Households in Kimberly are set to save on their energy bills, Horizon Power’s rooftop solar program powers up.
Jointly funded by the Federal and Western Australian governments, the Kimberley Communities Solar Savers (KCSS) program is expected to install up to 300 rooftop solar systems across five communities – with a combined capacity of 2MW – delivering an average annual household savings of approximately $450 in energy costs to approximately 430 households.
Horizon Power said more than $60,000 in energy saving credits have already been delivered to two remote communities in the Kimberley, with rooftop solar systems installed in the remote communities of Warmun and Bidyadanga. Work in a third community, Ardyaloon, is underway.
Horizon Power Acting CEO, Krystal Skinner, said the utility is proud the Kimberley Communities Solar Saver is already having an impact, delivering lower energy bills for residents in Warmun and Bidyadanga.
“We look forward to extending the project to other communities in the region, helping to ease cost-of-living pressures for other residents,” she said.
The program, a collaboration between Horizon Power and the Western Australian Department of Communities, aims to deliver a just energy transition by enabling remote communities that were locked out of the benefits of rooftop solar to access renewable energy and save on energy bills.
The program was announced in November 2023 as part of broader activities being funded by a $12.6 million investment from the State Government and $7.3 million from the Federal Government, under their Community Solar Banks program.
The program started in Warmun, with Horizon Power installing 422kW of rooftop solar, resulting in lower energy bills for all residents and reducing reliance on expensive diesel generators.
While not all homes in Warmun have been fitted with a solar system, the benefits of renewables are being shared with the 78 properties in the community.
Since August 2024, KCSS has delivered nearly $30,000 in energy saving credits to community members.
Following the Warmun success, Horizon Power has installed 356.4kW of rooftop solar across 33 properties in Bidyadanga. The 133 households received their second round of energy saving credits in late April 2025, with the community receiving approximately $33,000 in total credit since installations were completed.
Work in the Dampier Peninsula community of Ardyaloon is underway, with approximately 21 homes to receive rooftop solar systems. About 85 households will have access to the benefits of renewables when installations are completed.
Federal Climate Change and Energy Minister, Chris Bowen, said the Federal Government is partnering with the Western Australian Government to make sure remote communities are taking part in the clean energy transition.
“This is what a fairer energy system looks like – shared solar cutting bills, easing cost-of-living pressures and reducing reliance on expensive diesel,” Mr Bowen said.
“We’ll keep working with communities and states like Western Australia to deliver cleaner, cheaper energy for more Australians, no matter where they live.”
Western Australian Energy and Decarbonation Minister, Amber-Jade Sanderson, said this project is a wonderful example of shared assets bringing direct benefits to remote communities.
“Instead of relying solely on diesel generators, community residents can benefit from shared solar power, resulting in a cleaner and cheaper type of energy,” Ms Sanderson said.
“Kimberley Communities Solar Saver is like a solar farm, using residential rooftops instead of land, with the benefits being equally distributed among the community customers.
“The Western Australian Government continues to support bespoke programs that aim to provide benefits to our more vulnerable communities – customers with limited opportunity to seek alternative energy sources to help reduce their energy bills.”
