Advocacy group Parents for Climate applauds the Economics References Senate Committee report into residential electrification this week and calls for parties across the spectrum to back in the report’s findings with strong election commitments.
Parents for Climate CEO Nic Seton said he was pleased to see bipartisan agreement on the benefits of home electrification and now calls on the major parties to support what has long been understood by experts: electrification is the best and quickest way to permanently bring down power bills.
“Our research over several years has shown the potentially dramatic cost-savings that home electrification can bring. While it’s refreshing to see these common-sense findings are supported by a cross partisan committee, we’re yet to see the major parties reflect these permanent solutions to cost-of-living pressures in their election platforms.
“We surveyed over 1,400 families, and those who own their homes and are on higher incomes are choosing to save money by electrifying their appliances and getting off expensive gas. But those who rent or who can’t afford the upfront cost of upgrades, are locked into paying high costs. In a cost of living crisis Australian families need governments to do more to remove these barriers.
“Bill-busting energy solutions are the focus of our advocacy efforts in the lead up to the federal election. We’re asking all federal election candidates to pledge their support for clean energy upgrades that cut the cost of living.”
“217 candidates have already pledged, representing 117 lower house electorates and ten political parties, including Family First and One Nation. So we know there’s grassroots support all across the political spectrum for these reforms. Now we need action.
“Australian families who are struggling with the cost of living need major party platforms to reflect this common-sense. All party platforms need to clearly demonstrate how they’ll support cost-saving clean energy upgrades for families.”