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Horizon Power puts residents’ monthly bill credits at roughly $30-$35 ($21-$25).
Photo Credit: iStock
Households in remote Australia don’t necessarily need panels on their own roofs to save money from solar — hundreds are seeing lower electricity bills through a program that shares the benefits of rooftop installations with neighboring homes.
For the 495 households sharing the savings, customer credits have added up to about 275,000 Australian dollars (about $194,000), according to Horizon Power data cited by RenewEconomy. The credits are generated by rooftop systems installed on 183 homes.
The Kimberley Communities Solar Saver program serves Mowanjum, Warmun, Bidyadanga, Ardyaloon, Yungngora, and Beagle Bay.
About 1.5 megawatts of generating capacity is spread across rooftop systems averaging 8.2 kilowatts each. Horizon Power installed the panels over three years.
Horizon Power’s data show the program initially aimed to share the benefits among 433 households. 
It ultimately reached 62 more households than expected, extending bill relief to more neighbors.
Going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy, and solar leases in particular can deliver hundreds of dollars in monthly savings without upfront costs. EasyHome‘s free explorer tool lets you see your potential savings from vetted installers in your area.
Warmun and Bidyadanga were the first communities to receive rooftop systems, according to RenewEconomy.
With energy prices through the roof, there’s never been a better time to go solar — and EasyHome can help you find the best prices from the best installers in your area.
EasyHome takes the guesswork and headaches out of energy upgrades by showing you estimated savings from a network of vetted local partners. To get started, just enter your ZIP and share a few details about your home — seeing your estimate is really that easy.
Over the 61-day billing period covered by Horizon Power’s data, average credits were approximately AU$73 ($51) in Bidyadanga and AU$67 ($47) in Warmun. 
Horizon Power puts residents’ monthly bill credits at roughly AU$30-35 ($21-25).
Since the program began, Horizon Power data show savings of about AU$943 ($665) per household in Warmun, AU$867 ($611) in Bidyadanga, AU$531 ($375) in Ardyaloon, AU$377 ($266) in Yungngora, and AU$132 ($93) in Mowanjum. 
Those figures reflect cumulative savings, not credits from a single billing period.
Beyond providing financial relief, the solar installations have displaced approximately 122,000 liters (32,200 gallons) of diesel fuel, cutting diesel consumption in these communities by roughly 7%.
The rollout covers all six communities, following the last installation in Mowanjum, roughly 6 miles southeast of Derby. 
RenewEconomy reported that Horizon Power received over AU$17 million ($12 million) in public funding for the installations.
Australia’s Solar Sharer scheme aims to encourage electricity use when rooftop solar generation is abundant, offering three hours of free daytime electricity. That scheme is separate from the Kimberley Communities Solar Saver program.
EasyHome‘s free explorer tool can help you compare potential solar savings and explore backup battery storage options. With the right equipment and configuration, pairing solar with a battery lets homeowners maximize savings and keep the lights on when the grid goes down.
Federal assistant energy minister Josh Wilson discussed the benefits of sharing solar power across communities.
“The Kimberley Communities Solar Saver program is demonstrating how shared solar can reduce power bills and improve energy security in remote communities,” he began. 
“By helping more households access the benefits of renewable energy, we are ensuring the energy transition is practical, inclusive and delivers real benefits for communities across regional Australia.”
Rooftop solar and batteries are changing how Australian households power their homes and share electricity.
• Rebates have sparked record home-battery installations, outpacing the country’s rooftop solar boom.
• Australia’s main grid reached 80% renewable electricity on consecutive days, with rooftop solar exceeding half of demand.
• A family weighed a $6,000 solar-plus-battery purchase before Victoria’s rebates ended.
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© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

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