Solar power delivers $185,000 in savings for remote communities

The Federal and WA State Governments have delivered more than $185,000 in energy‑saving credits to households in the Kimberley, supporting cleaner, more reliable and lower-cost energy for remote First Nations communities.

Horizon Power’s Kimberley Communities Solar Saver program has supported households unable to afford individual rooftop solar. Instead, solar panels are installed across selected homes, with the credits shared among the community.

KCSS now provides energy‑saving credits to approximately 435 homes across five communities, saving around $450 per household each year.

Lowering electricity costs

WA’s Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the government was committed to delivering the energy transition in some of the most remote corners of the country.

“Through the Kimberley Communities Solar Saver, households that have traditionally been unable to access rooftop solar are seeing real benefits, with cleaner, more affordable and more reliable power,” she said.

The program commenced in Warmun in June 2024 with the installation of 0.42 megawatts of rooftop solar, reducing reliance on high-cost diesel generation and lowering electricity costs for approximately 80 homes with pre-paid meters.

Rooftop solar

KCSS has since expanded to Bidyadanga, Ardyaloon, Yungngora and Beagle Bay, with a total of 1.38 megawatts of rooftop solar installed across approximately 125 systems in the five communities.

The program is due to expand to Mowanjum later this year, its sixth Kimberley community.

The Kimberley Communities Solar Saver project is delivered through the $10.56 million Albanese and Cook Labor Governments’ Community Solar Banks partnership.