Continuing the rollout of the CEFC Household Energy Upgrades Fund™ (HEUF), the CEFC is investing up to $35 million in Starling Energy Group, which operates via its retail brand Plico. The investment will help reduce household energy bills and accelerate the rollout of Virtual Power Plant (VPP) services, underpinned by the uptake of Plico's solar and battery systems across Australia.
Starling Energy Group's end-to-end solar, battery and VPP service through Plico helps consumers by reducing energy costs and providing a cheaper energy source while offering lower cost finance. This latest HEUF commitment helps deliver innovative clean energy solutions for Australian households, while enhancing grid reliability and reducing energy costs, and takes total commitments made through the program to more than $380 million.
The HEUF is making clean energy more accessible and affordable for Australians. Through our commitment to Plico, we're helping households take control of their energy use in a way that's simple, flexible and cost-effective. When households join a VPP, they're not only lowering their own bills, they're also helping to support wider grid stability.Grace Tam
CEFC Head of Consumer Finance
A VPP is a digitally connected network of energy assets in homes - like solar panels, and batteries - that work together to deliver reliable, sustainable power to the grid. Starling Energy Group estimates that households accessing Plico's solar, battery, and VPP offerings, could save more than $1,100 annually on energy costs, with CEFC backing providing between $130 and $240 in additional savings annually over ten years.
Households can sign up for a weekly instalment for their solar, battery and VPP package. Plico manage the installation and ongoing management of the systems for the life of the customer membership subscription, providing dedicated support to customers to check systems are functioning as required.
Plico members receive VPP credits when the VPP is called upon to provide essential grid services in times of mismatches between power supply and demand. Homeowners who already have a solar battery system can also join the VPP service to benefit from generating, storing and sharing energy.
CEFC CEO Ian Learmonth said:"As Australia transitions to a more decentralised and decarbonised energy system, new consumer energy models like VPPs are essential. By tapping into the dispatchable energy capacity of households, coordinated technologies like rooftop solar, home batteries and other consumer energy resources can help stabilise the grid, reduce energy costs, improve system reliability, and maximise the value of renewable energy investments. This investment supports long-term energy system efficiency and highlights the role of smart, flexible technology in delivering better outcomes for both consumers and the grid."
CEFC Head of Consumer Finance Grace Tam said, "The HEUF is making clean energy more accessible and affordable for Australians. Through our commitment to Plico, we're helping households take control of their energy use in a way that's simple, flexible and cost-effective. When households join a VPP, they're not only lowering their own bills, they're also helping to support wider grid stability."
Robbie Campbell, CEO of Starling Energy Group said: "Plico is committed to democratising energy through Plico's affordable solar and battery plans, with generous VPP rewards and active participation in grid stability using a model that provides direct and meaningful benefits. There is a real sense that VPP contribution makes a difference to Plico members, both through household earnings, and how they support the greater community through energy resilience. Working with the CEFC enables Starling Energy Group to bring these benefits to even more Australians, making solar and battery even more affordable."
Richard Braakenburg, Co-CIO of Plico backer SUSI Partners, said: "Innovative, smart energy solutions like Plico's will continue to gain in importance in building clean, affordable, and resilient energy systems. By connecting an existing asset base at minimal cost to provide essential grid services, Plico's VPP helps avoid costly investments into grid upgrades while creating a shared profit for the company and its customers. This financing from the CEFC represents a significant milestone for the Plico business and we look forward to a fruitful relationship."
When households access solar, battery and VPP services with Plico, they join thousands of other homes earning rewards from VPP 'events' by sharing excess energy when demand is high and taking pressure off the grid when demand is low to help create a cleaner, more reliable energy system.
In 2024, the Australian Energy Market Operator found that without effective coordination of home battery systems, approximately $4.1 billion1 of additional grid-scale investment would be required to support the National Electricity Market.
About Starling Energy Group and Plico
Starling Energy Group's consumer brand Plico is empowering communities by creating Australia's largest Virtual Power Plant (VPP). Plico provides its members with a solar, battery and VPP solution with a membership-based finance model, with no big upfront costs. Delivered by Starling Energy Group and partnered with SUSI Partners, Plico allows members (currently from communities across WA, but ultimately across Australia) to generate and consume their own clean power, with each individual system aggregated into a VPP. Plico's vision is to accelerate the transition to clean energy by making it accessible to as many Australians as possible, enabling each household to make a difference.
1 Australian Energy Market Operator, 2024 Integrated System Plan for the National Electricity Market , p16.
