Why we need to act

Our energy bills have been driven-up by dependence on expensive gas and unreliable coal-fired power,[1] and we can’t continue to rely on cash rebates forever.

Clean energy can deliver permanent price relief and give households control over power bills.

Households with solar can save $822-1350 per year and those who also have a home battery can wipe $1,322-2,252 off their bill.[2] Switching-out gas for efficient electric appliances can reduce bills by up to $1,600 and improving home energy performance can deliver further savings.[3]

But we need to do more to help households overcome the up-front cost of home energy upgrades.

That's why I’ve put forward a Permanent Energy Bill Relief Plan to roll-out over the next 5 years.[4]

My Permanent Energy Bill Relief Plan

My plan would provide:

1. Homeowners: 10-year zero interest loans, worth up to $25,000 each, to help over 456,000 homeowners with upgrades like batteries, electric appliances and thermal shell improvements. 
2. Renters: an instant asset write-off to encourage installation of solar, batteries, and energy performance improvements for 276,000 rental properties.
3. Social and community housing: direct funding to support upgrades to over 70,000 properties, through expanding the Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative.

My plan will also stabilise our electricity grid and ensure reliable power for all by accelerating the installation of nearly 300,000 home battery systems over 5 years.

Parliamentary Budget Office modelling shows the plan would have a fiscal cost of around $2 billion over the forward estimates and $3.7 billion between 2025-26 and 2029-30.[4] Read the costing here.

Regulatory reform to unlock energy savings

Financial support is just one piece of the puzzle. I’m also pushing for:

• A ‘one stop shop’ to provide information on home energy upgrades.
• Mandatory energy performance disclosure when you buy or rent.
• Minimum energy performance standards for rental properties.

Read more

• AFR - Spender unveils home battery plan (link)
• The Guardian - Would Dutton oppose a plan to cut bills and tackle the climate crisis? (link)
• Sydney Morning Herald - The $50m idea that could save renters up to $1594 a year (link)
• Community Joint Letter backing the push for home electrification support (link)
• Renew Economy - Spender calls for "People Power Plan" (link)
• Media Release - Spender calls for “People Power Plan” to tackle cost-of-living crisis (link)

Watch and listen

• ABC RN Breakfast - Government urged to provide power bill relief (link)
• Allegra's speech in parliament - calling for a People Power Plan at the budget (link)

Sources:

[1] For example, see: NSW IPART (2023). ‘1 July 2023 electricity price increases’.

[2] DCCEEW, as reported in RenewEconomy (2023). ‘Rooftop solar saves money, and batteries can wipe out bills’

[3] For example, see: Climate Council (2022) – ‘Switch and Save: How Gas is Costing Households’.

[4] Parliamentary Budget Office (2025). Estimate based on the fiscal cost over 2025-26 to 2029-30. Fiscal cost over forward estimates period from 2025-26 to 2027-28 is $2.065 billion