MEDIA RELEASE

July 10, 2013

ORC heating subsidy to change from November

Eligible Central Otago residents have just over three months left to obtain the current level of heating subsidy under the Otago Regional Council’s Clean Heat Clean Air programme.

Government contributions to the programme ended on June 30. However, ORC, supported by the Central Lakes Trust, is continuing to offer the current heating subsidies to residents in the Air Zone 1 area (Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell, Arrowtown) until October 31.

The subsidies, for retrofitting clean heating appliances in these Central Otago Air Zone 1 homes, are $1500 to those on general incomes and $2000 to Community Service Card holders. The subsidy for Milton households remains the same at $1500 for approved appliances.

The council was no longer able to offer subsidies for home insulation, and the changes had come about largely due to the loss of the Government’s share of funding, ORC director regional services Jeff Donaldson said.

ORC, as the remaining funding body, was committed to continuing to do what was possible to assist people in Airzone 1 to clear the air, while at the same time ensuring they enjoyed warm homes, Mr Donaldson said.

The programme would continue to be funded through the existing targeted rates provision.

From 1 November, the council’s Clean Heat Clean Air programme subsidy for Air Zone 1 households would be $1500 per property regardless of whether or not applicants held a Community Services Card.

The subsidy would apply to approved clean heating appliances and be subject to applicants agreeing to the removal of any non-complying burners in their property.

The Clean Heat Clean Air programme, which has been operating since 2007, was designed to help Central Otago and Milton residents replace their non-compliant heaters and fires with more efficient, cleaner burning systems.

So far the programme has seen more than 2500 houses fitted with modern heating appliances and more than 3000 houses fitted with insulation.

ENDS

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