“When a community’s all in, I want to be all in to help that community.” With those few words federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen on Tuesday announced a groundbreaking pilot to electrify 500 homes in northern Illawarra.

It follows a two-year grassroots campaign from the Electrify 2515 team of volunteers who are championing the rapid electrification of their community.

The launch of the Electrify 2515 community pilot was held in suburban Thirroul at the family home of Laura Scalafiotti, a passionate supporter and volunteer for the project.

“This community is very environmentally conscious, we’ve done our research, and we believe in the investment,” Laura said.

Following a tour of her home, she told the minister and Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes it simply made sense to decarbonise her home.

Creating tangible benefits

“It is creating really tangible benefits including helping with cost-of-living pressures, action on climate change and re-skilling for new jobs,” Laura said.

The pilot involves an $11.8 million partnership between Rewiring Australia, Brighte and Endeavour Energy with $5.4 million in federal funding through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

Minister Bowen said the pilot would provide real-world data on the concentrated electrification of a community, measuring community behaviour, attitudes and energy bill savings.

“This is a good day for 2515 and it's a good day for renewable energy. I look forward to working closely with all the participants to ensure we're all gathering every bit of data we can, and that the residents of 2515 are benefiting enormously."

The most advanced plan

When asked, why postcode 2515? "This is the community that put together the most advanced and considered plan which was approved by ARENA for the pilot,” the minister said.

For local resident Dr Saul Griffith, co-founder of Rewiring Australia, who suggested creating the world’s first electric community several years ago, this was a red-letter day.

“It’s a lighthouse project and I couldn’t be more proud,” he said.

“Australia is already the leading rooftop solar nation. Pilots like this will use to invent the clean consumer energy model for the whole world.”

Local member Alison Byrnes said she was “so proud the Illawarra is at the forefront of this research and data collection”. She hopes the local pilot will ultimately lead to the rollout of the electrification of millions more homes across the nation.

Subsidies available

Under the pilot, residents of the 2515 postcode can apply for subsidies of up to $1000 off electric water systems, reverse-cycle air conditioners, induction cooktops and up to $1500 off home batteries. Each household will also have a free smart energy device installed to optimise their energy use, and switchboard upgrades to support the new appliances. Additional incentives will be available for lower income households to make the program accessible to a diverse range of people.

Minister Bowen said of the 500 homes in the pilot it was important it included people at different income levels.

“We will make sure it has a strong cross-section. There are various levels of subsidies, and these will be means tested.”

Guy Chalkley, CEO of Endeavour Energy, was convinced “this is a project that will work. It won’t be one of few, it will be one of many.”

A beacon of light

Dr Saul Griffith was elated at seeing his vision becoming a reality.

“It’s a testament to all the volunteers in our community… and it’s meaningful for all of us because we live here. It’s a beacon of light in a period where we need hope at this time.”

The 2515 pilot will run until 2027 and the data from the project will become available very soon.

Thirroul participant Laura Scalafiotti said 1200 of the 4000 homes in the postcode area had expressed interest in being involved. She is already feeling the benefits. “I get a kick out of baking a cake on a Sunday afternoon knowing it’s entirely produced by solar.”