Under the Warm Dunedin scheme, ratepayers can borrow up to $5000 from the Dunedin City Council to insulate and/or install heating in their homes.
They must pay it back via a targeted rate over 10 years, paying only the interest it costs the council to borrow the money for the scheme.
The council started the scheme to complement the subsidies available to homeowners through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority's (EECA) Heat Smart programme to install insulation. However, since September 1, EECA subsidies have only been available to low-income households.
Councillors this week decided to continue the council scheme, within the remaining budget.
It is available to any ratepayer.
The council borrowed $2.25 million for the scheme, which started in February.
Since then $1,231,640 has been allocated for installations of insulation and/or heating in 457 houses.
Based on the average cost of installations, the council estimates the remaining $1,018,360 could allow installation and/or heating to be installed in about 250 to 300 more houses.
Twelve other councils offering similar targeted rate schemes have also chosen to continue them.
Approved EECA providers will still be used for installation under the Warm Dunedin pilot scheme.
It was better for the council to continue to run it, Cr Chris Staynes said, to gauge properly how the community was responding.
''It is our responsibility to provide means that will encourage the owners of cold houses to try to do something about it.''
Staff will report back to the council in April, as part of the annual plan deliberations, with recommendations for the long-term future of the scheme.
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