Helping low-income households deal with energy price shock

With energy prices rising, BSL has been working hard to support low-income households while developing lasting and innovative solutions to energy poverty and the transition to a net zero economy.

Over the past eight months, we have worked with our partners to assist over 9,000 households to access the Victorian Government’s $250 Power Saving Bonus (PSB) – representing more than $2 million in direct assistance. Many of these households would otherwise miss out due to language or technology barriers. We will also be helping households access the new round of the $250 PSB, launched in late March, and are awaiting new relief measures as part of the Federal Government’s May Budget.

While these one-off payments are welcome, we are also advocating for long-term bill relief based on durable energy saving modifications to people's homes, minimum standards for rental properties and reforms to the energy system.

Another new initiative up and running is our innovative Climate Safe Homes pilot project. We’re assisting people in poor quality homes, who have chronic health issues, to install efficient heating and cooling as well as rooftop solar. This helps lower bills and provide a healthier home environment (warm in winter, cool in summer) as we develop a sustainable model to transition to climate safe, 100 per cent electric homes.

As we help to accelerate the shift to a low-carbon economy, we continue to explore through our research and services opportunities to reduce household energy stress and ensure homes are energy efficient and safe for a changing climate. We must ensure households most at risk of poverty and disadvantage can seize these opportunities.