At a glance
- When
- Nine sessions between Saturday 28 November 2026 and Tuesday 1 June 2027; the first is the EV and Energy community event at Manly on 28 November, 9am to 3pm
- Where
- Manly Beach Promenade, Narrabeen, Forestville, Mona Vale, Dee Why, Brookvale, Manly and Frenchs Forest libraries, and one online webinar
- Cost
- Free; the webinar needs registration and the other sessions are drop-in with no booking
- Run by
- Northern Beaches Council’s sustainability team, through its Charge Ahead program
- Who it’s for
- Northern Beaches households thinking about solar, a battery, an electric vehicle or lower energy bills, and apartment owners
- What to do now
- Bring a recent electricity bill to a drop-in session, or book the free 20-minute call; the NSW apartment solar grant for strata buildings closes on 4 December 2026
- Last checked
- Monday 9 November 2026, against the council’s information sessions page and each event page
- Not yet confirmed
- Whether more sessions will be added after June 2027 (the council page lists none)
Northern Beaches Council runs nine free energy advice sessions between 28 November 2026 and 1 June 2027, and it offers any resident a free 20-minute phone or video call with an independent energy and solar expert. This guide lists every session with its date, time and venue, explains the free call, and summarises the rebates and grants the council points to. Sydney is on daylight saving time until early April, so the sessions up to March are in AEDT and the later ones are in AEST.
The information comes from the council’s solar and energy information sessions page and the pages linked in the Sources list, read on 9 November 2026.
When and where are the sessions?
| Date | Time | Session | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 28 Nov 2026 | 9am to 3pm | EV and Energy community event | Manly Beach Promenade, opposite Manly Corso |
| Tue 1 Dec 2026 | 6:30pm to 8pm | Cheaper bills and a cool home this summer (webinar) | Online; registration essential |
| Tue 8 Dec 2026 | 10am to 12pm | Solar and Energy Roadshow | Tramshed Arts and Community Centre, 1395A Pittwater Road, Narrabeen |
| Thu 28 Jan 2027 | 10am to 12pm | Solar and Energy Roadshow | Forestville Library, 6 Darley Street |
| Tue 16 Feb 2027 | 10am to 12pm | Solar and Energy Roadshow | Mona Vale Library, 1 Park Street |
| Fri 12 Mar 2027 | 10:30am to 2pm | Solar and Energy Roadshow at the Dee Why RSL Seniors Festival | Dee Why RSL, 932 Pittwater Road |
| Thu 15 Apr 2027 | 10am to 12pm | Solar and Energy Roadshow | Warringah Mall Library, Brookvale |
| Thu 20 May 2027 | 2pm to 4pm | Solar and Energy Roadshow | Manly Library, 1 Market Place |
| Tue 1 Jun 2027 | 10am to 12pm | Solar and Energy Roadshow | Glen Street Library, corner of Glen Street and Blackbutts Road, Frenchs Forest |
The council describes the roadshow sessions as free drop-in events for Northern Beaches residents, with no bookings required. At each one you can chat with the council’s sustainability team about solar and batteries, rebates, electrifying your home and cutting your energy bill, and the council asks you to bring your electricity bill.
What happens at the EV and Energy event on 28 November?
It is a free drop-in event on the Manly Beach Promenade, opposite the Corso, from 9am to 3pm. The council says it is brought to you by the NSW Government in partnership with the council, with experts from the NSW Government, the council, the Australian Electric Vehicle Association, Ausgrid and independent specialist services. Topics are electric vehicles, charging, solar, batteries, home electrification, energy efficiency, solar and EV charging for strata, active transport and road safety.
You can visit information stalls, learn about government programs and incentives, and have a free one-to-one consultation with a specialist from the council’s Energy and Solar Expert Advisory Service. The council lists family-friendly activities: EV slot car racing, free popcorn and a smoothie-making bike. For questions, the council gives 1300 434 434.
Can I get free advice without going to a session?
Yes. The council’s Energy and Solar Expert Advisory Service offers Northern Beaches residents a free 20-minute phone or video conversation with an independent expert, except on public holidays. You choose a time on the council’s booking form. The experts can discuss energy efficiency, solar including solar for strata, solar batteries, electrification including electric hot water, EV charging and related questions. The council says the details you provide are used only to give you more accurate advice and are shared only with the expert you talk to.
What is the cool home webinar on 1 December?
The webinar runs from 6:30pm to 8pm on Tuesday 1 December 2026 and is free, but registration is essential. The council lists these topics:
- Improving comfort through insulation, shading and ventilation.
- Fans versus air conditioning, and which is cheaper to run.
- Choosing the right cooling and heating technology for your home.
- Reducing the energy use of pool pumps and pool heating.
- Prioritising upgrades for the best return on investment.
- Government rebates and incentives.
- Finding reputable installers and comparing quotes.
The council also keeps recordings of recent webinars on solar, batteries and virtual power plants, solar and EV charging for apartments, making the switch to an EV, passive design and energy efficiency, and electrifying your home or business. It says recordings stay available for a minimum of three months after the webinar.
What grants and rebates does the council point to?
| Scheme | What the council says |
|---|---|
| NSW Energy Savings Scheme (household upgrades) | Upfront discounts, built into the installer’s quote, for batteries, battery sign-up to a virtual power plant, air conditioners and hot water systems; only installers partnered with an accredited certificate provider can offer them |
| Cheaper Home Batteries Program (federal) | Began on 1 July 2025 and replaced the NSW battery discount |
| Home Energy Saver (NSW) | A discount of up to $4,000 or a zero-interest loan of up to $15,000 for a house or apartment |
| Solar for apartment residents (NSW) | For strata-managed buildings with a shared rooftop: grants cover 50% of the cost up to $150,000; applications close on 4 December 2026 |
| Household Energy Upgrades Fund (federal) | A $1 billion low-cost finance fund run by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation for solar, batteries, heating and cooling and EV chargers |
| Electric Vehicle Ready Buildings Grant | Applications are closed, though started applications can be completed through the Energy NSW website |
| Rebate swap for solar offer | Closed |
The council’s rebates page also lists the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme, which began in 2022 and runs to 2050, and GreenPower, which you can choose through your electricity retailer. The council page summarises each scheme only briefly and links to its own website.
What does the council say about buying and charging an EV?
The council’s EV page says charging at home with solar or an off-peak electricity plan can reduce running costs. Home charging uses either a standard household outlet (Level 1) or a dedicated fast charger (Level 2), and public chargers are shown on the NSW Government electric vehicle charging map. The council says it supports new public charging in line with its EV Charging Infrastructure Plan and, in 2026, will seek interest from charge point operators to apply for dedicated public EV charging spaces. It suggests test driving before you buy and comparing models on the Vehicle Emissions Star Rating website, and says a fringe benefits tax exemption applies to EVs bought through a novated lease, which you should check with the ATO.
Is there anything for businesses?
The council’s page points business owners to the Sustainability Business Network events listing. The roadshow sessions are described as for Northern Beaches residents.
Sources
- Northern Beaches Council: solar and energy information sessions, read 9 November 2026
- EV and Energy Community Event, Manly
- Cheaper bills and a cool home this summer webinar
- Narrabeen Tramshed roadshow and Dee Why RSL roadshow
- Energy and Solar Expert Advisory Service, rebates and incentives and electric vehicles
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Northern Beaches Council, the NSW Government or the organisations named above.
Featured image: An electric vehicle charging station in Ravensthorpe, Western Australia (photo: Chuq / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)