Australian households need real solutions
27 March 2025
The Federal Opposition has no plan to cut household energy bills or support communities and workers to benefit from the shift to a clean economy now or in the future.
Tonight’s budget reply shows that the Federal Opposition is at odds with 73% of our country who recognise that a mix of renewables and batteries is the fastest way to lower people’s power bills.[1]
The Federal Opposition has outlined an approach that would:
- Raise household power bills by up to $1182[2] under their nuclear scheme, while doubling down on the very factors causing high prices—ageing, unreliable coal-fired power stations and price-gouging multinational gas corporations.
- Burden Australians with costs and risk for generations with the most expensive form of energy: nuclear
- Increase energy insecurity by attempting to prolong the life of outdated coal power plants while slashing vital investments in the grid infrastructure needed to ensure reliable electricity.
- Scrap thousands of manufacturing jobs in regions like the Hunter (NSW), Whyalla (SA), Gladstone (QLD), Western Australia and Bells Bay in Tasmania by cutting the Future Made in Australia initiative.
- Leave future generations battling major social, economic and environmental harm by pumping a further 2 billion tonnes of carbon pollution into our atmosphere by 2050.[3]
Renew Australia for All urges the Coalition to prioritise people over politics and support proven solutions that deliver real benefits—now and for future generations.
Four million Australian homes with rooftop solar have more generation capacity (24.4GW) than all our ageing coal-fired power stations across the country (22.6GW). These solar households are already slashing their power bills by an average of $1,500 per year.
Analysis commissioned by Renew Australia for All shows that:
- The average Australian household could save $3,039 per year with access to further energy upgrades, including solar, batteries, and efficiency improvements.
- A nationwide rollout of home energy upgrades could deliver $23.6 billion in annual savings.
That’s why Renew Australia for All is calling for an urgent $5 billion investment from the Federal Government to slash upfront costs for home energy upgrades and install rooftop solar and batteries for millions of households struggling with rising living expenses.
We are already powering our energy system with 40% renewables. We need to get on with the job of building the least cost, most reliable energy system for Australia – which is a mix of solar and wind backed up by storage, such as batteries and pumped hydro.
It’s time to invest in solutions that cut costs, secure jobs, and build a cleaner, more sustainable future for all Australians.
Wayne Smith, Acting Chief Executive of the Smart Energy Council says Peter Dutton is absolutely right: “this is a sliding doors moment for Australia. Tonight, Peter Dutton unleashed a vitriolic assault on Australia’s renewable energy industry; axing of the $20b Rewiring the Nation Program, critical to reaching 82% renewables by 2030; axing of Production Tax Credits for renewable hydrogen; gutting of the world-leading Capacity Investment Scheme for renewable energy and storage by the addition of gas. A National Gas Plan will lead to soaring power bills,” Mr Smith said. “Peter Dutton also reaffirmed his commitment to a $600 billion nuclear fantasy. What Peter Dutton didn’t say is that his nuclear plan will lead to the doubling of power bills for 10 million Australians with solar. Nuclear does not play well with solar and will lead to solar panels being turned off two thirds of the time. This really is a sliding doors moment for Australia.”
Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas said: “The Coalition’s plan to ramp up gas extraction and introduce costly, risky nuclear reactors, will increase household energy prices and delay the move to cheaper clean technologies. The most effective way to slash power bills for millions of people longer term is through more support for home renewable energy, like home solar and batteries.”
Australian Conservation Foundation national climate policy advisor Annika Reynolds (they/them) said: “The Coalition’s continued pivot away from nuclear, which would be the most expensive form of energy in Australia should it ever be built, to expanding fossil gas, which is currently the most expensive form of energy in Australia, is yet another costly and climate polluting con. Australia’s future is cheap renewables, which already outcompetes gas in our electricity system and provides close to half of our national electricity needs.”
[1] Polling attitudes towards clean energy solutions
[2] IEEFA, Nuclear power would raise household power bills, September 24, 2024
[3] Assessing the impact of a nuclear pathway on Australia’s emissions, Climate Change Authority, 24 February 2025