By Callum Ludwig
A re-elected Labor Government has promised to deliver neighborhood batteries in Baw Baw, Cardinia and Casey council areas in a bid to restore government-owned energy.
The pledge includes reviving the State Electricity Commission (SEC) and empowering the state with cleaner, cheaper renewable electricity to lower bills while supporting 59,000 Victorian jobs, the government said.
Labor said it would invest $42 million to install 100 neighborhood batteries across Victoria, tripling the number of homes with access to a battery and providing significant additional storage capacity for in local communities.
Adding storage capacity means more households can reap the rewards of returning excess solar-generated electricity to the grid through feed-in tariffs. As a result, many households will have access to cheaper renewable energy – even if they don’t have their own solar panels, the government said.
The Victorian Liberals and Nationals also committed to neighborhood batteries on Tuesday 1 November, through their Power to the People Plan, where community organizations can access grants of up to $1 million as part of the $100 million Net Zero Renewables Community Projects Fund. to install solar panels, large batteries, and other supporting infrastructure.
Under the Power to the People Plan, one million households will be given rebates of up to $4400 – $1400 for solar panels and $3000 for home batteries – with the rebates doubled for residential properties. – rent.
Shadow Minister for Energy and Renewables David Southwick said the Liberals and Nationals plan would give households greater control over their power and help cut energy bills.
