SA community housing tenants access cheap electricity in Australian-first partnership

In an Australian first, 1750 community housing tenants are being invited to access the lowest electricity prices in South Australia through a virtual power plant previously accessible only to public housing residents. 

Unity Housing, one of the state’s largest community housing providers (CHP), in partnership with Tesla, will be the first CHP to provide tenants access to South Australia’s Virtual Power Plant (SAVPP) – the largest VPP in the nation. 


This is the first time the SAVPP – set up by Tesla in 2017 with support from the State Government initially for public housing tenants – is being opened to low to moderate income tenants in community housing. 

Unity Housing CEO Matthew Woodward said the partnership was a game-changer for the national community housing sector, benefiting tenant households and the environment. 


Mr Woodward said Tesla would install batteries and/or solar panels to the homes of eligible Unity Housing tenants so they could generate and store green energy, returning excess into the grid, at no cost to the tenant. 


“Unity Housing tenants will be the first in the community housing sector to share the benefits of cheaper and renewable energy at scale by participating in this scheme at a time when household budgets are under increasing pressure from rising living costs,” he said. 


“That’s what makes this initiative so important – it provides people in greatest need with no-cost green energy infrastructure that will help manage the household budget, reducing stress and anxiety and improving health and wellbeing, while helping the environment. It’s a win, win, win.” 

Minster for Housing and Urban Development Nick Champion said this initiative would provide real savings to lower income earners. 


“The increasing cost of living is a real issue being felt across Adelaide and initiatives like the SA Virtual Power Plant will make a genuine difference to the tenants at Unity Housing,” said Mr Champion. 


“It’s important we continue to look at various ways to make housing more affordable and this partnership is an example of what can be achieved when the Government works with community housing providers to change the lives of South Australians doing it tough.” 


Tesla, through Energy Locals, shares the benefits of savings from energy produced via the solar and battery systems by providing tenants the lowest energy prices in SA. 



Unity Housing tenants could save up to $562 a year – or 25 per cent off the South Australian Default Market Offer based on average tenant household usage. 

To date, more than 250 Unity Housing tenants, located predominantly across Adelaide’s western suburbs, have registered to join the SAVPP and more than 150 have been benefitting from cheaper electricity over the past three months through the installation of batteries and/or solar panels. 


The combined yearly impact of all 7,000 SAVPP sites installed by the end of 2024 amounts to an indicative reduction in emissions of 20,825 tonnes of CO2-e per year.* 


Unity Housing provides safe, secure and sustainable homes for South Australians with diverse needs including those on low to moderate incomes; at risk of or experiencing homelessness; and/or living with disability – all of whom may have difficulty obtaining or maintaining housing in the public or private market. 


*Calculated using average SAVPP solar generation data per site per year, average yearly electricity consumption in South Australian homes and a scope 2 emissions factor for the South Australian grid from 2020 National Greenhouse Accounts Factor data 


Share This Article

Other articles you may like

Housing is not a noun; it’s a verb

August 10, 2025
The AHI acknowledges the tireless efforts of those working within the homelessness sector, supporting the thousands of people experiencing homelessness and searching for meaningful pathways to live normal, productive and healthy lives. Our #HomelessnessWeek2025 sector forum in Sydney saw over 150 leaders, workers, politicians, policy makers, social impact collaborators, change makers and – most importantly - people with lived experience come together to talk about the impact of homelessness and share innovative responses within our community. Collaboration is key and the vibe in the room was inspiring. Real people making real differences. But we know it is far from enough and we must all strive to do more. We commend the NSW Minns Government, in particular the Hon Rose Jackson MLC, for their bold commitment to ‘make homelessness rare, brief and not repeated because people have a safe home and the support to keep it’ through the release of the NSW Homelessness Strategy 2025-2035. Thanks to Rebecca Pinkstone CEO Homes NSW and Dom Rowe CEO Homelessness NSW for their strong leadership and commitment to ending homelessness and providing more people with a home. The AHI continues to support and connect the workers who turn up, show up and get things done. Every single day. For more information, visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/homes-nsw/nsw-government-response-to-homelessness/nsw-homelessness-strategy-2025-2035 #HomelessnessWeek2025 #HomelessnessActionNow #Makeadifference #Leadingchange 
AI governance for community housing

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, REAL COMPLIANCE: AI governance for community housing

By Dentons • June 17, 2025
Love it or hate it, artificial intelligence is here to stay, and it’s playing an increasingly important role in housing. The Dentons team - Michael Park (Partner) and Antonia Hudson (Senior Associate) - provide us with a legal update on the use of AI for the Australian community housing sector, and AI governance tips for leaders of all organisations.
Harry Smith, new Australasian Housing Institute CEO

Australasian Housing Institute announces new Chief Executive Officer, Harry Smith

April 2, 2025
Harry Smith has recently commenced his role at the ahi as CEO after 26 years in the social services and government sectors across a range of diverse responsibilities. Harry brings a wealth of sector-specific knowledge and experience, supporting our members and our wider community.
More Articles