The Good Guy: Opposition pledges discounted electrical goods in power-saving scheme

Discounted TVs and fridges would be available for low-income households in a $40 million plan to upgrade energy-sapping electrical goods if the opposition wins the state election.

Victorian Liberal leader Matthew Guy will announce the scheme, which he says will save 85,000 households up to $325 a year, in Melbourne on Friday.

The scheme – which will be available to pensioners, health-care or concession card holders – would see the price of some flat-screen TVs halved. Fridges would be 40 per cent cheaper.

"Many Victorians who are doing it tough financially have ageing and energy-inefficient TVs and fridges but can't afford the cost of replacing them with energy saving models," Mr Guy said in a statement.

Appliances eligible for replacement include refrigerators which are six years old or more, and plasma and cathode ray tube televisions.

The program will cost $40 million over four years.

A similar scheme is already in place in NSW, where eligible residents receive discounts on new energy-efficient fridges and televisions.

Those who hold a pensioner card, health care or low-income health care card, or a veterans' affairs gold card in NSW are eligible to apply for the scheme. Replacement fridges or television are then delivered by The Good Guys with a discounted delivery fee, and old electrical appliances are removed.

- With AAP

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