Solar Hot Water Rebate for Metropolitan Melbourne

There are four different rebates available to Victorians replacing an existing hot water system with a solar hot water system. Each incentive has varying eligibility requirements:

1. Victorian Government Solar Hot Water Rebate - Regional and Metropolitan
2. Australian Government Solar Hot Water Rebate
3. Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
4. Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs); also known as the Energy Saver Incentive.

ELIGIBILITY

To qualify for this rebate, your residence must be located in Metropolitan Melbourne. If your residence is located outside of Melbourne, you may be eligible for the Regional Victoria Solar Hot Water Rebate.

You can check the Region checker link below.

The rebate is available for your principal place of residence only (or a residence where there is a permanent tenant and the electricity/gas bills are in the name of the tenant). The installation must be in an existing home where the current water heater has been operating at that address for at least 12 months (or 5 years if replacing solar). Only one rebate per dwelling is allowed.

Rebates are not available to commercial and non-commercial entities; only individuals that are owner-occupiers or landlords can apply.

You are eligible for a rebate if you:

* Replace a natural gas or LPG water heater with a gas-boosted solar system

* Add solar to an existing natural gas or LPG water heater by installing a solar system as a pre-heater

* Add solar to an existing conventional off-peak electric water heater by installing a retrofit kit

* Replace an existing solar, solid fuel or oil fired water heater with a solar system. Must be natural gas boosted if available in the street. Existing LPG boosted solar water heaters can only be replaced with gas boosted systems

* Replace an electric water heater with gas-boosted or electric solar system (if natural gas is not available in the street) where the applicant has installed ceiling insulation under the Australian Government's Homeowner Insulation Program


Rebates for complete systems will vary depending on the size of a system (amount of water produced), performance (its solar contribution) and its relative cost of installation. Better performing systems, or the ones that make the most effective use of the sun's energy, attract a higher rebate. Refer to link below

An additional rebate of $200 is available where you live in a reticulated (mains) gas area and this is the first gas connection to the property.

The Victorian Solar Hot Water Rebate takes the form of a point-of-sale discount to eligible households on the supply and installation of a solar hot water system and is only available through participating manufacturers, retailers and plumbers.

A participating supplier will check your eligibility, can pre-approve you for a rebate and provide a quotation for installation. Your pre-approval for a rebate will remain valid for 30 days.

MORE USEFUL INFORMATION

To check rebate amount for solar hot water systems in metropolitan Melbourne CLICK HERE

Use the Region checker for Regional Victoria Solar Hot Water Rebate areas CLICK HERE

Check participating supplier list CLICK HERE

Check solar hot water system manufacturers CLICK HERE

To view the Solar Report - The Solar Report shows the percentage which a household would save off their hot water bill if they had a solar water heater. CLICK HERE