Rebates
Federal
As part of its bid to encourage more homeowners to use green energy, the Government is offering financial assistance to people installing solar hot water.
The Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme is designed to help households save money on power bills and reduce their carbon emissions. It means you could be eligible for a $1,000 rebate towards your solar hot water system and $600 towards the cost of your heat pump.
Heating water is responsible for around 40% of the average household electricity bill, so by installing a solar hot water system from Nu Energy and using the sun’s energy instead you’ll start saving money immediately.
To find out more visit www.environment.gov.au/energyefficiency/solarhotwater
State
Skip to SA | VIC | WA | NT | QLD | TAS | NSW | ACT
SA
A $500 rebate is available. This is predominantly for low income earners.
The types of installation eligible for the Federal rebate plus State rebate and RECs are:
- Replacing an electric water heater with a solar hot water system.
- Replacing an electric water heater with a solar boosted heat pump system.
The types of installation eligible for the State rebate plus RECs are:
- Replacing a gas water heater with a gas-boosted solar hot water system (bottled & reticulated gas).
- New homes installing a gas-boosted solar hot water system in a reticulated gas area.
- New homes installing a solar hot water system in a non-reticulated gas area.
The type of installation eligible for the State rebate is:
- Adding a solar retro-fit kit or pre-heater system to an existing water heater (under warranty for another three years).
VIC
Metropolitan Melbourne
Rebates range from $300 to $1,500 depending on the system size.
Regional Victoria
Rebates for complete systems range from $400 to $1,600 depending on the size and performance of a system.
Types of installation eligible for the Federal rebate plus State REGIONAL rebate and RECs are:
- Replacing an electric (or wood fuelled) water heater with an electric or LPG solar hot water system in a non gas reticulated area.
- Replacing an electric (or wood fuelled) water heater with a gas-boosted solar hot water system in a gas reticulated area.
Types of installation eligible for State REGIONAL/ METRO rebates plus RECs are:
- Replacing an existing solar hot water system with a new solar system (must be gas solar where reticulated gas is available).
- Replacing a wood or briquette water heater with a gas-boosted or electric solar hot water system or heat pump.
- Replacing a natural gas or LPG water heater with a gas-boosted solar system or heat pump.
Types of installation eligible for State REGIONAL/METRO rebates are:
- Adding solar panels to an existing off-peak electric water heater either with a pump or by thermosiphon as a retrofit kit.
- Adding a solar water heater to an existing natural gas or LPG water heater as a preheater.
The type of installation eligible for State METRO rebate is:
- Existing buildings requiring a custom designed system for a large hot water load.
WA
A $500 rebate is available for natural gas-boosted solar water heaters and a $700 rebate is available for bottled LP gas-boosted solar water heaters used in areas without reticulated gas.
Types of installation eligible for the State rebate and RECs are:
- New private and display homes and private residential developments installing a gas-boosted solar water heater.
- Existing homes installing a gas-boosted solar water heater.
The type of installation eligible for the Federal rebate and RECs is:
- Replacing an electric water heater with a solar hot water system or heat pump.
NT
Rebates of up to $1,000 are available from Power and Water for residential hot water systems that include a 'one shot' booster switch only.
This rebate is dependent upon the modifications required to the roof and is based on solar hot water systems that replace electric systems and attract at least 20 RECs under the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target.
Homes built in or prior to the year 2000 that have timber trusses in their roofs that will require reinforcement in order to support the new solar hot water system are eligible to receive the full $1,000 rebate.
Homes built in or prior to the year 2000 that have steel trusses in their roofs that will only require additional plumbing will only be eligible to receive up to $400 in rebates.
QLD
There are currently no State rebates available for solar hot water in Queensland.
TAS
A rebate is available to Hobart ratepayers, as part of the Hobart City Council Solar and Heat Pump Hot Water Rebate Scheme. The rebate provides a one-off payment of $500 per solar and heat pump hot water system for Hobart ratepayers who are ineligible for council’s current planning and building administration fee rebate and meet the following criteria:
- Have purchased and installed the solar hot water system between 1 July 2007 and 31 December 2011 or the heat pump hot water system between 1 November 2008 and 31 December 2011.
- Have replaced an existing electric storage hot water system and are eligible for at least 20 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) at the time and place of installation
- Are an owner-occupier of the property.
- Have installed the system on the property, which is located within the City of Hobart.
NSW
A state rebate of $300 is on offer for solar hot water products.
The type of installation eligible for the Federal rebate plus State rebate and RECs is:
- Replacing an electric water heater with a solar system or heat pump.
To receive the rebate, the solar hot water system must be installed before 30 June 2011.
NSW households are now capped at a total $1,200 rebate from the State government for all renewable solutions.
ACT
A rebate of up to $500 on solar hot water systems is available. However, in order to qualify, the homeowner is required to spend a minimum of $2,000 on energy saving systems around the home. The homeowner is also required to have an energy audit performed at the cost of $30 and provide supporting documentation. This audit charge is an additional refundable rebate upon installation of a solar hot water system.
Only houses and semi-detached houses built before 1996 are eligible for an audit. People who have an energy audit will be asked to provide their energy bill information so that energy use can be measured and improvements monitored. Information on how to apply for a rebate will be provided with the audit.
In order to receive the rebate homeowners must agree that the ACT Government can use their household energy bills for up to a year before and after the improvement measures to allow evaluation of the improvements.
The type of installation eligible for the Federal rebate plus State rebate and RECs is:
- Replacing an electric water heater with a solar hot water system or heat pump.
All rebates are accurate as at 20 April 2010.
