The Albanese and Allan Labor Governments are helping cut the cost of living for community housing renters with a funding boost to deliver more energy efficient and comfortable homes.
Federal Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Wilson, with Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D'Ambrosio and Victorian Minister for Housing and Building Harriet Shing announced $9 million in funding for community housing providers to make their properties more energy efficient.
The funding includes $7 million from the Victorian Energy Efficiency in Social Housing Program (EESHP) and $2 million from the Commonwealth Government's Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative (SHEPI).
This will help community housing renters to save more than $1,000 every year through the energy efficiency upgrades.
Grants of up to $18,000 per property will be available to community housing organisations to deliver a variety of energy upgrades, including reverse cycle air conditioners, draught proofing, ceiling insulation, electric induction cooktops, hot water heat pumps and solar rooftop PV.
This funding builds on almost $210 million investment to deliver energy efficiency upgrades to 23,600 social housing homes, including converting 5,000 homes to all-electric.
More 700 public housing renters in Victoria are already benefiting from lower energy bills and more comfortable, healthy, all-electric homes.
This joint federal-state funding stream gives community housing organisations the opportunity to deliver energy efficiency upgrades for their renters, driving down energy bills.
Public and community housing renters across Victoria can soon slash their energy bills even further and enjoy a more comfortable, energy efficient home through the new ceiling insulation upgrade activity under the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) Program.
The VEU discount will slash the average ceiling insulation install costs by up to $1,500 and help residents slash their energy bills by around $400 a year.
The first stage of the introduction of ceiling insulation to the VEU program will start in March 2026. Public and community housing that have no or low levels of ceiling insulation will be eligible for discounts on the installation of insulation. Stage 2 will expand to all eligible Victorian households from late 2026.
Community housing organisations can now apply for funding under the Community Housing Upgrades stream, with applications open until 5pm Friday 13 February.
For more information, visit energy.vic.gov.au/grants/energy-efficiency-in-social-housing-program.
As stated by Federal Assistant Minister for Climate and Energy Josh Wilson
"We're making sure community housing renters get the benefits of energy efficiency upgrades - lower bills and more comfortable homes. This investment is about fairness and helping households save money."
As stated by Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D'Ambrosio
"Our focus is on cutting the cost of living for Victorians, that's why we're helping more homes upgrade to energy efficient appliances and slash hundreds of dollars off their energy bills each year."
As stated by Victorian Minister for Housing and Building Harriet Shing
"These upgrades are another way we're families in social housing to save money on their bills and live more
comfortably."
As stated by Member for Oakleigh Steve Dimopoulos
"By delivering energy efficient homes for Victorian social housing renters, we are not only creating more healthy and liveable communities and reducing emissions."
