Nine community organisations in South-East Queensland will share in $500,000 of funding provided by AGL Energy Limited (AGL) to support low income and vulnerable consumers to find the best energy plan for their individual needs and help them save on their electricity bills.

AGL is providing the funds under its $6.5 million Affordability Initiative which was launched in 2014 to support vulnerable energy customers. The funds are being managed by the Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) under the Queensland Government’s Switched on Communities program.

AGL’s Executive General Manager Energy Markets, Stephen Mikkelsen said AGL’s financial commitment to the program is targeted to help lower income and vulnerable consumers to get the most out of the retail electricity reforms that came into effect on 1 July 2016.

“We recognise that vulnerable consumers often spend proportionately more of their day-to-day living expenses on essential needs such as electricity,” Mr Mikkelsen said.

“AGL is actively working to improve the availability and accessibility of support information and programs, for which vulnerable customers may be eligible. We are committed to working with governments and community groups, through a variety of programs, to deliver effective support.”
Community organisations receiving the funding under the Switched on Communities program include:

- Salvation Army
- Multilink Community Services
- Queenslanders with Disability Network
- COTA Qld
- Laidley & District Community Organisation
- Coast2Bay Housing Group
- Encircle
- Mangrove Housing
- Palm Beach Neighbourhood Centre

The support programs will reach Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, seniors, people with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people facing financial hardship, as well as people not yet fully engaged in South-East Queensland’s energy market.

For more information visit www.qcoss.org.au

About AGL

AGL is one of Australia’s leading integrated energy companies. It is taking action to responsibly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions while providing secure and affordable energy to its customers. Drawing on over 175 years of experience, AGL serves its customers throughout eastern Australia with meeting their energy requirements, including gas, electricity, solar PV and related products and services. AGL has a diverse power generation portfolio including base, peaking and intermediate generation plants, spread across traditional thermal generation as well as renewable sources including hydro, wind, solar, landfill gas and biomass.