When you are on a low income and you rent governments have a tendency to place you in the too hard basket when it comes to clean renewable energy schemes

The Australian Census found that in 2018 the NSW state population stood at 7.48 million people.

An est. 826,922 or 31.8 per cent of these individuals lived in rental accommodation.

Over 15.2 per cent of NSW renting households are paying between est. 25.1% and 50% or more of gross weekly household income in rent.

These people cannot afford to enter this new Berejiklian Coalition Government renewable  energy scheme, because as renters they have no real security of tenure and would be permanently foregoing a $285 annual  low income household rebate with no hope of recouping the initial $3,500 solar panel installation cost when their landlords refuse to renew the lease or sell the property.

Indeed, I rather suspect that like other home solar power incentive schemes certain categories of renters would be ineligible to even apply.

Energy NSW, 28 September 2018:

The NSW Government has announced $15 million in clean energy funding for a new solar program aimed at saving low-income households hundreds of dollars each year on their power bills.

Acting Secretary of the Department of Planning and Environment, Dr Liz Develin said up to 3,400 households are expected to take part in the voluntary program which will see homes receive 2.5 kilowatt solar power systems if they forgo their Low Income Household Rebate.

The trial scheme will be rolled out in five selected State regions that will maximise the benefit of solar for local households.  The regions are: Sydney – South, Central Coast, North Coast, Illawarra – Shoalhaven and South Coast.

“The bill savings from the rooftop solar trial are expected to be close to double the value of existing rebate savings with an average bill reduction of $600 per household per year. This means that households who choose to participate in the program could be around $300 better off each year,” Dr Develin said.

“The program is entirely voluntary and eligible recipients will be able to reap the benefits of the program by transferring off the rebate program in return for a rooftop solar system.

“We know energy bills are placing pressure on low-income consumers, so we must ensure that we are doing everything we can to offer support for struggling households.”

The latest round of clean energy funding has now seen a direct injection of over $170 million into providing energy bill relief for households and businesses, including in regional NSW.

For more information about the solar program go to: www.energy.nsw.gov.au