Joint Statement - Labor's energy upgrades program in chaos

Joint Statement – Labor’s energy upgrades program in chaos

David Davis, Shadow Minister for Energy, Affordability and Security

James Newbury, Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change

1 February 2024.

Labor’s energy upgrades program is in disarray with complaints about poor quality and potentially unsafe installations.

The high cost of carbon credit certifications and lack of oversight of the program has opened the door to unscrupulous operations amid numerous concerns over the quality and safety of products.

It has also led to a bombardment of unsolicited telemarketing calls to residents right across Victoria.

The energy upgrades program was set up to allow registered installers to replace household and business appliances with more energy-efficient appliances, after which the installer can purchase carbon credit certificates before selling them to energy retailers on the open market.

However, amidst numerous concerns about the program, the cost of Labor’s green schemes remains the highest in the country – $188 annually for every consumer.

The Victorian Energy Upgrade program is a big component of these expensive green scheme cross subsidies – around $99 annually for Victorian consumers.

Shadow Minister for Energy Affordability and Security, David Davis, said: “The Minister who brought us the multi-fridge delivery scheme has now brought us a failed appliance program that has been run incompetently.

“Energy costs have surged under Labor, growing faster in Victoria than any other state – electricity costs up 28% and gas costs up 25%. The mismanagement of these schemes directly adds to the energy bills of Victorian households and businesses, with poorer Victorians hit hardest.”

Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change, James Newbury, said: “Labor’s program puts environment and climate change goals in jeopardy while Victorians are left with poor quality or even unsafe installations.

“Victorians are paying the price for yet another Labor scheme that has been mismanaged.”

David Davis, Shadow Minister for Energy, Affordability and Security

James Newbury, Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change