Utilacor helps Regional Business apply for Electrical Access Program (REAP)

RIDF: Regional Infrastructure Development Fund was developed by the Victorian Government to improve and enhance the economic and social situation in country Victoria through the funding of capital projects which benefit regional communities.

Utilacor has been providing assistance to clients in regional areas to overcome cost hurdles in developing local electrical infrastructure. Making new electrical connections to developments in remote areas can be very expensive. With Utilacor's assistance, Regional Development Victoria (RDV) has developed the REAP program that will provide a significant incentive to consumers to extend their electrical infrastructure where it can be shown there will be a community benefit as a result of the works. RDV has allocated up to 10 million dollars for the REAP program, (although it has not yet been publicly announced).

The REAP program will be available over the next 12 months and applications will need to be submitted to RDV during this period. RDV is expected to assess the community benefits upon completion of the 12 months and based on this may make a decision to extend the program into the future.

Utilacor believes that this initiative will provide a significant boost to regional Victoria and would encourage any businesses that are undertaking development during this period to contact Utilacor or RDV directly to discuss how an application can be made. To help ensure the success of this program Utilacor is keen to assist businesses with the application process.

The RIDF program has thus far spent $370.8 million on 154 projects, helping businesses and other organisations with infrastructure developments, which not only benefit them but also regional communities.

If you are about to extend or build new electrical infrastructure in order to grow your business, we have experienced Project Design & Management staff to research and prepare for the infrastructure project, and provide expert advice with regard to the criteria for obtaining funding for suitable projects.

There is a very specific criterion for REAP funding, for example:

• A customer contribution is required for a new or upgraded electricity supply connection to proceed. The customer has requested a connection offer from the power distributor and the distributor has advised the customer that the expected revenue stream is insufficient to fund the supply connection, and therefore the customer needs to contribute towards the cost of the connection works.
  
• The work required would result in a community benefit from improved electrical distribution infrastructure that is likely to be utilised within the foreseeable future. This would be confirmed with the distributor and/or Council;


• The connection is in a regional council area (i.e. meets RIDF location requirement); and The proposed power connection would service a project that provides economic benefits, for example measured in direct jobs and/or investment of funds, new exports or import replacement.

Grants are provided on a Dollar for Dollar basis (i.e. up to 50% funding) if significant community benefit is demonstrated through additional network capacity, and at a reduced ratio if the community benefit is deemed to be smaller in relation to the overall project. A grant would not be offered if a broader community benefit of additional network capacity cannot be demonstrated.

For farmers and remote businesses trying to improve their water supplies and require new or upgraded electrical infrastructure, Utilacor is able to manage the infrastructure construction process.

Case Study

Utilacor recently represented a large Agribusiness and during the design and negotiation phases of the multimillion dollar electricity distribution extension, discussions were initiated with RIDF Regional Development Victoria. Utilacor produced a model for Regional Infrastructure Development Funding for the project, our client was one of the first businesses to receive REAP funding for the extension works project.
The REAP program is applicable to regional Victoria -Utilacor can represent consumers in any state and similar programs exist in most other states - Please call Utilacor to discuss further.