The ACT Government will double rebates to remove woodfire heaters from $250 to $500, and offered concession card-holders a $1,250 rebate – part of its campaign to ban wood heaters by 2045.

Additional rebates and interest-free loans are available to install electric heating and cooling.

Rebecca Vassarotti, Minister for the Environment, Parks and Land Management, said that the increased rebates support Canberrans who are concerned about the health impacts of woodfire smoke to remove their woodfire heaters and make their next heating choice electric.

“As someone who grew up in Canberra, I know the gruelling impact Canberra winters can have on home energy bills,” Ms Vassarotti said. “There’s no doubt that in sub-zero temperatures and in a cost-of-living crisis, Canberrans should be focused on keeping themselves and their families warm without breaking the bank.

“Research has shown us that wood heater smoke can have a massive impact of the health of Canberrans over the long term. If they’re not paying the price now, many risk paying the price later in life through doctor’s bills and healthcare costs.

“It’s important to remember that wood heater smoke doesn’t just affect us outside our homes, it seeps into our homes, impacting air quality and the health of our neighbours without us even knowing. This is particularly harmful to people who have respiratory conditions like asthma.

“I’ve spoken to many Canberrans who are keen to transition away from wood heaters, towards clean and green alternatives – and I want to support them through that process. Many have flagged the health concerns, cost savings and the environment as reasons they want to make the switch…

“I would strongly encourage all Canberrans who have a wood heater in their home to get onto Google, look up the options available to you, and consider transitioning to an efficient electric heating system now. Make the switch for the health and savings of your family and for all Canberrans.”

Since the ACT’s program began in 2004, more than 1,300 wood heaters have been removed. 33 rebates were paid in the past 12 months.  

This year, the government began a trial to replace wood heaters with an energy-efficient reverse cycle system in public housing properties. 19 tenants have agreed to replace their wood heaters.

In two decades’ time, Canberrans will rely solely on electricity to heat their homes. Wood heaters will be phased out from ACT suburbs and replaced with electric alternatives, and the installation of new wood heaters will be banned everywhere except rural areas.

The Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment, Dr Sophie Lewis, claims that wood heaters cause pollution and illness, and contribute to climate change. Although fewer than 5 per cent of Canberra households rely on wood as their primary source of heating, wood heaters account for a large fraction of Canberra’s fine particle air pollution in winter, her report states. In her view, there is no safe level of exposure.

However, the Australian Home Heating Association (AHHA), the peak industry body, maintains that the government’s concerns are “definitely exaggerated”, because Dr Lewis’s report is based on insufficient information. The number of wood heaters in the ACT is unknown; air pollution emissions cannot be precisely assessed; and data comes from only two monitoring stations.

Tim Cannon, general manager of the AHHA, said today: “We respect the efforts by the ACT Government to improve air quality in Canberra and increase the rebate offer to homeowners to remove their wood heater or permanently close off an open fireplace.  Rebecca Vassarotti acknowledges the freezing temperatures in the winter months in Canberra and the burden on the cost of living trying to heat the home and stay warm.

“By offering electricity as the only option to stay warm, it still leaves homeowners at the mercy of the increasing electricity prices determined by the utility companies. Should there be an extended black-out during winter, having no backup source of heating could be disastrous.

“When operated correctly, modern EPA-compliant wood heaters will produce no smoke, are significantly more efficient at heating compared to older models and continue to be one of the cheapest forms of heating the whole home.

“In the USA, residents are eligible for a tax rebate for upgrading their old wood heater to an EPA-compliant model, with the offer in place until 2032.

“The ACT Government could have offered a similar option to upgrade their wood heater when claiming the rebate, and not electricity as the only option.”

For more information on the Wood Heater Removal Program, visit the ACT Everyday Climate Choices website.