The State Electricity Commission (SEC) is assisting Ballan households in lowering energy costs by transitioning to energy-efficient electric heat pump hot water systems. Victorian Minister for the State Electricity Commission, Lily D’Ambrosio, launched the pilot in Ballan. The pilot helps residents who want to save by swapping to a hot water heat pump through the SEC’s electric home planner.
“The SEC is building a one-stop-shop to make it easier for Victorians to get trusted information when looking to improve the energy performance of their homes and safe on their energy bills,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
“We’re helping busy families save on their energy bills – our rebate and discount programs have never been more popular, and this pilot will help families in Ballan save on their installation costs and energy bills.”
The SEC’s free online planner requires users to complete a short home and energy usage survey. It then tailors a plan to reduce their energy bills by switching to electric. The plan includes eligible government rebate costs, return on investment, emissions reductions and suitable appliances.
Eligible households could also receive a rebate of $1,000 on their heat pump or solar hot water installation through the Solar Homes program and a discount of around $500 through the Victorian Energy Upgrades program.
Heating water accounts for approximately 20 per cent of household energy use. By upgrading to a heat pump, households can save up to $250 a year on their energy bill or more if they have solar.
Ballan residents can browse a range of hot water heat pumps to find the right product for their home and connect with an SEC-endorsed local installer via the planner. The installer can then visit their home to provide a detailed quote and answer questions.
This pilot is part of the SEC’s work to build a trusted one-stop-shop that simplifies the process of going electric to cut energy bills and emissions. The pilot has already launched in the City of Ballarat, Casey and Merri-bek, and more than 6,000 households have used the planner in the first two months.
The SEC is helping Victorians learn more about their home energy use and the improvements they can make on all budgets. These improvements can range from small, low-cost steps that can be implemented immediately to more significant investments that can be made when their appliances reach the end of their lives.
To explore the SEC’s electric home planner, visit secvictoria.com.au/powerup or call 1300 305 700.
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