Driving Sustainable Change: Highlights from 2024 DCEP Annual Report

Plico members made a positive impact on the planet, the grid and the wider community in 2023-2024, as detailed in the 2024 DCEP Annual Report launched recently. The report highlights the invaluable contributions of DCEP, the not-for-profit community arm of Plico, in ensuring that Plico membership fees drive sustainable change in our communities.

The Annual Report reflects a year of substantial achievements and growth, made possible by the collective efforts of DCEP, Plico and the Plico community.

Community Fund

The Community Fund is available to community groups wanting to build resilient and sustainable communities. It allows the impact of Plico to go further than the grid, supporting the broader community to drive positive change.

“While all of us, as Plico members, are contributing personally towards the renewable energy agenda, we are also contributing to broader community sustainability objectives through DCEP.” Neil Shipley, Chair of DCEP

In 2023-2024, the Plico Community Fund supported six worthwhile projects that embodied the DCEP strategic objectives of advancing sustainability, clean energy, and environmental conservation.

Projects funded included:

• Reclink Community Cup and Reclink 2024 Programs
• Southern Peaks 2023 Mountain Bike Event
• Dunsborough Street Party
• Murdoch University Taxonomy Tournament at Perth Children’s Hospital
• Busselton-Dunsborough Environment Centre – St Mary MacKillop School Planting (2023 funding)
• Innovative Cluster – Future Founders Youth Entrepreneurship Program
• Daily Grind for Dementia

Hardship Support

The Hardship Fund, another significant initiative facilitated by DCEP, provided direct support to six Plico members facing temporary financial difficulties. The fund underscores the Plico community's commitment to supporting one another through challenging times, ensuring that they can continue to benefit from clean energy technology without undue financial stress.

Plico Performance

The Annual Report also details the achievements of the Plico fleet of clean energy systems in 2023-2024, which continued to demonstrate strong growth and performance. Installations increased significantly, almost doubling the total battery storage to 24.7 MWh. Almost 20,000 MWh of solar energy was produced with just under 7,000 MWh of energy exported to the grid. Collectively, the Plico community reduced CO2 equivalent emissions by an incredible 11,721 tonnes.

These achievements not only have a direct benefit to Plico members who reduce their energy bills and increase their energy independence, but they also make a big difference to the planet and speed up the clean energy transition.

DCEP Committee

The incredible impact of the Community Fund and Hardship Fund is made possible by the dedicated efforts of the voluntary members of the DCEP Committee. The Committee is responsible for deciding how membership fees are invested, maximising the benefits for both individual members and the broader community. Strategic planning and decision-making in 2023-2024 facilitated the streamlining of the grants process, ensuring that funds are allocated efficiently and effectively. Under the leadership of Chair Neil Shipley, the committee has successfully navigated challenges and leveraged opportunities to advance their community outreach goals.

Looking ahead - Plico Community Council

At the DCEP AGM in November 2024, the Plico community unanimously endorsed a name change for DCEP to Plico Community Council. The DCEP name paid homage to our early beginnings in Dunsborough, WA, as the Dunsborough Community Energy Project. With the Plico community now extending far beyond this region, it was time to find a name that better represented our growing community and the work of its community arm.

The Plico Community Council is focussed on the future and delivering real outcomes for the environment, community, and the clean energy transition.

For more information, read the 2024 DCEP Annual Report.

If you have a question for Plico or would like to join our community of change-makers, please get in touch with our switched-on team on 1300 175 426 or ask us a question in the form below.

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