Renters Face Energy Crisis: Rewiring Australia Calls for 'Right to Plug In' with Portable Solar and Battery
Breaking: Renters locked out of solar savings as Rewiring Australia demands portable energy rights
SYDNEY – Millions of Australian renters are missing out on energy savings because they cannot install rooftop solar, prompting Rewiring Australia CEO Francis Vierboom to call for a national 'right to plug in' policy that would give tenants access to portable solar panels and battery storage. Speaking on the Solar Insiders Podcast, Vierboom said the current market structure unfairly excludes renters from the clean energy transition.
Quotes from Francis Vierboom
"Renters are paying through the nose for electricity, yet they have no way to benefit from the falling cost of solar and batteries," Vierboom told the podcast. "We need a 'right to plug in' so that every household, regardless of tenure, can plug in portable solar and batteries and slash their bills."
"The technology exists – portable panels that sit on a balcony or in a yard, linked to a small battery. But government regulations and landlord reluctance are blocking adoption," he added.
Vierboom emphasised that the solution is not complex: "This isn't rocket science. It's about removing red tape and giving renters the same energy choices as homeowners."
Background: The rental energy divide
More than 30% of Australian households rent, yet renters have almost no access to rooftop solar – a key tool for reducing power bills. The Clean Energy Council estimates that rental properties are 80% less likely to have solar panels than owner-occupied homes.
Portable solar systems – such as folding panels and plug-in batteries – can reduce a household's electricity consumption by 20-40%, but their use remains niche due to regulatory hurdles and a lack of awareness.
The podcast also discussed recent government moves, including the federal government's new Energy Savings Scheme, which for the first time includes incentives for portable solar devices. However, Vierboom argued these measures do not go far enough.
What this means for renters and policy
If adopted, a 'right to plug in' would allow renters to install temporary, non-invasive solar and battery systems without needing landlord permission. This could save the average rental household over $600 a year on electricity bills, according to Rewiring Australia modelling.
"Every renter should have the right to plug in a portable solar generator without fighting their landlord or navigating absurd state regulations," Vierboom said. "This is about energy justice."
Industry groups warn that without policy change, the divide between homeowning 'solar haves' and renting 'solar have-nots' will widen. The podcast also touched on the growing trend of 'rental solar' business models, where companies install and maintain portable systems for a subscription fee – a model that could bypass current barriers.
Vierboom concluded by calling on state and federal energy ministers to prioritise this issue at their next meeting. "The technology is ready. The demand is there. All we need is the political will to cut red tape and give renters a fair go."
Listen to the full Solar Insiders Podcast episode for more analysis on the proposed 'right to plug in' and other energy news.