The ACT Government’s Sustainable Household Scheme (SHS) has saved Canberrans more than $46.9 million, Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced.
The SHS provides zero-interest loans of up to $15,000 over 10 years to help with the cost of energy-efficient upgrades, including rooftop solar panels; household battery storage systems; electric heating and cooling systems; hot water heat pumps; electric stove tops; electric vehicles; electric vehicle charging infrastructure; ceiling insulation; and installation costs for these products.
Since the SHS began in July 2021, it has lent more than $225 million and helped to install more than 19,000 sustainable upgrades.
Mr Barr broke down the ‘savings’ by region:
- Tuggeranong: $12.3 million
- Belconnen: $12.2 million
- Gungahlin: $10.1 million
- Canberra Central: $3.4 million
- Weston Creek: $3.1 million
- Woden: $3.1 million
- Molonglo: $2.3 million
- Rest of ACT: $300,000
“As a world leader in climate action, the ACT is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2045,” Mr Barr said. “The Sustainable Household Scheme is a key part of our strategy to lower emissions and tackle climate change, while supporting ACT homes to reduce their power bills and growing jobs in the renewable energy industry in our region.”
However, the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) last year argued that financial supports offered by the ACT Government favoured high-income earners: low-income earners were unlikely to be able to meet SHS repayments, and the government invested four times as much in the SHS as in the Home Energy Support Program (HESP). HESP offers low-income households $5,000 rebates to install rooftop solar and energy efficient appliances – but the eligibility criteria exclude many low-income households.
“This spirit of funding does not reflect a commitment to prioritise those on low incomes or in vulnerable households,” ACTCOSS stated last year.
