Powering Affordable Housing with Smart Energy: How Embedded Networks Create Real Benefits for Tenants

At Energy On, we believe everyone deserves access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy, regardless of where they live or their financial situation. That belief is at the core of our work with Homes Victoria, where we proudly serve as the local energy network operator (LENO) at three newly awarded developments across Melbourne. These award-winning sites have been recognised not just for architectural excellence, but for their innovation in energy efficiency, sustainability, and social impact. As the local energy network operator, our role has been to ensure that residents, many of whom are vulnerable or on low incomes, are not left behind in the clean energy transition.

What is a Local Energy Network?

In Victoria, a LEN is a private energy network within a building or precinct where electricity is purchased in bulk and shared across tenants. It enables better pricing, infrastructure efficiencies, and opportunities to integrate renewable energy like solar and battery storage. These energy networks are also known as embedded networks.

At affordable housing sites, this model is especially powerful. Instead of each tenant being on a separate retail electricity plan, often with limited options or support, Energy On provides a community-minded solution that shares cost savings and environmental benefits across all residents.

Bringing Clean Energy to the Community

At the Homes Victoria developments, we’ve helped deliver LENs designed with people and the planet in mind. These systems include solar panels, efficient hot water infrastructure, and smart metering that supports better usage awareness and billing transparency.

The outcome? Residents benefit from lower energy invoices, greener power, and a more resilient energy service tailored to community needs, not just commercial priorities.

Affordable Housing Deserves Affordable Energy

Too often, tenants in community housing miss out on the benefits of renewable energy. Rooftop solar on detached homes is common, but apartments and social housing sites are often left behind due to regulatory complexity, split incentives, and infrastructure challenges.

Energy On is changing that. We work closely with community housing providers, governments and developers to design embedded networks and local energy networks that not only meet compliance but champion energy fairness. We believe embedded networks should be designed to serve people, not profit from them.

Advocating for a Better Future

Our vision is to help future-proof affordable housing by embedding smart energy systems that reduce costs, lower emissions, and increase resilience. We continue to advocate at government and industry levels for reforms that support embedded networks in social and community housing, making it easier to share the advantages of solar, batteries, and energy efficiency. This includes working with the government to support concessions and grants for vulnerable customers, not just in Victoria, but also supporting embedded network customers in New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania.

Affordable housing must include affordable utilities. That’s not just good policy, it’s a matter of equity, dignity and common sense.

In Partnership with Purpose

We thank Homes Victoria for their vision and leadership in making sustainable, affordable living a reality. And we’re proud to support these communities with embedded network services that make a real difference in people’s lives.

Want to learn more about how embedded networks can support your community or development? Visit www.energyon.com.au or get in touch by phone on 1300 323 263.