To help low-income homeowners in the ACT switch to electric, the ACT Government will expand the Home Energy Support Program to include new rebates of up to $2,500 for efficient electric appliances.
Shane Rattenbury, ACT Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, said the expansion of the new products will support low-income households to transition away from fossil-fuel gas use at a time that is right for them.
“We’ve announced our intention to electrify our city and transition away from the use of fossil-fuel gas by 2045,” Mr Rattenbury said. “A critical part of this transition is to make sure we have a just transition by providing support to those who can least afford to make the switch.”
Eligible households can now access a $2,500 rebate to help reduce their upfront cost to purchase reverse cycle heating and cooling systems, hot water heat pumps, and electric cooktops/ovens through the Home Energy Support Program.
This is in addition to the already available rebate of up to $2,500 to install rooftop solar.
Households may access the Sustainable Household Scheme to cover remaining costs. The Scheme offers zero interest loans of up to $15,000 for solar, efficient electric heating and hot water, and other products.
“The transition away from fossil-fuel gas to electric will help the community save on energy bills, increase home comfort, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Mr Rattenbury said. “The Home Energy Support Program allowing households to share the benefits of a shift to lower emissions homes as we work towards our target of net zero emissions by 2045.”
Eligible homeowners who can apply for a rebate include Pension Concession Card holders and Department of Veteran Affairs Gold Card holders.
The Home Energy Support Program is a $50 million government commitment over four years to improve building efficiency and sustainability for social and public housing, low-income owner occupiers, and low performing rental properties.
For more information about the program and to check your eligibility, including the recently released Gas Transition Pathway, visit the Everyday Climate Choices website.
This initiative progresses a commitment of the Parliamentary Agreement of the 10th Legislative Assembly by the ACT Labor-Greens Government.
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) welcomed the expansion of the Home Energy Support Program.
ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell said: “ACTCOSS strongly supports ACT Government policies targeted toward low-income households to improve energy efficiency and mitigate climate change.
“Canberrans who face disadvantage are disproportionately impacted by climate change.
“Canberrans on low incomes also spend a much greater proportion of their incomes on energy bills, making it even more critical that they are prioritised for support to access solar and energy efficient appliances and home systems. People on low incomes are also most likely to be impacted by any cost increases associated with the transition to net zero emissions
“While these two rebates offer some support for low-incomes households, access to rooftop solar and efficient electrical appliances and systems will be greatly improved if eligible households are allowed to access the total amount towards either solar or appliances. A higher total rebate amount will further help people on low incomes to manage the high upfront costs faced by households who wish to improve their energy efficiency, cut bills and transition to net zero emissions.
“ACTCOSS will continue to work with the ACT Government to further expand the Home Energy Support Program to help other members of the community on low incomes and to ensure that ongoing climate change policy is targeted at sections of the housing market where people on low incomes are overrepresented such as rental properties and social housing,” Dr Campbell said.
