Geraldton Community Energy

Geraldton Community Energy PCLG is a start-up, community-based ‘profit of purpose’ electricity retail enterprise, driven by a focused group of local community members.

 

Community Energy

Community Energy is an emerging sector in Australia, however, in many other parts of the world (particularly Europe), it is the mainstream model and has been around for decades. Community-owned and financed renewable energy infrastructure is also growing fast in the UK, the US and Canada. 

Community Energy enterprises give local groups a chance to take ownership of their energy infrastructure, to deliver long-lasting economic and social benefits, whilst making a significant contribution to reducing climate change. 

Communities across Australia have started the journey towards building their own renewable energy projects utilising a range of technologies including wind, solar, storage and bioenergy. 

We have joined Coalition 4. Community Energy and engaged with Embark wiki. Both are collaborative knowledge bases, who have developed best practice toolkits for developing local renewable energy projects. Articles focus on a range of issues including technical matters, governance, and community engagement. 

Our Values

A PCLG, like a Co-operative, is based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. Seven internationally recognised principles act as guidelines by which PCLG put these values into practice;

  1. Voluntary and open membership
  2. Democratic member control
  3. Member Economic Participation
  4. Autonomy and independence
  5. Education, training & information
  6. Co-operation with other like-minded enterprises
  7. Benefit for the community 

 

Our People

Geraldton Community Energy is governed by a board of three volunteer directiors who are sub-set of the original founders. Supporting the board is a small team of volunteers who provide input through a steering committee function. Our board and steering committee members give their time on a voluntary basis. 

New board members can be elected through an Annual General Meeting.

A company limited by guarantee is a specialised form of public company designed for non-profit organisations. In Australia companies limited by the guarantee are subject to the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and administered by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Like incorporated associations, this legal structure designates an organisation as a separate legal entity. A company limited by guarantee can be sued, legally lease a property, enter into contracts or hold assets in it’s name.