Media release

17 June 2026

Helping low and middle-income households access no-interest loans for home energy upgrades is a welcome step, but vulnerable renters in social and affordable housing must not be left behind, the Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW) says.

The call follows reports the NSW Government will provide eligible low and middle-income households with up to $15,000 in no-interest loans to install solar panels, batteries and other energy-saving upgrades.

CHIA NSW CEO Luke Achterstraat said the pre-budget announcement recognised the growing pressure rising energy costs and extreme weather were placing on households across the state.

“Helping low and middle-income households improve the energy efficiency of their homes is a positive step that will reduce power bills and improve comfort year-round, but many of the people most vulnerable to high energy costs and extreme temperatures are living in ageing social and affordable housing,” Mr Achterstraat said.

“As we move through winter, too many low-income households are living in homes that are difficult and expensive to keep warm. The same properties often become unbearably hot during summer.

“Vulnerable tenants in older social and affordable housing are among those most exposed to extreme weather, and they’re also among the least able to absorb rising energy costs.

“These are the households that stand to benefit most from energy upgrades, yet they are often the ones missing out.”

Mr Achterstraat said CHIA NSW is calling on the NSW Government to make a significant investment in upgrading ageing social and affordable housing as part of the upcoming State Budget including:

• A $1 billion investment over four years to expand the NSW Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative and accelerate upgrades to ageing public and community housing properties.

• Reform of the NSW Energy Savings Scheme to better support large-scale energy efficiency upgrades across social housing portfolios.

• The establishment of a Social Housing Retrofit Accelerator to coordinate energy upgrades and support the rollout of home energy performance disclosure.”

“Investing in energy upgrades for social and affordable housing is good social policy, good economic policy and good environmental policy,” Mr Achterstraat said.

“It lowers energy bills, improves health outcomes, reduces pressure on the electricity grid and helps cut emissions.

“Extreme weather is becoming more frequent and more severe. We can’t afford to leave the people most vulnerable to its impacts behind.”

Media contact: Bron Matherson, 0438 844 765 or Tamara Kotoyan, 0430 291 890