7th April 2010
NSW homeowners can expect to pay up to 64 per cent more over the next three years for electricity if the Federal Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) is introduced.
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) confirmed last month that if the CPRS is introduced – Country Energy bills will rise by 64 per cent, adding $918 to a typical household customer’s energy bill by 2013, while EnergyAustralia and Integral Energy bills by $754 and $577 respectively to a typical customer’s bills.
If the CPRS is not introduced, IPART estimated average prices will increase by a cumulative total of 20 per cent for Integral Energy, 36 per cent for Energy Australia, and 42 per cent for Country Energy over the next three years.
Mr Romano Bolzon, National Business Manager for EcoSmart said, “It’s timely for householders to consider the energy efficient measures of a solar hot water system, which in effect will help them save more money in the long-run. There are still generous rebates around to help with the up-front financial investment in environmental water heaters.
“As it stands with Federal, State and Renewable Energy Certificate rebates in NSW, the homeowner is entitled to a total of nearly $3,000 off the upfront cost of switching to a solar water heater, plus the pure ongoing savings afterwards on their energy bills,” he added.
Electric hot water systems account for 30 per cent of a household’s energy consumption, and switching to an environmental water heater like solar or heat pumps is the biggest single thing that can be done in the home to reduce energy bills.
“Homeowners are now starting to realise the importance of investing in environmental technologies. They have started to understand that it is important for more sensible energy use in the home, and that environmental products like solar hot water will offset some of these price rises by putting more money back into their pockets,” Mr Bolzon concluded.
For further information on EcoSmart’s energy-efficient range of hot water heaters please visit www.ecosmart.com.au or call 1300 EcoSmart.
Media enquiries can be directed to: Diana Bauer at City PR on (02) 9267 4511 or dbauer@citypublicrelations.com.au
