The New South Wales Government has released a plan to boost access to energy saving technologies such as solar and batteries to reduce energy bills and ease cost of living pressure.
The State Government said that the Consumer Energy Strategy: Powering our People and Communities is designed with people at the centre, committing $290 million in new funding and outlining 50 actions to help households and small businesses utilise energy saving technologies.
In 2023, the New South Wales Government commissioned the independent Electricity Supply and Reliability Check Up.
The Check Up recommended that a New South Wales Consumer Energy Resources strategy be developed, which was accepted by the State Government.
Key actions outlined in the strategy that the New South Wales Government has committed to implementing include:
- Developing a new incentive and rebate scheme to help households upgrade to energy saving technologies.
- This includes a $238.9 million new Home Energy Saver program with financial support targeted towards eligible households. The program will be designed and rolled out by the end of 2025.
- Introducing new home energy ratings from 2025 so renters and buyers have more information about the cost of heating and cooling their potential homes.
- Setting the first targets in Australia for solar and battery uptake, virtual power plant participation (which allows solar panels and batteries to share their capacity across the grid) and installation safety.
- This includes a target of one million households and small businesses having access to both a rooftop solar and battery system by 2035, rising to nearly 1.5 million by 2050.
- Improving the safety and reliability of installations by increasing the number of electrical safety inspectors.
- Providing practical resources and outreach so people can make informed decisions to improve energy efficiency and cut bills. This includes funding community organisations to conduct outreach.
The New South Wales Government said that the actions outlined in the strategy will build on the good work that is already underway and will contribute to its vision for the future of energy in New South Wales, where all households and small businesses can enjoy the energy security, climate, health and cost of living benefits of energy saving technologies.
The actions have been developed through close consultation with industry and the community.
The Consumer Energy Strategy comes on top of the $435.4 million for annual energy bill rebates and debt relief, $200 million to support the rollout of public EV charging stations and $175 million to make energy savings upgrades for 24,000 social housing homes.
New South Wales Premier, Chris Minns, said, that there are many houses across the state that are too hot in summer, too cold in winter, and as a result, energy prices and costs for the household skyrocket.
“Through the strategy, we are making it easier for households and small businesses to access the cost saving benefits of solar panels, batteries and heat pumps, while they reduce their emissions.
“Having more energy saving technologies in homes and small businesses is the best way to help households and small businesses reduce energy bills, reduce emissions and improve electricity grid reliability.”
New South Wales Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Penny Sharpe, said, “Our vision is for New South Wales to be a leader in the energy transition, and this strategy is a crucial step towards achieving that goal.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for residents and small businesses to benefit from the energy transition, creating a more sustainable and affordable energy future for all.”
Ms Sharpe said that by prioritising accessibility and equity, the New South Wales Government is empowering households and small businesses to upgrade their homes and businesses.
“This will not only lower energy bills but also benefit our environment.
“The New South Wales Consumer Energy Strategy is our plan to supercharge the energy transition and put households and small businesses at the centre of this work.”
To view the full NSW Consumer Energy Strategy and for more information, visit www.energy.nsw.gov.au/energy-strategy.
Industry response
The energy industry has welcomed the release of the Consumer Energy Strategy: Powering our People and Communities to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy across New South Wales.
Energy Networks Australia (ENA) CEO, Dom van den Berg, said, “We are pleased to see the New South Wales Government’s strong commitment to measures that deliver lower costs, a stable energy system, and meaningful emissions reductions.
“It’s critical that everyone, including renters and those living in apartments, has access to clean, affordable energy.
Ms van den Berg said that there is a clear opportunity to get the local grid doing more of the heavy lifting in the energy transition and achieve greater savings for customers by 2030, but that window of opportunity is closing.
“The government’s strategy emphasises the need to empower electricity distributors, introduce regulatory flexibility as crucial for the ongoing evolution of electricity networks.
“We are particularly supportive of exploring opportunities for distribution networks to play a leading role in delivering kerbside EV charging infrastructure, a key component for enabling broader EV uptake.”
Energy Consumers Australia’s CEO, Brendan French, also praised the strategy.
“We’re delighted to see a strategy that focuses on the cost- benefits and positive outcomes for consumers from the energy transition, and aims to ensure that everyone can benefit, and no one will be left behind,” Dr French said.
“We’re pleased to see the strategy includes a number of things we have long called for, and we particularly welcome the new Home Energy Saver program to help consumers cut their energy bills and reduce their emissions.”
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