Mill Park MP Lily D'Ambrosio
The Andrews Labor government Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades program helps low income and vulnerable households to replace their old heater with a more efficient electric split system.
As we transition to a more sustainable energy future, one of the many important steps we must take is considering how we heat and cool our homes. There are many newer technologies available to us which are more energy and cost efficient than our old gas, woodfire or inefficient electric heating systems.
In order to make these newer technologies accessible, particularly for our most vulnerable households, the Andrews Labor government has introduced a new rebate program called the Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades program.
This program provides $1,000 rebates to eligible low income and vulnerable households to replace their old heater (or no heater) with a more efficient electric split system model. Where necessary, $500 is also available to upgrade electrical switchboards and $200 is available to cap old gas heaters, to ensure upgrades are safe and efficient.
In May of this year, this program was first opened to community housing organisations to apply for these rebates on behalf of their residents, helping some of our most disadvantaged Victorians save money and contribute to our fight against climate change.
And after the success of that first stream of rebates, on August 1 I was pleased to announce the program is open to even more Victorians – with eligible owner-occupiers now able to apply.
This means if you own your own home and hold a concession card, or have a combined household income of less than $90,000, and your home is fitted with an inefficient heating system, or no heating system, you can apply for a rebate to get a new heating and cooling split system through one of our many approved suppliers.
In the north in particular we have many older homes fitted with old gas or woodfire heaters. This program will allow many in our area to improve the comfort of their homes and save up to $300 per year on their energy bills, all while lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
Since we opened this second stream of rebates only one month ago, already over 1,800 Victorian households have been approved for a $1000 rebate. As our weather starts to warm up, we expect this program to be even more popular. One of the many benefits of this rebate program is that it replaces old and inefficient heating with split systems that can keep households cool in the summer, as well as warm in the winter.
This program is just one part of the Andrews Labor government’s unprecedented $797 million Household Energy Savings Package from the 2020-21 Victorian State Budget – the largest energy efficiency package of any state government, ever. And it’s all part of supporting our Victorian Climate Change Strategy – our ambitious yet achievable plan that puts Victoria amongst global leaders delivering real, sustainable action on climate change.
In order to apply for a rebate, or to learn more, you can visit heatingupgrades.vic.gov.au or call 1300 376 393 for help finding an approved supplier near you. Otherwise if you need any assistance you can reach out directly to my office on 9422 5171 or at lily.d’ambrosio@parliament.vic.gov.au
