Both major parties are quietly drafting schemes to partly subsidise households to install batteries and rooftop solar panels ahead of the next federal election, which experts say could save billpayers up to $1000 a year. Source: The Age.
With the cost-of-living crisis dominating community concerns, Canberra insiders and energy industry players say the Albanese Government and Peter Dutton’s Opposition are working on household electrification policies to take to the next election, due by mid-May next year.
These schemes are expected to include a fund to provide rebates to property owners who buy a battery and potentially to fund some households to install solar panels as well.
The Clean Energy Council has crunched the numbers and found an average household with rooftop solar panels would cut its bill by about $1000 a year with the addition of a battery. Households in NSW and Victoria are now paying about $1600 a year in power bills.
Homeowners with rooftop solar can run their appliances from the electricity generated by their panels during the day, and typically, there is enough excess to recharge an average-sized battery as well.
The battery can then be discharged when the sun starts sinking, enabling the household to avoid periods of peak power prices in the evening, when electricity is in highest demand and people return from work.
Batteries start at about $10,000 and, with household budgets already stretched by the rising cost of living, extra financial support would be welcomed, despite state schemes now offering modest assistance.
The Renew Australia for All campaign has been formed by a wide range of industry groups, the ACTU and social welfare advocates such as ACOSS, Australian Religious Response to Climate Change and the Uniting Church.
It is calling for $5 billion in funding from the next federal budget, to be spent in the next financial year on helping households install solar panels and batteries, and $50 billion over 10 years to help all Australian homes install rooftop solar, batteries and electric appliances.
FULL STORY
Battery, solar schemes coming to zap household bills by up to $1000 (By Mike Foley, The Age)
