Metropolitan Melbourne Solar Hot Water Rebate
Click here to check if you're within the Metropolitan boundary for the solar hot water program.
What is the Metropolitan Melbourne Solar Hot Water rebate?
The Solar Hot Water Rebate program provides rebates for installations in metropolitan Melbourne that:
- Replace a natural gas or LPG water heater with a gas-boosted solar system;
- Add solar to an to an existing natural gas or LPG water heater by installing a solar system as a preheater;
- Add solar to an existing electric water heater by installing a retrofit kit; and
- Replace an existing solar system with a new solar system (must be gas solar where reticulated gas is available).
For most other situations a financial incentive is available through the Commonwealth Government Solar Hot Water Rebate and/or Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). See the table below.
* Conditions apply refer to http://secure-au.imrworldwide.com/cgi-bin/b?cg=0&ci=vic-sustainability&tu=http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/rebates or telephone 1800 808 571.
** Indicates whether situation is eligible for a financial incentive through Commonwealth Government's Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) scheme. For example, if the REC price is $45 and your installation attracts 30 RECs you could save $1350. Your manufacturer can advise on RECs eligibility or visit http://secure-au.imrworldwide.com/cgi-bin/b?cg=0&ci=vic-sustainability&tu=http://www.orer.gov.au/swh
How do I get the rebate?
The Metropolitan Melbourne Solar Hot Water Rebate takes the form of a point-of-sale discount and is only available through participating manufacturers and retailers.
Can I get a rebate?
Solar Hot Water Rebates are available for:
- Private homes that are a principal place of residence, this includes tenanted properties where the tenant is directly responsible for the energy bills
- Community facilities - non-profit organisations, churches, local government buildings designed for community use and sporting club amenities (excludes pools/spas).
The installation must be in an existing home or building.
How much rebate can I get?
The rebate ranges from $900 to $1,500 for installing solar hot water into an existing residential property. The amount of rebate is based on the size of a system (amount of water produced) and performance (its solar contribution). The better performing systems, or the ones that make the most effective use of the sun's energy, attract a higher rebate.
Regional Victoria Solar Hot Water Rebate Program
For systems installed after 14 June 2008 a new Victorian Government rebate is available to assist regional and rural Victorian households to switch their old hot water system to solar.
The Regional Solar Hot Water Rebate program provides rebates for installations in Regional Victoria that:
- Replace a natural gas or LPG water heater with a gas-boosted solar system;
- Replace an electric water heater or wood with an electric or LPG gas solar system in a non gas reticulated area;
- Replace an electric water heater or wood with gas-boosted solar system in a gas reticulated area;
- Add solar to an to an existing natural gas or LPG water heater by installing a solar system as a preheater;
- Add a retrofit kit; and
- Replace an existing solar system with a new solar system (must be gas solar where reticulated gas is available).
The rebate is up to $2500 with the value of the rebate dependent on the size of the system, its performance and whether the applicant qualifies for the Australian Government rebate of $1000.
The Regional Victoria Solar Hot Water Rebate is available for regional and rural Victorian households to give an incentive to switch an existing electric or gas hot water system to solar.
In areas with access to reticulated gas a gas-solar system must be installed. In areas where there is no reticulated gas, an electric-solar or LPG-solar system can be installed.
An additional rebate of $200 is available where you live in a gas reticulated area and this is the first gas connection to the property.
How do I get the rebate?
The Victorian Regional Solar Hot Water Rebate takes the form of a point-of-sale discount and is only available through participating manufacturers and retailers.
Can I get a rebate?
The Regional Victorian Solar Hot Water Rebate is available for a principal place of residence only.
The installation must be in an existing home or building.
How much rebate can I get?
Rebates for complete systems range from $1900 to $2,500. The amount of rebate is based on the size of a system (amount of water produced) and performance (its solar contribution).The better performing systems, or the ones that make the most effective use of the sun's energy, attract a higher rebate.
I am replacing an electric hot water system can I get both the Regional Victoria Solar Hot Water Rebate and the Australian Government Solar Hot Water Rebate?
No. The maximum rebate that you can get is $2500.
In cases where you are eligible for an Australian Government rebate you can elect to receive the full rebate from Sustainability Victoria (between $1900 and $2500) at the point-of-sale OR have the Victorian Government rebate reduced by $1000 and make application to the Australian Government. Sustainability Victoria will share information on rebate applications with the Australian Government.
This information is current as at June 18th 2008, for full details and criteria please refer to the source of this information at: http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/www/html/1376-solar-hot-water-rebate.asp?intSiteID=4