UP to 25,000 low income households could have their power bills reduced under a carbon tax-funded scheme to improve energy efficiency.
Climate Change Minister Greg Combet on Monday announced the first 11 recipients of funding from the Low Income Energy Efficiency Program (LIEEP).
Each of the 11 projects – which will be delivered by groups including the Nature Conservation Council NSW, Environment Victoria and Mission Australia Housing – will attempt to tackle the barriers preventing households from adopting energy efficient measures.
Mr Combet says the LIEEP is funded by the carbon price, and will enable "low income households to find the capital costs to invest in energy efficiency measures and so reduce their energy bills".
He said the scheme would target households that have not benefited from previous energy efficiency schemes, such as solar panels on roof tops.
"A lot of people who rent and are on low incomes live in flats and don't have the opportunity to take advantage of those programs, so we're looking for ways to deliver to people in a very specific part of the market," Mr Combet told reporters in Sydney.
The 11 Round One recipients will share $39.8 million from the total LIEEP fund of $100 million, with their projects rolled out over the next four years.
Activities will include retrofitting low income households with energy efficient appliances, installing in-home displays to show energy consumption and providing financial training.