- Published:
- Tuesday 9 April 2019
More than 30,000 Victorian households have embraced the Andrews Labor Government’s landmark Solar Homes program, reducing their power bills and helping supply more energy to our electricity grid.
This week the 10,000th rebate will be paid – taking savings for Victorian households to more than $21 million since the program opened last August.
Due to the immense success of the program – and with rebates now almost fully subscribed – Solar Victoria will accept a final 2,000 applications for solar panel rebates this financial year.
The second phase of the $1.3 billion Solar Homes program will begin on 1 July – bigger and better than ever – offering Victorians even more rebates for solar panels or solar hot water.
This will also mark the start of our no-interest loans offer, which will allow households to install solar with no upfront costs, as well as solar panels for 50,000 rental properties and 10,000 solar batteries.
To boost safety and ensure an orderly rollout of the program, caps on the number of solar PV, hot water and battery rebates provided under the program will be set each year.
This builds on previous announcements about safety standards in the Solar Homes program, including the new requirement that participating solar retailers sign up to the Clean Energy Council’s Solar Retailer Code of Conduct.
The Labor Government’s Solar Homes package is helping Victorians take control of their energy bills by rolling out solar panels, solar hot water or solar batteries to 770,000 homes over the next 10 years.
The Solar Homes program will cut Victoria’s carbon emissions by almost four million tonnes – the equivalent of taking one million of Victoria’s 4.6 million cars off the road. Household solar is expected to generate 12.5 per cent of Victoria’s 40 per cent target for renewable energy by 2025.
Full details of the Solar Homes program can be found at solar.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to the Premier Daniel Andrews
“Tens of thousands of Victorians have taken advantage of our rebates – saving money on installation and slashing their power bills.”
“We’re putting power back into the hands of Victorians – putting a power station on their roof to drive down energy costs, boost supply and fight climate change.”
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Solar Homes Lily D’Ambrosio
“The Solar Homes program has been hugely successful, and plans are well underway for the next phase of the program, which will be bigger and better than ever.
“For people who are still considering installing solar, now is the time to do your research. Talk to a participating solar retailer who can help you choose a system which is right for you, so you’re ready to go on 1 July.”