Media Release

9 February 2019

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Michael Daley and Labor today announced that Labor will support 500,000 households to install roof top solar and help reduce their electricity bills over the next 10 years. This program will take NSW to over a million solar homes. Based on current take up rates for household solar, the program could help add solar to an additional 1 million homes over the next decade.

Labor’s Solar Homes policy will give households across NSW the chance to add solar panels to their homes and enjoy cheaper, cleaner and greener energy.

Under Labor’s Solar Homes policy, owner occupied households in NSW with a combined income of $180,000 or less would be eligible for a rebate, to be capped at $2,200 per household.

On average, households could expect to save up to $1,000 each year off their electricity bills.

This policy will create a “virtual” power plant for the state, generating up to an additional 2 GW/2000 MW of power once fully installed.

By comparison, Bayswater Power Station has a capacity of 2.64 GW/2640 MW and Mount Piper has a capacity of 2.8 GW/ 2800 MW.

Under the NSW Liberals, energy has been privatised and bills have skyrocketed, increasing by nearly 60%.

The program would be phased in, starting in the 2019-2020 financial year, to ensure an orderly rollout.

To ensure the safe installation of solar panels the program will also support workforce development, training and accreditation of electricians who will install the panels.

Michael Daley and Labor will ensure that this infrastructure will only be installed by accredited solar installers, using approved products, to ensure the best possible safety standards.

“Labor will deliver clean, affordable energy for half a million households across NSW,” Mr Daley said.

“The Liberals have privatised electricity and overseen the massive increases in power bills, but our solar homes policy will provide the help that families need.

“A government led by me will take climate change seriously, and support renewable energy across NSW.”

NSW Labor’s Deputy Leader and Shadow Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said, “Under this plan everyone wins. Families get help with their electricity bills and we are taking real action on climate change and giving NSW a cleaner, greener future.”

NSW Labor’s Leader in the Legislative Council and Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Adam Searle said, “Solar Homes is just one aspect of Labor’s plan for cheaper and cleaner energy across NSW. Our policies will cut both electricity bills and carbon emissions. We look forward to providing more in the lead up to the election.”