Victorian households may now be eligible for a second solar rebate or interest-free loan from the state government.
As part of an extension to the Solar Homes Program in the state, households who have already claimed a rebate or loan in this program before may now be eligible for additional financial support when they move properties, or when their system is more than 10 years old.
The Solar Homes Program offers rebates and loans for the installation of solar panels, hot water systems and solar batteries for households. Previously, Victorians have been limited to one rebate per household.
In a statement, Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio said the state government hoped the program expansion would further drive home electrification in the state.
“By expanding eligibility to early adopters and those moving house, we are further enabling Victorians who are already engaged in the renewable energy transition to shift closer to whole of home electrification,” she said.
The announcement follows a separate expansion to the eligibility criteria for the Solar Homes Program earlier this year, which saw the annual taxable income threshold lifted to $210,000 per household. According to the Victorian Government, this now means more than 85% of homeowners in the state are eligible for the program.
The Solar Homes Program was first introduced in August 2018 and has since helped more than 260,000 Victorian households access solar panels, batteries and hot water systems.
The Victorian Government claims households can save up to $1,000 a year by installing solar panels and a further $2,200 a year when fully electrifying a home.
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How much are these solar rebates worth?
The rebate on offer from the Victorian Government differs depending on the appliance being installed. We have listed the rebates below for solar panels, hot water systems and solar batteries in Victoria:
- Solar Panels: Rebate of up to $1,400 available towards the installation of a panel system. Interest-free loan to the same amount is also available. Households must pay this loan off within four years.
- Solar Hot Water System or Heat Pump System: Rebates of up to $1,000 available.
- Solar Batteries: Interest-free loan of up to $8,800 available for the installation of a solar battery. Households must pay this loan off within four years.
Not in Victoria? See what solar rebates may be on offer to you in Canstar Blue’s state-by-state solar rebate guide.
Am I eligible for a solar rebate in Victoria?
You may be eligible for a solar rebate in Victoria if you meet the following criteria:
- Are the owner-occupier of an existing property or the owner of a home under construction.
- Have a combined household taxable income below $210,000 per year.
- Have a property valued under $3 million.
- Have not received a rebate in this program for the current property before.
- Have not installed a solar system in the last 10 years.
Households moving property are also now eligible for a second solar rebate at their new property. Those with systems older than 10 years can also apply for a rebate when replacing their old system at their property.
It is important to note however, that while households can now retain more than one rebate themselves, it must be at a different property or in place of a system older than 10 years. Households cannot claim this rebate on two solar systems at the same property.
Extended requirements may also apply for households interested in the hot water system or solar battery rebate regarding system sizes and ages.
Households who are interested in claiming one of the above solar rebates can do so by visiting the Solar Victoria website and following the steps listed.
Already got solar? Check out these solar electricity plans in Victoria
Here are some of the cheapest solar-specific deals from the retailers on our database. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices will vary depending on your circumstances. We show one product per retailer, listed in order of lowest price first. Annual price estimates assume general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Price estimates exclude solar feed-in tariff credits. These are products from referral partners†. Our database may not cover all deals in your area, and please check retailer websites for up to date information.
Image credit: jittawit21/Shutterstock.com
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