Summary: Master Electricians Australia (MEA) is leading the charge in promoting the role of licensed electrical contractors in the country’s electrification journey. MEA advocates for financially equitable access to Consumer Energy Resources (CERs), supporting government policies like electrification rebates and loans. The Federal Government’s $1 billion Household Upgrades Energy Fund aims to reduce energy bills for over 110,000 households and promote greener homes. This initiative is expected to create more job opportunities for MEA members as demand for CER installation and maintenance grows.

Promoting the role of licensed electrical contractors in facilitating Australia’s transition towards electrification is a core advocacy policy at MEA. To ensure successful and prosperous electrification career opportunities for our members, it is vital that Australian households have financially equitable access to Consumer Energy Resources. As part of our ongoing advocacy campaigns, we promote financial policies such as Government provided electrification rebates and loans.¹

You can view some of the work our Advocacy team has been doing to promote consumer energy resources here: https://www.masterelectricians.com.au/advocacy/

We are pleased to announce the Federal Government’s 2023/24 $1 billion budget commitment for the Household Upgrades Energy Fund has now been released. This “will help more than 110,000 households lower their energy bills, ensuring homes are warmer in winter and cooler in summer. It is also helping to fast-track the retrofit of greener, more sustainable homes Australia-wide.”¹

We anticipate this will lead to increased work opportunities for our members, as consumer demand for the installation and maintenance of consumer energy resources is expected to rise.

Available loans include:

• Green home loans – To back renovation and retrofits using clean energy technologies to significantly improve energy performance levels determined through credible home energy assessments.
• Green personal loans – Used for home energy improvements and clean energy technologies.
• Knock-down rebuild properties and energy-efficient appliances.

The loans can be used for electrification technologies such as ²–

• Battery-ready rooftop solar and homes batteries
• Energy monitoring systems
• Electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Simultaneously, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and Angle Auto Finance are introducing a $50 million program, allowing consumers to secure loans over the next two years to purchase electric vehicles. Unlike the above household electrification loans, these loans will not require repayment until the vehicle is sold.³ We are advocating for household electrification loans to follow a similar repayment schedule.

¹ Household Energy Upgrades Fund | energy.gov.au

² Household Energy Upgrades Fund – Clean Energy Finance Corporation – Clean Energy Finance Corporation (cefc.com.au)

³ Australian Government partnerships to boost EV uptake and infrastructure | energy.gov.au

Behind every successful electrical contractor is a silent business partner making it easier.