The Challenge
As the energy transition accelerates, AGL is focused on helping to connect every customer to a sustainable future through electrification, while actively balancing the need to support them when they need it most. Core to this is recognising the ongoing cost-of-living pressures and how AGL proactively engages with customers experiencing financial hardship and other challenges. What is the part the employer and employee can play in addressing these challenges? How can the united desire to support and enhance community resilience be realised?
The Solution
AGL Energy curated the 'Power to Give' program as a strategic initiative to address these challenges. Top-down and bottom-up, the partnership is both executive and employee engaged. In partnering with The Salvation Army, AGL committed its resources to supporting communities where they are based and brought its workforce along. Employee engagement is at the heart of Power to Give, with significant grass roots involvement in the variety of initiatives available. From payroll giving, fundraising, volunteer leave, and matching incentives. Now in its third decade, the layers of the partnership is delivering in many ways:
- Employees are able to pledge pre-tax donations via the Good2Give platform, where the partnership with The Salvation Army is highlighted
- The business matches these donations, doubling the funding received
- Employees are encouraged to fundraise and again have the funding doubled by Power to Give, as is the case with the Red Shield Appeal which includes $1:1 matching by AGL
- Intentional volunteering to deliver Salvos work is supported via team-led initiatives such as Christmas Hampers Drive and is enabled with volunteer leave by AGL
- Disaster response including enabling immediate on-the-ground crisis support, such as during Tropical Cyclone Alfred in 2025
- Cross collaboration across the energy sector to serve Salvos on-the-ground program.
This collaboration has enabled AGL to make a meaningful impact on the individuals and communities in need.
The Results
The 'Power to Give' program has yielded significant results. AGL's annual contribution of $100,000 to the 'Light the Way' initiative has been pivotal. In just one year, Power to Give enables the initiative to provide:
- Almost 120 beds of emergency accommodation for Australians escaping crisis
- Bill payment assistance for 160+ families during the Christmas period
- Medical cost support for 300 people
- 360+ sessions of financial counselling.
These metrics underscore the program's success in delivering critical aid and improving the lives of those in vulnerable circumstances.
