By Molly Magennis
Labor has promised to cut electricity bills for Altona residents via a community battery if they are successful at the upcoming election.
Labor’s Climate Change and Energy Minister, Chris Bowen MP, announced the initiative with Federal Member for Gellibrand Tim Watts on Tuesday 8.
Through the initiative, local households will be able to feed solar power into the shared battery during the day and draw from it at night, which in turn will help shrink electricity bills and emissions, and reduce pressure on the grid.
A community battery is typically the size of a 4WD vehicle, and provides around 500 kilowatts of storage that can support up to 250 local households.
Residents who might be unable to install solar panels, like renters and people living in apartments, will also be able to draw from excess energy stored in the battery.
This battery will also help residents access energy generated from Hobsons Bay City Council’s planned Virtual Energy Network, which will generate almost four megawatts of renewable energy from rooftop solar panels on council buildings.
Mr Watts said this battery will “turbocharge” Hobsons Bay council’s Virtual Energy Network.
“It will cut household power bills, and it will benefit community groups based in council buildings, like kindergartens, by lowering their power bills,” he said.
“Only an Albanese Labor Government will bring down power prices and work for a better future for all Australians.”
