15 March 2024

Low-income and vulnerable households in Magill and Edwardstown will be among the first South Australians to benefit from lower power prices under a new community battery program.

The State Government today confirmed the sites of the two community batteries, at Tuku Wirra Reserve in Magill and Towers Terrace in Edwardstown, to service 600 eligible households.

Funded by a $1 million grant through the Commonwealth’s $200m Community Batteries for Household Solar initiative, the emPowering Magill and emPowering Edwardstown community batteries will lower annual electricity bills for eligible participants by as much as $562 a year on current figures.

The batteries will also contribute to lower emissions, support future solar installations and help stabilise the electricity grid by absorbing excess energy.

Crucially, the 150 kilowatt/405 kilowatt-hour community batteries at Magill and Edwardstown will also store excess energy from the grid when renewable energy is abundant and make it available at night, during periods of high demand or when the grid needs support.

This mirrors the way individual household solar and battery systems function, but extends the benefits of these renewable energy technologies more widely, to South Australian families who need it most.

Housing SA tenants living near the community batteries will be invited to voluntarily join the SA Virtual Power Plant (SA VPP) scheme. On joining they will sign up with Energy Locals, an Australian-owned electricity retailer.

The Energy Locals contract is currently set at 25 per cent below the Default Market Offer - for a household with average annual electricity consumption that equates to a $562 saving.

Tenants closest to the batteries will receive offers first, until the target number of 300 participant households is reached at each location.
The batteries will be operated by Tesla, which manages the SA VPP.

Construction on both sites is expected to commence in the first half of this year.

More information

Quote attributable to Campbelltown Mayor Jill Whittaker

Campbelltown City Council is committed to tackling climate change and leading our City towards a climate-resilient and sustainable future, and this includes supporting the Magill Community Battery to deliver renewables and the cheapest available residential electricity rate in SA to SA Housing households in our Council area.

I am pleased that Campbelltown has been selected as one of the first areas in SA to have a Community Battery installed - it will not only help at least 300 Campbelltown households but will also benefit others as it will assist to stabilise the grid in the area and may help prevent blackouts.