By AIDAN KNIGHT
THE state government hopes to see Latrobe Valley households with lower energy bills, with the opportunity to upgrade hot water systems now available.
This can be achieved by the integration of an electric heat pump, which is included in the recent expansion of the government’s ‘SEC one stop shop’ pilot program.
Minister for Energy and Resources (and the SEC), Lily D’Ambrosio, made the announcement from the home of a Latrobe resident already using the new system last week.
Included in this promise is Latrobe Valley residents’ ability to acquire a free quote from a trusted SEC-endorsed installer, of which there are currently three in the region.
“They have to go through a really rigorous screening process, and what we want to make sure is that the SEC will only have a list of accredited installers that are experienced,” the Minister said.
“So we don’t want anyone who’s just joined the market. We need to make sure that they come with experience that can be trusted. They come with all the necessary qualifications, as well as the code of practice that exists across the entire industry. And they come with an attitude that’s about helping Victorians, and that’s what we want.”
One of those installers is a Moe-based small business, Adsolar, who were represented on the day by owner-operator Adam Robertson.
Mr Robertson spoke alongside the Minister at a home he has already installed the unit in, prior to the pilot, Michael Cleef.
Mr Cleef has lived in the Moe/Newborough area all his life, and has “been on a kick” installing renewables as much as possible.
His home now features solar panels, a battery system, an electric car, and a heat pump hot water system, resulting in remarkably low monthly electricity bills of “just $60 in the cold of winter”.
Mr Cleef cited the hot water system to be one of the best changes he’s made.
“Heating water typically accounts for 20 per cent of household energy bills,” Ms D’Ambosio noted. “By switching to an energy-efficient heat pump, an average family can save around $330 annually.”
Latrobe City households can access up to $1500 in rebates and discounts ($1000 through the Solar Homes Program and about $500 through the Victorian Energy Upgrades scheme). Households that choose an Australian-made system will also be eligible for an additional $400 bonus, and have been since July 1. Adsolar has installed around 150 of the electric hot water pumps in the past 18 months, and only expect to be busier now that they have been included in the pilot.
But not everyone is pleased with the Minister’s claims. The National’s Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, accused the government of misleading residents when speaking about job creation and household savings in the energy sector.
“Power prices have increased 22 per cent since 2021, with the average household bill now costing $1667,” he said. “There’s no relief in sight.”
Mr Cameron also viewed the imminent closure of coal-fired power stations, which the Minister declared Morwell to be “the heart of for the state”, would cost the Valley more jobs than Ms D’Ambrosio could promise to create.
“For the Minister to claim she is delivering on any front in the Latrobe Valley is a complete slap in the face to every resident her government has neglected for the past 11 years,” Mr Cameron said.
This is not the perspective of Mr Cleef, who can’t speak highly enough of the electric pump and every other renewable he’s purchased in his current living arrangement for his family of three.
“If you can afford to do it, and the government makes it more affordable through rebates, then I’d wholeheartedly recommend it,” he said.
Unfortunately, it does come down to just this: if you can afford to do it, and in the current cost-of-living crisis, these rebates may not mean a whole lot to many families.
