The NSW Labors plan to halve the cost of roof-top solar for eligible households will help make the Mid-North Coast the state’s solar capital, says Labor candidate for Oxley Susan Jenvey.
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Ms Jenvey believes the policy will be a tipping point for people on the Mid-North Coast to get solar on their roofs.
“We know people are worried about climate change and their wallets. Labor is addressing both,” Ms Jenvey said.
“I expect the Mid North Coast to be amongst the first to take up this offer, which will halve the cost of installation. Not only will they save thousands initially, there will be ongoing savings, as they contribute to delivering a quarter of the state’s energy needs.”
NSW Labor has announced:
- Under Labor’s Solar Homes policy, owner-occupied households in NSW with a combined income of $180,000 or less would be eligible for a rebate, to be capped at $2,200 per household.
- On average, households could expect to save up to $600 a year off their electricity bills.
For years, the Mid-North Coast has featured in the lists on the top installers of solar power. Only last November we saw that the Port Macquarie Hastings area had more solar installations than anywhere else in the state.
“People want to act on climate change. People want to do something for the planet. People want to reduce their power bills. Labor is helping them. There is no downside to this announcement – it is a win for the planet, a win for households and it is a win for the local installation industry,” Ms Jenvey said.
“The announcement by NSW Labor sits perfectly with the plan by Federal Labor to offer a rebate of up to $2,000 for households earning less than $180,000 to install residential battery systems.
“Labor at all levels is accelerating the clean energy revolution, protecting the planet and saving householders thousands.”
Meanwhile up to 300,000 households across regional NSW could save hundreds of dollars on their power bills thanks to a no-interest loan provided by the NSW Liberals & Nationals government to purchase solar-battery and battery systems.
The Member for Oxley, Melinda Pavey MP, has announced the 10-year Empowering Homes program, which offers no-interest loans for solar energy and battery storage systems that will also help cut emissions.
“The NSW Nationals have been working hard to ease cost of living pressures for families and this is a major initiative that households can use to help reduce their power bills,” Mrs Pavey said.
“More than 400,000 households and small businesses in NSW are already benefitting from solar power. This new program will help up to a further 300,000 households over 10 years reap the benefits of solar with no interest loans for solar energy and battery storage systems,” Mrs Pavey said.
It’s estimated that a household with quarterly electricity bills of:
$500 could save up to $285 a year while repaying the no-interest loans. These savings could increase to more than $2,000 a year when the loan is fully repaid.
$625 could save up to $457 a year while repaying the no-interest loans, and up to $2,200 a year when the loan is fully repaid
$875 could save up to $640 a year while repaying the loans, and up to $2,390 when the loan is repaid.
Ms Pavey said that when the program is fully rolled out across regional NSW, these batteries will add up to 3,000 megawatt hours of storage to the energy system.
To be eligible for the scheme, applicants will need to be owner-occupiers of a house with an annual household income of up to $180,000. Loans of up to $9,000 per battery system and up to $14,000 per solar-battery system will be available.
Susan Jenvey is the Labor candidate for Oxley at the upcoming state government election.
Melinda Pavey is the Nationals candidate for Oxley at the upcoming state government election.
