NEW Legislation passed in the Assembly today will require ActewAGL to provide households with subsidised or free energy efficiency upgrades.

About 70,000 households will be affected, providing ongoing energy bill savings of up to $300, per annum, by 2015. Upgrades include the installation of draught sealing and insulation, inefficient heaters, air conditioners and hot water systems.

The “Energy Efficiency (Cost of Living) Improvement Bill 2012″ was slammed this morning by the ACT Opposition this morning as  “not a cost of living help, it is a cost of living hit”.

ACT Greens energy spokesperson Shane Rattenbury said they are particularly supportive of the way this scheme will deliver benefits for low income households and renters.

“The new law mandates a focus on low income households who spend a much greater proportion of their income on energy,” he said.

“This is a practical measure to deliver long-lasting assistance to these households.

“Experience from the South Australian scheme has shown real benefits for renters. The proportion of renters participating is just as high as non-renters and this figure has been rising in recent years.

“The Greens strongly support the transition to a low-carbon Canberra and the alleviation of cost-of-living pressures for households. This legislation is a real way to reduce cost of living, now and in the long term.”