- Published:
- Tuesday 30 June 2026 at 7:00 am
Labor is delivering more affordable, comfortable homes for community housing renters in Victoria.
Minister D’Ambrosio and Minister Staikos today opened $9 million in grants to deliver thousands of energy efficiency upgrades to over 500 community housing homes.
These Community Housing Upgrades help to drive down power bills for community housing renters.
The energy efficiency upgrades expected to deliver household savings of over $1,000 every year.
Funding totalling an average of $18,000 per property can be used to deliver a variety of energy upgrades, including:
- reverse cycle air conditioners
- draught proofing
- ceiling insulation
- electric induction cooktops
- hot water heat pumps
- rooftop solar
It’s part of a $346.6 million investment from the Allan and Albanese Labor Governments to deliver 60,000 individual energy efficiency upgrades to over 23,000 social housing homes, including 5,000 all-electric homes.
There are already over 21,000 social housing renters benefitting from lower energy bills with 34,000 upgrades delivered – including 2,000 of these homes converted to all-electric.
Under the first round, eight community housing organisations received funding to deliver around 3,000 energy efficiency upgrades across more than 900 Victorian homes, improving comfort and reducing energy costs.
Applications for round 2 will closes Friday 21 August 2026.
This round is funded by the Allan Government’s Energy Efficiency in Social Housing Program, in partnership with the Albanese Government’s Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative.
For more information and to apply, visit energy.vic.gov.au/grants/energy-efficiency-in-social-housing-program.
Quote attributable to Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio
“Labor is driving down energy bills for Victorian community housing renters, investing in practical energy upgrades that make homes more comfortable and affordable all year round.”
Quote attributable to Victorian Minister for Housing Nick Staikos
“Everyone deserves a comfortable and affordable home and Labor is delivering it with energy upgrades to our community housing.”
Quote attributable to Federal Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Josh Wilson:
“With the cost of living hitting hard, we are working to ensure Victorian families can benefit from smart upgrades that deliver lower power bills and homes that are naturally more liveable year-round.”
Quote attributable to Member for Northern Metropolitan Sheena Watt
“For people in our community, this is about real, everyday savings. Lower energy bills and more comfortable homes are making a genuine difference to families.”