With the Victorian state election now only a month away, the incumbent Labor government is rolling out a final flurry of energy policy announcements ranging from rooftop solar rebates to community batteries and expanded energy upgrades.
Labor has been trailing the Victorian Liberal party in the polls as it fights for a rare fourth term in power against a backdrop of mounting public debt and growing voter frustration with the rising cost of living.
In a rush of announcements before the caretaker period begins, the Carroll government appears to be leaning on one of its more successful portfolios, which has seen the state grow its renewable share, cut emissions, and claim some of the lowest wholesale electricity prices on the main national grid.
On Monday, state energy minister Jaclyn Symes announced an expansion to the state’s Solar for Apartments program, with rebates of up to $2,800 per apartment and $140,000 per building now available – funding which covers an average of 76 per cent of the installation costs for rooftop solar.
Larger residential developments will now have greater access to the program, with buildings of up to 150 lots now eligible – up from the previous 50. The government will also remote the existing median property value limit, opening the program to more buildings across the state.
Owners corporations will also be able to allocate up to 20 per cent of generated solar energy to common property, further helping bring down the cost of powering common areas.
The government’s expansion of its Solar for Apartments program follows over 150 rooftop solar installations that have already been completed through the program, almost half of which have been completed on rental properties.
This has resulted in more than 2,800 residents saving on their energy bills thanks to new rooftop solar installations, and another 17 installations currently underway set to help another 726 Victorians begin saving on their energy bills.
“Solar means lower power bills – apartment residents and renters deserve to share in those savings,” said Jaclyn Symes, state minister for energy and resources.
“We’re opening the program to more buildings, that means more solar on more rooftops and lower power bills for more Victorians.”
Applications for the program are currently open and will run until June 2027.
The expansion to the Solar for Apartments program was unveiled a few days after Symes announced millions in new funding for energy upgrades targeting both community housing renters and the state’s food and beverage manufacturers.
Announced at the opening of a new neighbourhood battery and expanded rooftop solar system at the Marysville Community Centre, Symes revealed the first six projects that will share in the $10 million third round of the Energy Innovation Fund.
The third round was focused on the industrial electrification of the food and beverage processing and manufacturing sector.
It included funding for electric thermal energy storage systems (eTES) across multiple food and beverage manufacturing sites in Greater Shepparton, a centralised industrial heat pump system at Hazeldene’s poultry processing facility in Lockwood, and the installation and integration of a 4MW Graphite Energy eTES system at the Mars Petcare Wodonga manufacturing facility.
When combined, the upgrades to all six businesses are estimated to save around $4 million per year on their energy bills.
“The Liberals and Nationals are lying when they say will lower energy bills,” said Symes. “Labor is the only party that has delivered the lowest power prices in the country.
“Every dollar manufacturers save on energy is a dollar they can put back into their business – backing local jobs and keeping Victorian-made products competitive.”
“Running on gas is more expensive for businesses – we’re helping businesses with the upfront cost of better equipment so they can transition of gas and save on their power bills.”
Symes also announced a further $9 million for seven energy upgrade projects to around 730 community housing homes that will make them cheaper to run, warmer in winter, and cooler in summer.
Part of the second round of the Community Housing Upgrades Stream, the program offers grants of up to $18,000 on average per property, helping housing providers deliver energy improvements such as reverse cycle air conditioners, draught proofing, ceiling insulation, induction cooktops, heat pump hot water systems, and rooftop solar.
Upgrades are expected to save community housing households over $1,000 a year, a vital saving for some of Victoria’s most vulnerable.
“Community housing renters deserve homes that are comfortable and affordable to run – these upgrades will help them save more than $1,000 a year,” said Symes.
“We’re replacing old, expensive appliances with efficient electric alternatives – so renters can keep warm in winter and cool in summer for less.”
Last week, Symes also opened applications for the $5 million On-Farm Energy and Electrification Demonstration program, offering grants of between $200,000 and $750,000 to help farmers test and demonstrate technologies that use less diesel, improve energy efficiency or electrify equipment.
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Joshua S Hill
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.
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