Murra Warra deal to deliver energy savings for Council

Published on 20 May 2021

Electricity cost savings of up to 45 per cent are on the way for Horsham Rural City Council after it joined a group of Victorian Councils switching to a new renewable energy scheme.

From July, HRCC will power all of its electricity use with 100 per cent renewables, including street lighting, council buildings and sporting and other facilities.

Energy will come from the Dundonnell wind farm near Mortlake and the Murra Warra Wind Farm when its second stage begins supplying the energy grid from June 2022.

HRCC is one of 46 Victorian Councils to sign on to VECO, the Victorian Energy Collaboration, the largest ever emissions reduction project by local government in Australia. 

Provided by Red Energy, the 240 GWh of clean power is equivalent to powering 48,000 homes with renewables or removing the emissions from 90,000 cars every year. 

HRCC Chief Executive Officer Sunil Bhalla said VECO was expected to save HRCC up to $100,000 on its annual electricity bill, based on current costs.  

 "Joining VECO will allow our Council to maximise use of renewable clean energy, which will be linked to the output of our local Murra Warra Windfarm," Mr Bhalla said.

"This is a ‘win-win’ for all – clean renewable energy, reduced electricity costs for Council and support of an important local industry set for expansion by June 2022," he said.

The deal is for 240 GWh of electricity over a period of 9.5 years, beginning 1 July 2021.