The Australian federal government announced on Wednesday that it was investing a further $120.3 million to fund energy upgrades across Victoria’s public and community housing, helping to lower energy bills and create more comfortable homes for over 8,000 households.
The new investment, provided under the federal government’s Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative (SHEPI), will fund upgrades like rooftop solar, ceiling fans, energy efficient heating and cooling systems, hot water heat pumps, electric cooktops, ceiling insulation, and draught sealing.
It is the second SHEPI investment the federal government has made in Victoria, following an initial $142.2 million joint investment split with the state government. Since the program was initially funded in 2023, overall investment with the Victorian government has amounted to $263.7 million, enough to provide energy upgrades to around 19,000 public and community housing properties.
“Delivering energy performance upgrades through the Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative means that we share the benefit of cheaper energy bills and more comfortable homes with a focus on equity as we power towards a net zero future for Australia,” said Josh Wilson, federal assistant minister for climate change and energy.
“Together with the Victorian Government, we are now investing $263.7 million to expand the Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative in the state.
“At a time when cost of living pressures are front of mind for so many Australians, everybody should have access to energy efficient appliances and equipment that lower energy bills and make homes more comfortable for social housing residents.”
The federal government hopes that SHEPI will eventually deliver upgrades to more than 100,000 social housing properties across Australia.
Upgrades funded by SHEPI in Victoria are delivered by the state’s own Energy Efficiency in Social Housing Program (EESHP), which has already delivered nearly 10,500 individual upgrades for almost 3,500 homes.
The EESHP, which was originally funded solely by the Victorian government, began in 2020 and has since delivered around 19,000 individual upgrades through the first phase of the program.
Also being delivered under the Victorian EESHP is its Community Housing Upgrades Stream which is funded by $7 million from the Victorian Budget 26/27 and $2 million from the initial SHEPI agreement. The Stream provides grants of on average $18,000 per property to Community Housing Organisations.
Eight such organisations have received funding under the Stream’s first round to deliver upgrades such as reverse cycle air conditioners, ceiling insulation, and solar panels.
The Victorian government expects the Stream to deliver approximately 3,000 energy efficiency upgrades across over 900 Victorian homes.
“By delivering free electrification upgrades to renters in community and social housing, we’re turning modern, efficient homes into real bill savings, cutting energy costs while improving comfort and security for households who need it most,” said Lily D’Ambrosio, Victorian minister for climate action.
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