them manage what their bill looks like – just like the neighbours who live comfortably with their Little Bill.

Well done to the City of Charles Sturt team for their fun and innovative way to educate their community about energy efficiency.

This project received funding from the Australian Government.

Householders who have particular concession cards, receive certain Centrelink payments or who live on a low income may be eligible to receive a concession on their home energy bills.

If your client has a medical condition that means they have to use a lot of heating and cooling to prevent their condition from severely worsening, they may be eligible for a Medical heating and cooling concession. Their medical practitioner or specialist will need to help complete the application form to confirm their diagnosis.

Other relevant concessions include the Cost of Living Concession, Residential park resident concession, and the Home dialysis and domiciliary oxygen concessions.

Remember, if your client switches energy retailers or moves house, they must tell Department for Communities and Social Inclusion’s (DCSI) concessions team about the change to ensure they continue to receive their concession. Call the Concessions Hotline on 1800 307 758 or email concessions@dcsi.sa.gov.au.

To find out what concessions your client may be able to receive, use DCSI’s Concessions Finder tool. For further information, call the Concessions Hotline on 1800 307 758.