Public submissions have opened for a Victorian inquiry into expanding access to renewable and affordable electricity for people living in apartments, townhouses and other multi-unit dwellings.
The Legislative Assembly Environment and Planning Committee will consider current barriers and inequities to accessing renewable and affordable energy for apartment dwellers and options to increase access.
The uptake of residential solar systems in Victoria has primarily been confined to detached housing, typically inhabited by older owner-occupiers with higher incomes.
Approximately 12% of Victoria’s 2.5 million households live in apartments. Of these, around 63% are renting, with low-income households overrepresented among apartment residents.
“Increasing the uptake of residential solar on rented apartments and social housing could ease the burden of high electricity prices on some of Victoria’s most vulnerable households,” said Committee Chair, Juliana Addison.
The inquiry will consider recent changes to technology and electricity supply; barriers to accessing renewable and affordable electricity compared with other households; options including shared rooftop solar, balcony or facade solar, community batteries and virtual power plants and how those options affect different households; and any legislative, regulatory, planning or market reforms that could support the implementation of options, consistent with Victoria’s legislated emissions reduction and renewable energy targets.
The Government has legislated targets of 65% renewable electricity generation by 2030 and 95% by 2035.
“Making sure all types of households have the opportunity to be part of that transition is vital if we are to meet those targets in a fair and equitable way,” Ms Addison said.
The terms of reference are available on the Committee’s website. The closing date for submissions is 27 February 2026. The Committee will report by the end of September 2026.
