ACT energy scheme hopes for extension

energy scheme

The ACT government is proposing an extension of its energy efficiency improvement scheme, which gives Canberra residents access to incentives to install home insulation and switch to electric vehicles.

The Canberra Times reports Climate Change Minister Shane Rattenbury said the scheme would be extended to 2030, commencing January 1. It has been used by 70,000 Canberra households so far, and has cost $60 million.

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The scheme includes incentives such as ActewAGL’s fridge buyback scheme, rebates from the retailer to trade in old gas heaters for newer systems and so on.

The average weekly saving for participating households is $5.65 per week (2017 figures).

In 2017 alone, the scheme saved enough energy to power more than 21,000 households for one year.

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“The scheme is highly cost effective, delivering $2 in savings for every dollar spent,” Mr Rattenbury said.

“Preliminary modelling estimates that an [energy efficiency scheme] 10-year extension will cost up to a cumulative $209 million over 10 years while delivering lifetime energy bill savings of $444 million.”

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