Find out about the latest news, what other Energy Partners have been up to and any new resources that may be available.
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Energy Partners Program
Newsletter
June 2015

Latest news
 

New cost of living concession for pensioners

Subject to passage through Parliament, from 1 July 2015, pensioners, low income earners and self-funded retirees holding a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card will receive up to $200 per year under a new cost of living concession. The new concession will help approximately 205,000 households.

New cost of living concession ($ p/a)

  • Pensioners and low income earners who own their own home – $200
  • Pensioners and low income earners who are tenants – $100
  • Self-funded retirees who hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card* who own their own home – $100
  • Self-funded retirees who hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card who are tenants – $100
*Assumes recipients held a State Seniors Card

The new cost of living concession will be paid per household, not per individual, and will be paid by cheque to homeowners in about September 2015 and tenants by early 2016.

Homeowners who currently receive the council rate concession, which the new cost of living concession will replace, do not need to apply separately for this concession. Tenants need to apply by 31 October 2015. For more information, or to obtain an application form (available from 1 July 2015) contact the Concessions Hotline on 1800 307 758.

New solar hot water systems to help families in public housing

The first of 1000 solar hot water systems were installed in Housing SA properties in May. The Government of South Australia is investing $5.5 million to replace 1000 LPG gas and electric hot water systems in larger family homes with energy efficiency solar hot water systems.  As hot water is a major user of energy in households, this initiative will not only help the families reduce their power bills by approximately 30% but will also deliver environmental benefits with a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.  

Bringing energy advice to the community

Many people attending the Sunday Mail Home Living Expo between 24 and 26 April approached the Energy Advisory Service stand for energy advice. Topics of particular interest were solar photovoltaic (PV) installation, energy efficient home design, the best ways to heat and cool homes, what to do about high energy bills, and efficient water heating options.

The Energy Advisory Service will be attending the Master Builders Association Home Improvement Show on 17 to 19 July 2015. Come along and meet the team. If you can’t make it on the weekend and you need advice on home energy efficiency for yourself or a client simply call us on 8204 1888 between 9pm and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Energy Partners Program
 

The Energy Partners Program works with organisations across the state to help South Australians manage their energy use and costs. Assistance from the Energy Partners Program is tailored to the needs of each partner organisation, helping organisations to help their residents and clients.

Supporting households can range from helping partner organisations with energy expertise and advice, providing them with resources and publications, through to scoping and developing joint projects and programs to tackle specific issues identified in the community.

The program can also help organisations to meet sustainability or environmental targets in the community by providing guidance and access to information and resources.

The program complements the South Australian government's Energy Advisory Service, which offers free independent energy advice to households.

The Energy Partners Program offers a range of assistance and advice to build the capacity and knowledge of organisations to help clients in relation to energy.

Expertise and advice

Publications and resources

Training

Connecting organisations across the partners network

  • The Energy Partners Program currently works with more than 80 organisations across South Australia, and is able to connect organisations to relevant existing programs, funding streams and other organisations with common goals.
If you would like more information please call us on 8204 1888.

Partner updates
 

Utilities Literacy Program - regional training

Community workers who want to help households understand and manage their water and energy use can attend a free two-day Utilities Literacy Program delivered by Uniting Care Wesley Bowden. The course covers understanding bills and financial difficulties, energy and water saving advice and how to get the best energy deal.

Upcoming regional course dates:
  • 23 and 24 June
    36 Stirling Road, Port Augusta
For more information, please call Heather or Stephen at Uniting Care Wesley Bowden on 8245 7175 or email utilitiesliteracy@ucwb.org.au.

Partners involved in climate adaptation planning and implementation

Across South Australia local government energy partners are coming together to improve the resilience of their communities, assets and infrastructure, local economies and natural environment so they can cope with the inevitable impacts and challenges of climate change.

The Energy Partners Program is presently involved in developing the Resilient East plan, an initiative involving Adelaide City Council, the cities of Burnside, Campbelltown, Norwood Payneham and St Peters, Prospect, Tea Tree Gully, Unley and the Town of Walkerville. The Energy Partners Program is also involved in discussions about implementing the Resilient South plan with the cities of Holdfast Bay, Marion, Mitcham and Onkaparinga.

Farewell to Green Hubs program

The Conservation Council’s long running Green Hubs program has recently ceased on a high note with a celebration on 14 May. Representatives of clubs and associations supported under the program, as well as other partners who have assisted the success of the program, gathered at the new Conservation Council city headquarters at 111 Franklin Street to celebrate the program’s achievements. Participating organisations were presented with a Home Energy Toolkit to help them to continue monitoring energy use and to lend out to staff/clients/members. Home Energy Toolkits were sourced from the Energy Partners Program.


Nick and Melinda from the Energy Partners Program with Kathy from Green Hubs (centre)

New partners

Energy Partners warmly welcomes Port Augusta City Council to the program. We look forward to working with them to help their residents manage energy use and costs. 

City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters help their residents with energy information

The City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters are working with the Energy Partners Program to tell residents about the energy help available to them. The council has established a display at the Payneham Library featuring brochures to assist households with energy issues and promoting the Home Energy Toolkit available for loan through the library. The Home Energy Toolkit contains items and information to help householders find out what is using energy in their home and how they can start saving. The toolkit can be borrowed free of charge from all metropolitan public libraries and most regional public libraries in South Australia.

Other partner councils interested in organising a similar display can contact Glen Holder from the Energy Advisory Service on 8204 1888.


Toolkit display at Payneham Library

Energy efficient home heating
 



Heating and cooling can account for a third of your home energy use, with the typical South Australian home using more energy for heating than cooling.There are a number of ways householders can reduce their heating costs and many options for heating homes efficiently.

The Energy Advisory Service provides advice about efficient home heating online or you can speak to a member of the team by calling 8204 1888 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Government of South Australia

Contact Us

sa.gov.au/energypartners

8204 1888 or
1800 671 907 (free call from fixed lines only)
9am-5pm, Monday-Friday

dsd.energy@sa.gov.au
Copyright © 2015 Department for Energy and Mining, All rights reserved.