Media Release

Essential Energy is happy to announce the 2023 Community Choices Champions, after receiving almost 170,000 votes.

Since June, organisations have been able to nominate for the program, with more than 490 making it through to the voting stage.

Essential Energy runs the Community Choices Program each year, providing $250,000 in funding across 95% of NSW, and parts of southern Queensland, with the community deciding which groups receive the funding.

Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Anne Pearson said, “We are proud to support grassroot organisations through our Community Choices program and are delighted to see it grow each year.

“With our employees living and working in the communities we serve, Essential Energy remains committed to supporting the many registered charities, not-for-profit and community groups, community halls, schools and sporting clubs across our network.”

This year Essential Energy increased funding to a total of $250,000 to be shared between eligible groups across 20 zones throughout their network footprint. This meant $5,000 being available to groups with the most votes in their region, then the amounts for second and third place also increased to $3,500 and $2,750 respectively.

Groups from small communities with populations less than 10,000 were also again able to nominate and get their community voting to help them access $1,250 funding for the group with the most votes.

“Congratulations to all our winners and thank you to everyone who nominated and voted for their favourite group. These organisations are truly the backbone of our communities, and they deserve our ongoing support,” Anne concluded.

Visit essentialenergy.com.au/choices to reveal the Essential Energy Community Choices Champions for 2023.