Am I Eligible For A Solar Energy Rebate?

What Is The Solar Homes Program?

Introduced in 2009, the Solar Homes Program is an Australian government scheme that provides rebates of up to $1400 for solar panel system installation for homeowners. It also includes the option of an interest-free loan to reduce installation costs, which is required to be repaid over four years.

Only authorised solar providers are eligible to take part in the scheme, and products must be on an approved list to warrant a rebate.

Homeowners wanting to apply for the rebate can contact a solar provider for a quote. The retailer is responsible for uploading the quote to the Portal, where an eligibility assessment takes place. On confirmation, the retailer will claim the rebate on behalf of the homeowner and deduct the rebate amount from the total cost of the system.

Who Is Eligible For A Solar Energy Rebate?

To be eligible to receive a rebate for installing a solar panel system, households must meet the following criteria:

· they are the owner-occupier of the property 

· the owners have a combined taxable income of less than $180,000 per year

· they have not already received a rebate from the Solar Homes Program

· the property is valued at under $3 million

· the property exists (it is not a pending build)

· they do not have an existing solar PV system.

Why Invest In Solar Energy?

There are many advantages to solar energy that are causing more and more Australians to consider installing their own solar panels.

Firstly, installing solar can reduce your household energy bills. On average, Victorians with solar panels save $890 per year on electricity bills. Although there is an initial upfront cost, in the long term solar panels can save you a lot of money.

Additionally, some solar panel owners actually make money by selling their excess energy back to the energy grid. This additional power could generate what are called feed-in tariffs for the homeowners.

Secondly, solar power is better for the environment. If you are concerned about the impact of fossil fuels on the planet, investing in solar energy is a great way to produce less carbon emissions and create a more positive environmental outcome. Solar is the most cost-effective way to generate electricity with limited impact on the natural world.

Installing solar panels can increase the value of your home. These energy producing assets are seen as extremely valuable to home buyers, so the cost of installation will be repaid to you if you decide to move.

Finally, solar power is now more reliable than ever before. Concerns about only having power when the sun is shining have long gone, thanks to better storage options that provide a consistent electricity supply over the long term.