Yahoo Finance Why the NSW government is giving some households $1k this Christmas
In a bid to curb the use of low-efficiency air conditioning systems, the NSW government is offering households and small businesses discounts of up to $1,000 if they install a high-efficiency system.
The government said those who switch from a two-star unit to a five-star unit are likely to save $675 in bills over the system’s lifetime.
“It does not matter if you are buying an air conditioner for the first time or upgrading an old system, you will get a NSW government discount,” said NSW Minister for Environment Gabrielle Upton.
The program is designed to reduce both household bills and the pressure on electricity systems.
And the state’s power bill will be reduced by about $20 million.
The discounts range from $200 to $1,000 and households and small businesses can contact an approved installer through the Energy Saver website.
How to save even more
If you’re not interested in switching air conditioners, there are still other ways you can save on your energy bill.
A NSW service launched in November allows users to easily compare their energy providers and switch to a better plan.
One resident saved $1,600 over the year by using the Energy Switch program.
The service is available in-person at all Service NSW Centres or on the Service NSW website.
Further savings ahead?
The Labor party has also offered $2,000 rebates on solar power batteries if it is elected next year.
The rebate would be offered to 100,000 households as part of the party’s plan for 1 million battery-powered homes by 2025.
The program will be means tested for those earning less than $180,000 a year.
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