New South Wales residents will receive a $250 rebate for comparing energy providers and plans, in the latest Coalition election promise ahead of next month’s state election.
The premier, Dominic Perrottet, said households would be able to access the one-off cost-of-living payment by comparing energy plans using a tool on the Service NSW website.
The measure will be rolled out from 1 July to 31 December if the Liberal party wins the election on 25 March and will apply to everyone, including those already on a rebate.
The premier said households could also unlock up to $400 in further savings by changing to a cheaper deal.
He said the payment would reduce economic pressure on families across the state as the cost-of-living crisis bites.
“We know households are feeling the pinch right now and that’s why we will provide immediate bill relief as well as help families get a better energy deal,” Perrottet said.
“This will make a real difference to household budgets across NSW and [it’s] part of the Liberals and Nationals’ long-term economic plan to provide support for families and keep NSW moving.”
The deputy premier, Paul Toole, said the initiative would provide relief for families struggling to pay the bills.
“This program isn’t just for today, it’s a simple way families right across NSW can save money long-term, by assessing their provider,” he said.
“The hard-working people of NSW deserve to keep more of their hard-earned money and this initiative will help develop habits which will go well beyond the $250 payment.”
The NSW energy bill saver initiative is estimated to cost $500m, with two million households expected to participate.
The treasurer and minister for energy, Matt Kean, said the plan was a part of a $32bn roadmap that “will turbocharge the transition and deliver cheap energy for generations to come”.
The announcement comes as political parties across the state unveil a suite of election promises to sway voters ahead of next month’s vote.
NSW Labor promised last month to create a 300,000-hectare “great koala national park” if they win the election. They also said they would launch a literacy and numeracy tutoring program and create a $400m future education fund targeted at helping underfunded schools.
NSW Labor also pledged to scrap stamp duty for first home buyers on properties worth up to $800,000, in a bid to counter the Perrottet government’s tax changes.
The NSW Greens have also begun rolling out their agenda, saying public transport should be free and put back into public hands and pets should be allowed on board.
