Participation grants will support and accommodate advocates engagement in government processes, regulatory and policy reviews, and projects targeting the energy sector as a whole.

Funding of up to $15,000 (ex-GST) is provided to support and accommodate advocate engagement in government, regulatory and or industry decision making processes, recognising the need for consumers to respond within short timeframes.

They will support and accommodate advocates engagement and decision making in: 

• government; 
• regulatory and policy reviews; and 
• the energy sector as a whole.

Examples of activities that may be funded include:

• engaging a consultant to provide technical or specialist expertise for a submission; 
• undertaking research; 
• undertaking workshops; and 
• funding for reasonable travel costs (flights, accommodation, transfers) to engage in government, regulatory and industry forums relating to that process, and where video conferencing is not provided.

Eligibility criteria;

To be eligible applicants must be a not-for-profit organisation, with a purpose or mandate that permits them to be an advocate for residential and small business energy consumers, or a bona fide research organisation with a public purpose. The proposed project must demonstrate how it will build knowledge and/or sectoral capacity supporting policy development and consumer education in the National Energy Market.

• Email: grants@energyconsumersaustralia.com.au