Latrobe City’s electric opportunity to tap into savings
Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
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When Ringwood East resident Alex Robertson installed an electric heat pump hot water system more than six months ago, the results were immediate.
“Getting the heat pump was an easy switch – it’s quiet, gives us reliable hot water when we need it, and was hassle-free to install,” Alex said.
“Our move towards making our home electric has drastically cut our bills and it feels great to be running the house more sustainably.”
By making the switch, Alex estimates that his household energy bills have reduced by around $400 a year.
Now, households in Latrobe City will also be able to reduce their energy bills by upgrading to efficient electric heat pump hot water systems through an expansion of the Victorian Government’s SEC Victoria (SEC) one-stop-shop pilot.
The expansion means Latrobe City residents can get a free quote from a trusted, SEC-endorsed installer, learn how heat pump hot water systems work, compare products and indicative prices, and see all government discounts and rebates.
“Through its expanded pilot, SEC is providing Latrobe City households with trusted, simple information, products and services to help them make the switch to hot water systems and save on their energy bills,” SEC CEO Chris Miller said.
“SEC is not only investing in wind, solar and storage to bring more affordable renewable energy online, but helping households access the information, products and services that will help them benefit from the transition.”
Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio yesterday announced the expansion of the pilot to Latrobe City – supporting households in Morwell, Moe, Newborough, Traralgon, Churchill and other parts of the region.
Water heating accounts for around 20 per cent of household energy costs and switching to an energy efficient electric heat pump can save you $330 a year off your energy bills.
For households with solar, like Alex’s, the savings are even greater – households can heat their hot water for free by setting their heat pump hot water system to heat water when the sun generates the most energy.
Eligible households could also receive a rebate and discount of up to $1,500 on their heat pump or solar hot water installation through the Solar Homes program and the Victorian Energy Upgrades program.
The heat pump hot water pilot is also available to residents in Ballan, Maroondah and the Yarra Ranges, while households in the areas of Casey, Ballarat and Merri-bek can also access the installer network – which will roll out across the state in 2026.
SEC has partnered with endorsed installers ADSolar and Electrical, SPECIALIZED Solar & Electrical, and Solargain PV Pty Ltd to make it simpler for Latrobe City residents to access expert installation.
More local, regional and metro installer and trade businesses with expertise in home electrification are encouraged to apply.
For more information on the pilot, households can call 1300 305 700 or visit secvictoria.com.au/households.
Experienced in multiple disciplines including maintenance and operations, Supervision, Plant Operations, Planning, QA and Outage Coordination.
2wGreat article, however it would have been nice to see an EEMC Earthworker Energy Manufacturing Cooperative tank in the picture being that they are manufactured in Morwell.