2026-10-15
The Victorian Greens have unveiled a new election policy to cut power bills for renters, apartments and public schools.
The plan will help more Victorians access cheap renewable energy, including renters and apartment residents who have traditionally missed out on the benefits of rooftop solar.
Under the plan:
Renters could access up to $3,000 for energy upgrades, including insulation, solar panels and efficient electric appliances.
Homeowners could access $1,500 grants.
Apartment residents could install plug-in balcony solar systems from 2027, with new rights for renters to allow the systems, and new planning rules to make new apartments solar-ready.
Government schools would receive grants to install solar panels, cutting electricity bills and freeing up funding for classrooms. The current scheme requires schools to pay back savings from installing solar to the Government, meaning schools don’t currently get to keep the savings. The Greens plan would change that.
These household upgrades can save more than $1,000 a year on energy bills, with the vouchers available on top of existing rebates and the VEU scheme.
The policy forms part of the Greens' broader plan to expand publicly owned renewable energy and ensure the savings flow directly back to Victorians, not corporate shareholders.
Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens Leader Ellen Sandell:
"Everyone deserves cheaper power bills, whether they own a home, rent an apartment or send their kids to a public school."
"Renters shouldn't be stuck with sky-high bills because their landlord won't install insulation or solar.”
“The technology exists for ‘balcony solar’ overseas, there’s no reason that the hundreds of thousands of people living in apartments in Victoria shouldn’t be able to plug into solar and save money too.”
“This is all part of the Greens plan for more cheap, clean, renewable energy powering our homes and communities.”
Quotes attributable to the Victorian Greens spokesperson for Education, Anasina Gray-Barberio:
“By putting solar panels on every public school, we’re saving money that can go directly into teachers, classrooms and our kids’ learning instead of massive electricity bills.”