Bills slashed with energy efficiency measures

PRESS RELEASE

Power bills for thousands of families and businesses across NSW will fall thanks to $72 million in energy efficiency measures announced by Premier Gladys Berejiklian today.

This major investment, the latest action by the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government to ease cost of living pressures, will enable households and businesses to use new technology to reduce their energy costs.

“These energy bill relief measures are part of the NSW Government’s continuing efforts to help families and businesses with energy costs,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Cutting energy bills is a top priority for my Government.”

Today’s package includes $24.5 million for upgrades to more than 20,000 rental homes to enable low-income renters to benefit from energy efficient lighting, heating, and hot water systems. These upgrades will help renters save up to $400 a year on their energy bills.

There is also $35 million to help businesses stay competitive by reducing their energy costs. This includes assistance for around 250 manufacturing businesses to install energy efficient equipment, such as upgraded boilers, refrigeration and metering technology to help track their energy use.

Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair said these equipment upgrades will help manufacturers save on average $80,000 a year on their energy bills. In addition, around 1300 businesses will be provided with world-leading energy advice and training.

“Not only will this benefit individual businesses but also the wider economy as it means business owners will have more money to invest in growing their firms and employing more workers,” Mr Blair said.

“High energy users like NSW’s manufacturing businesses will particularly benefit from these cost savings, which will enable them to invest in measures that better equip them to compete on the global stage.”

There is also $12.5 million to help local councils upgrade 60,000 energy-guzzling street lights with LEDs. This will lead to around $22 million in energy bill savings by 2035, which will enable councils to free up funding for local services and infrastructure.

Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton said the initiatives will improve the environment and ease the cost of living by improving energy efficiency and providing bill relief for households and businesses.

“These measures deliver real, tangible benefits for NSW households and businesses and our environment,” she said.

The NSW Government will also be accelerating the roll-out of solar panels and has set a target for government buildings, such as schools and hospitals, to reach 25,000 megawatt hours of solar energy a year by 2021 and 55,000 megawatt hours a year by 2024.

Minister for Energy Don Harwin said these investments are essential to securing more affordable and cleaner energy for communities right across the State.

“Our Government has always been clear about the need to foster stronger partnerships with the private sector to ensure investment as part of this transition to a cheaper, cleaner energy future,” Mr Harwin said.

The measures announced today build on the NSW Government’s successful Energy Affordability Package, which has boosted energy rebates for 900,000 households.

The NSW Government recently launched its One Click Energy Switch program, which is taking the hassle out of getting a better energy deal for families.

The Government has also recently announced a raft of cost of living rebates and savings including free rego, lower CTP fees, the $100 Active Kids voucher and the Fuel Check app.

Funding for the projects is being made available from the NSW Government’s Climate Change Fund.

The NSW Government is spending $1.4 billion from the Fund over 2017 to 2022 to help the environment, reduce power bills and improve energy efficiency.