Households and small businesses in NSW could save more than $1000 a year on power bills under a plan to boost the uptake of solar, batteries and energy efficiency upgrades.
Premier Chris Minns has unveiled a $290 million Consumer Energy Strategy outlining 50 steps to help consumers upgrade to energy saving tech, amid the cost-of-living crisis.
"Through the strategy, we are making it easier for households and small businesses to access the cost saving benefits of solar panels, batteries and heat pumps, while they reduce their emissions," Mr Minns said on Monday.
“Having more energy saving technologies in homes and small businesses is the best way to help households and small businesses reduce energy bills, reduce emissions and improve electricity grid reliability.”
Consumers could save more than $1000 a year if they tapped into the plan.
"That might be a heat pump, it might be solar access, it might be solar panels," Mr Minns said.
Under the budget-allocated spend, there will be access to an incentive and rebate scheme, including a $238.9 million new Home Energy Saver program, to help with upgrades to energy saving technology.
The program will be launched by the end of 2025.
The wider strategy would also see new home energy ratings from 2025 so renters and buyers have more information on the cost of heating and cooling homes.
The number of of electrical safety inspectors would also be boosted to ensure the new technology is properly installed.
Energy Minister Penny Sharpe said the strategy was part of the government's plan "to supercharge the energy transition and put households and small businesses at the centre of this work".
The government wants rooftop solar to be as common as water tanks on houses.
The goal is for one million households and small businesses to have access to both a rooftop solar and battery system by 2035, building to nearly 1.5 million by 2050.
NSW plans to transition the state's energy systems from fossil fuels to renewable energy with a target of 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2050.
The Justice and Equity Centre, an independent law and policy group, said the strategy would progress household electrification and improve energy efficiency for vulnerable people.
It "offers a vision for a fairer NSW energy system, where some of the worst cost pressures are alleviated and household health and wellbeing is improved for many people experiencing disadvantage", centre program director Douglas McCloskey said.
The NSW Liberal opposition has been contacted for comment.
