Rewiring Australia welcomes expansion of energy-upgrade advice service for Victorians
Rewiring Australia supports the expansion of a free one-stop-shop available to all Victorians to get advice on how to reduce their energy bills by upgrading to efficient electric appliances and solar.
The Victorian Government today announced the State Electricity Commission’s one-stop-shop would grow to meet demand, recruiting extra staff to support households looking to cut power bills.
The service helps households make plans to reduce their power costs, and shows them what savings they can make by switching to electric appliances. The one-stop-shop also connects people with accredited and high quality installers.
“This is a great example of a government making household electrification easier for households. Navigating a major energy upgrade can be tricky, even when there are major personal finance gains from doing so. This will slash peoples’ power bills, and provide peace of mind during the process,” Rewiring Australia CEO Francis Vierboom said.
“We know how important trust is when it comes to changes like energy upgrades and new technology. By providing a service that shows people what’s cheaper and cleaner and also links them up with the best provider, Victorians can take comfort that they aren’t going to get ripped off by dodgy providers. Our own experience with the Electrify 2515 Community Pilot has shown that fully engaging with the community is crucial to the success of the energy transition.
“Upgrading to electric appliances, and getting rooftop solar is a proven way to significantly slash energy bills. We know from our own research that households can save thousands of dollars a year by doing this, so this one-stop-shop is a very worthwhile investment for Victorians,” Francis Vierboom said.
Rewiring Australia says the Victorian Government is setting a good example for what is possible when information and safeguards are provided for people, making it easier for them to upgrade to cheaper and cleaner energy.
“So many external factors contribute to the cost-of-living crisis, but with the right support, many households can take back some control over their power bills. That can make a major difference for families and homeowners.
“But we need to acknowledge that so many of us who don’t own homes are far less likely to benefit from initiatives like this, and we need to see more schemes nationally that incentivise landlords to upgrade their properties to cut energy costs for renters,” Francis Vierboom said.
Media contact: Kathleen Ferguson - 0421 522 080