Our Mission

Cooperative Power’s mission is to take the power back from large for profit corporate energy companies and give it to the people. We believe in putting the power back in people’s hands to fight for a fair energy system. This is why we are a non-profit cooperative.

We deliver a range of affordable energy services and products, facilitate democratic solutions to social and environmental problems, and assist members and the community to transition away from fossil fuels for their energy needs.

We provide competitively priced electricity and gas to households across Australia. We support community owned renewable energy. We also support households to reduce their energy use to save through a range of energy efficiency initiatives.

Instead of spending huge amounts of money on advertising and executive bonuses, our customer members vote on how we maximise our impact. This furthers our mission of bettering community and planet including us investing in the Goulburn Community Solar Project, the Solar and battery system in Deir Al Sudan Women’s Cooperative and the Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network Grassroots Gathering [2024]

 

Our Structure

CoPower (Co-operative Power Australia Limited, ABN 91 297 604 640) is a registered non-distributing co-operative. This means there are two key parts of our organisational structure. First, we are a co-operative. We run on a one member, one vote basis as opposed to a traditional corporation that runs on a one dollar, one vote basis. Second, we are not allowed to distribute any surplus from our activities to our member-owners. We have to reinvest back into the community in ways that fulfil our mission.

Check out our co-operative’s rules.

 

FAQ’s:

Do you supply 100% renewable energy?
Unfortunately not, no one can. The reality is that all retailers sell electricity from an energy grid made up of both clean and dirty energy, so even if you wanted to, you can’t opt in to only buy renewable energy.

What are your rates?
Our rates change depending on where in Australia you’re located. You can search your property’s address in form and it will provide you with the rates in your area. You can also send us an email of a recent invoice to our email address below and we can do a free our no-obligation bill comparison and send it back to you.

Email: [email protected]

Do you support new renewable energy and battery generators?
Yes! A recent example is our Goulburn Community Solar Project

Do your wholesale rates fluctuate wildly throughout the day?
No! Our rates are wholesale in terms of us not profiting on the energy usage. Our rate structures are set (other than those with typical Time Of Use tariffs) so you don’t have to worry about energy costs spiking at any moment throughout the day.

If your rates are wholesale how do you profit?
We don’t! Our rates don’t include any profit margin off energy use or daily supply charge. We have a monthly membership fee which covers our overheads. 

Cooperative Power is owned by members. Our first service is offering retail electricity with our product partner Energy Locals. They’re Australian based and operated, and share our goal of a sustainable and affordable energy future.

Who are Energy Locals and what is your relationship with them?

Energy Locals is our product partner and a provider making energy cheaper, cleaner, and fairer for Australia. While Cooperative Power is owned by members, our first service is offering retail electricity and gas with our Energy Locals. They’re Australian based and operated, and share our goal of a sustainable and affordable energy future.

Energy Locals also support us with a retail energy service so we can participate in the retail energy market. They sit behind the scenes most of the time but their team provide the customer support and send you your bills.

We both share similar values, but have different visions to achieve them. Energy Locals also provides its services for other organisations.

Energy Locals’ major investor is Quinbrook Infrastructure Partner who are a progressive, renewable energy infrastructure fund.

Our Members

Cooperative Power is owned by members. We are made up of member organisations that themselves must be democratic, member-led organisations including community organisations, trade unions and other co-operatives.

Our current members include:

• Environment Victoria 
• The United Workers Union
• The Community and Public Sector Union – Victoria
• The Australian Services Union -Services and Authorities Victoria and Tasmania Branch
• The Australian Services Union – Victorian Private Branch 
• The Australian Education Union
• National Tertiary Education Union
• Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions Inc
• The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation- Victoria Branch 
• Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA
• Voices of the Valley
• Earthworker Cooperative
• Pre-Power Coop 1
• The Australian Education Union
• The Surf Coast Energy Group
• The Victorian Trades Hall Social Committee
• Friends of the Earth Melbourne
• The Energy Innovation Cooperative
• Australian Unemployed Workers Union
• Port Philip Energy Cooperative
• The Uniting Church of Australia – Victoria and Tasmania Synod
• Renters and Housing Union

If you’d like your organisation to join up as a member and have a democratic say in how we fulfil our mission then feel free to contact us at [email protected]

Switch to CoPower

 

Do you like what you’ve seen? Join our community and increase our impact by switching your household energy to CoPower today.