Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) — (12 771) My constituency question is to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. What action is the government taking to reduce energy costs for low-income and disadvantaged households in Yuroke? As I have noted previously, energy costs can make up a significant portion of our day-to-day expenses. This is especially true for low-income or financially stressed households. As in previous years, I am sure that over the coming cold months constituents will visit my office asking for assistance with power expenses, an experience likely shared by others in this place. I look forward to informing Yuroke constituents of assistance that is available to them when the minister responds.

Response:

Comparing retail price offers

I would encourage your constituents to find the best energy offer available. Customers who engage in the market and switch retailers can make significant savings on their energy bills.

The Andrews Labor Government recently launched a new and improved independent price comparison tool to help Victorians save money on their energy bills. The website, Victorian Energy Compare, is an independent tool that helps Victorians find the best electricity, gas or solar offer. It is the only independent price comparison tool that has every generally available electricity, gas and solar tariff on the market.

Victorian Energy Compare makes it easier for Victorians to review their energy plan and save money, with data from the website showing that nine out of every ten users can save money by switching energy offers, and seven out of every ten users can save $220 or more on their annual energy costs.

Victorian Energy Compare can be found at www.vic.gov.au/victorianenergycompare, and the government has committed funding in the 2017/18 Budget to pilot an energy brokerage service to support hardship and culturally diverse consumers.

Energy efficiency measures

The residents of Yuroke may be interested in accessing the government’s Victorian Energy Upgrades Program which provides discounts on energy efficiency services and products.

The Victorian Energy Upgrades program has been successful in helping Victorians manage their energy costs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and supporting over 2,000 jobs across Victoria. It has benefited all Victorians, particularly those on lower incomes. On average, households can save $150 a year on energy bills while small to medium businesses can save $670 or more. For larger businesses, dollar savings can run into the hundreds of thousands, depending on their upgrades.

The scheme includes several energy efficiency products for households, such as lighting, heating and weather sealing. You can find out more about the program by visiting https://www.victorianenergysaver.vic.gov.au/victorian-energy -upgrades.

Victorians can also take advantage of the Residential Efficiency Scorecard. The Scorecard enables Victorians to obtain a star rating for their home, in the same way as a fridge or washing machine has a star rating. The star rating is a representation of the running cost of the fixed appliances in the home. It guides householders to make home improvements efficiently and cost effectively. To learn more, please visit: < span style=”font-family: ‘Arial’,sans-serif”>http://victorianenergysaver.vic.gov.au/residential-efficienc y-scorecard.

The government has also announced the Home Energy Assist (HEA) Program to help low income households with their energy costs. The HEA program has three streams:

•1. Affordable Retrofits will support more than 800 Victorian concession card holders with home energy retrofits, appliance replacements, solar panels and energy literacy programs.

•2. EnergySmart Public Housing will replace inefficient electric water heaters and electric heaters in 1,300 public housing properties and deliver tailored upgrades to a further 200 homes.

•3. Victorian Healthy Homes will upgrade the homes of 1,000 vulnerable Victorians with complex healthcare needs and low incomes.

Further details are available at w ww.energy.vic.gov.au/energy-efficiency/home-energy-assist

Victorian energy retail market review
The government shares your and your constituent’s concerns regarding the pressures Victorian residents are facing from rising electricity and gas prices. The government announced an independent bipartisan review into electricity and gas retail markets in Victoria to investigate the behavior of energy retailers.

The review is expected to report to the government shortly.

Hon Lily D’Ambrosio MP
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change