Smart Energy Network have won the SHASA solar bulk buy tender

SHASA is an alliance of members of the Eurobodalla community formed in 2014 with the aim of working with communities to help improve health and sustainability of the lives of locals.

The bulk buy has been extended to Braidwood, which Mrs Macdonald says they have chosen as their base because it gives them the opportunity to “embed ourselves somewhere a bit smaller where we would be in more direct contact with people and feel more a part of the community”.

“We knew there was so much value in progressive rural towns,” she said.

While having won the tender on the price point their business can offer, the Macdonalds are most excited about the fact that they have been able to keep their business local, with a number of their installers coming from Braidwood.

“It’s important to keep these jobs local and to build capacity within regional areas like ours,” Mr Macdonald said.

“Too often these opportunities are awarded to big companies from the capital cities with a workforce that blows in and then blows out.”

The price that Smart Energy Network was able to offer was 36 per cent cheaper than the average tender and 12 per cent cheaper than the national average.

Mrs Macdonald attributes their competitive prices to their business’s focus on on local providers and Australian made products.

We’re beyond excited to offer both an Australian made solar panel and battery as part of our winning submission… it’s our way of supporting Aussie jobs and innovation,” she said. 

Mrs Macdonald encouraged Braidwood locals to sign up for the community tender, saying that alongside the bulk buy prices, their business offers access to “very highly qualified installers” and has been third party reviewed by the Alternative Technology Association.

Smart Energy Network will have a community information session on Thursday, November 24, 6.30 for 7pm at the Braidwood National Theatre on Wallace Street.