This project's final report and evaluation was completed on  20 August 2020.

Project approach

This project was part of a three year Community Energy Program that aimed to empower the whole community to both access and benefit from clean energy and improved energy efficiency. The program sought a solution that could ease electricity cost pressures for all residents and businesses, that would keep some of the energy spend in the regional economy, and that would help the region to both curb emissions and identify as climate-ready.

The first stage of the program was developing a recommended program design in consultation with the regional community – a Community Energy Foundation.

In September 2018, Resilient Hills & Coasts secured $45,000 in Local Government R&D Scheme funding to investigate how partner Councils could establish the proposed Foundation while minimising exposure to financial, legal and governance risks. Components of the project included:

• A legal review of the proposed program design
• White-labelled core governance documents to first draft stage
• A community engagement and marketing plan
• A case study and toolkit of the other deliverables for use by other councils.

After a request for legal advice was issued to five providers in December 2018, HWL Ebsworth was appointed to deliver the legal advice and develop the draft governance documents. The Working Party considered key questions raised in the draft legal advice, undertaking detailed consideration of how the Foundation would be established and operate. The final legal and governance documents were delivered in April 2020. Australian Energy Foundation was engaged to produce the community engagement resources, which were delivered in August 2019 following consultation with the Working Party and Council communications officers.

The case study and toolkit was prepared by consultant Jack Jensen and published on the Southern & Hills LGA website.

The project completed 4 key tasks/outputs.

• Task 1 – Legal Review has been completed
• Task 2 – Governance documents, HWL Ebsworth have been engaged to prepare the documents
• Task 3 – Community Engagement & Marketing Plan has been completed
• Task 4 - Case Study & Tool Kit, has been finalised

Project achievements

In the rapidly evolving community energy sector, a clear path is not always visible. It can take substantial investment and specialised expertise to establish a working model that complies with market regulations and minimises exposure to financial, legal and governance risks. The proposal for a Resilient Hills & Coasts Community Energy Foundation did not go ahead. However, the project produced research and a suite of tools that are expected to significantly lower barriers to entry for any Council or community seeking to develop a community energy project, particularly in the form of a Community Energy Foundation. The case study and associated toolkit maps the project journey from mid-2017 to mid-2020, so that other local governments and communities can learn from our experience.

Project outputs and outcomes

The project produced a publicly available case study and toolkit, including:

• Project case study
• Program design
  • Concept Plan
  • Program Design Report
• Recommendations for Local Governments
• Legal advice
  • Request for legal advice
  • Summary of draft legal advice, with key decisions
  • Final letter of legal advice
• White-labelled governance documents
• Terms of Reference for Interim Committee
• Foundation Constitution
• Inter-Council Funding Agreement
• Request for Proposals from Electricity Retailers
• Communications resources:
  • Community Engagement Plan
  • Draft engagement materials
  • Briefing for elected members
  • Presentation to elected members

Project distribution

The outcomes of the project can be accessed online. They have also been shared with other Regional Climate Partnerships and members of the Adaptation Practitioners Network that are known to be exploring community energy options.

Performance measures

Successful delivery and acceptance by RH&C partner councils (Adelaide Hills Council, Alexandrina Council, City of Victor Harbor, District Council of Mount Barker, District Council of Yankalilla, and Kangaroo Island Council) of the project outputs.

Evaluation

Feedback and endorsement was sought and received for each of the project outputs. The outputs also informed the unanimous decision of RH&C partner Councils to not pursue the Community Energy Foundation further, due reasons outlined in the case study.

Project co-ordinators Mark Przibilla (CVH), Resilient Hills and Coast Regional Co-ordinator Jen St Jack and Graeme Martin (S&HLGA).