New Alliance Calls For More Renewable Investment – Starting With Home Energy Bills Savings Plan
All Australian households can benefit from hundreds of dollars in cost savings on energy bills through renewable home upgrades, no matter if they rent, live in an apartment or cannot afford the upfront costs. A new, multi-sector Energy Bill Savings Plan released today, outlines how.
The Energy Bill Savings Plan is the first priority for Renew Australia For All, a new alliance of more than 50 organisations from across faith groups, social services, unions, clean industry, regional communities and climate and environment organisations, launching in Canberra on September 11.
The alliance is calling for an urgent investment to support home energy upgrades and improve access to rooftop solar and batteries for the millions of Australians hardest hit by the cost of living.
An initial $5 billion investment would be backed up by $50 billion over ten years to repower homes and communities everywhere with rooftop solar, batteries, electric appliances and thermal improvements, so that all Australians reap the benefits.
More than 3 million Australian households have already reduced their power bills by installing rooftop solar, saving an average of $1,390 per year. However, many renters, apartment dwellers, social housing tenants, and those unable to afford the upfront costs have missed out.
Rev. Faaimata (Mata) Havea Hiliau, Moderator of The Uniting Church Synod of NSW & ACT said: “Every day we hear from families and individuals within our congregations and those accessing our services about how they are struggling with their energy bills.
“People are finding themselves having to make incredibly difficult decisions – like whether to buy groceries or pay their power bill. Unfortunately, as always, it’s those who can least afford it, who are suffering the most. We need urgent investment to stop Australians from being forced to make these impossible choices.”
Desiree Cai, National Director of the Tomorrow Movement said: “Young people are terrified about how much we have to lose if we waver on the climate transition any more. Our generation is staring down the barrel of intersecting climate and cost of living challenges. We need the government to invest in our future.”
Smart Energy Council CEO John Grimes said: “Every Australian can benefit from solar, renewables and batteries to reduce their power bills and we need to work with governments to make sure every Australian does benefit. The result will be cheaper and smarter power, sustainable and secure jobs and a cleaner and stronger economy”
Australian Council of Trade Unions President Michele O’Neil said: “We are a large and diverse coalition united in our knowledge that the best way to cut power bills fast while creating good jobs is to support all Australian households to reap the benefits of having solar panels, batteries, and electric appliances in their own homes.”
“We need to help all households harness the power of Australia’s abundant sun and wind—not saddle them with the cost of an expensive nuclear fantasy.
WWF-Australia CEO Dermot O’Gorman said: “Opportunities for current economic prosperity and a safe climate all depend on Australia stepping up its ambition and building out the renewables our country needs at speed and scale. We need to make sure that’s happening in the right places and in the right ways, but our communities, our economy, and our environment can’t afford for Australia to miss this once in a century opportunity.”
Dan Cass, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Rewiring Australia said: “The best climate and energy policy is to electrify everything for everyone. Household electrification powered by rooftop solar, and energy efficiency upgrades, will reduce cost of living pressure but we need significant public funding to ensure no home is left behind. All Australians, whether they’re homeowners, apartment-dwellers or renters, should be able to access the benefits of the cheapest delivered energy in the world.”
Strong Support for Government Action
Polling released today shows 73% of Australians think the country will benefit from shifting to renewable energy, and 71% support the Australian government investing more in renewable energy.
73% support renewables and batteries as the fastest way to lower people’s power bills, compared to just 16% for nuclear reactors and 8% for new coal power stations.
See the full Energy Bill Savings Plan and find out more about us at renewaustraliaforall.org
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