A total investment of $108 million will replace fossil fuel powered appliances in Victorian apartments — and social housing — with emission-free electric alternatives, allowing Victorians to enjoy cheaper and cleaner energy.
The federal and state governments will each contribute $46 million to electrify and modernise social housing, funding upgrades such as reverse-cycle air conditioning, hot water heat pumps, electric cooktops and solar panels.
Victoria and the Commonwealth are also both funding a $16 million program to assist 5,000 Victorian apartments to benefit from solar rooftops — providing up to $2,800 per apartment or up to $140,000 total for each apartment building.
The Commonwealth funding is drawn from the $1.7 billion Energy Savings Package that Rewiring Australia successfully campaigned for in the 2023-24 Federal Budget.
This will also contribute to Victoria’s Energy Efficiency in the State’s Social Housing Program.
These investments will decrease emissions, improve efficiency and allow Victorians on low incomes to more effectively heat and cool their homes.
Rewiring Australia Executive Director Dan Cass said the twin policy announcements were a sound investment that would decrease energy bills and emissions.
“Rooftop solar paired with an electrified home provides the cheapest, cleanest energy available. The faster we move to electrified homes, backed by solar, the sooner we reap the benefit of cheaper energy and lower emissions.
“Helping apartment buildings to install solar is critically important. As more Australians live in flats and apartments we must find ways for them to harvest and use solar.
“Australian governments have led the world in encouraging rooftop solar on detached homes and now we should be similarly ambitious when it comes to apartment buildings,” said Cass.
