Solar Hot Water Rebate
Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme - solar hot water rebate
On 19 February 2010 the Government announced the household Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme to assist households to save money on power bills and reduce their carbon emissions.
Water heating is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions from the average Australian home, accounting for around 23 per cent of household emissions. Installing a climate friendly hot water system can save a family hundreds of dollars off their energy bills each year.
This new Scheme is available to help eligible home-owners, landlords or tenants to replace their electric storage hot water systems with solar or heat pump hot water systems.
The Scheme replaces the Solar Hot Water Rebate Program which was discontinued as of close of business 19 February 2010.
Eligible households can claim a rebate of $1,000 for a solar hot water system or $600 for a heat pump hot water system through the Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme - solar hot water rebate. This rebate applies for systems ordered and purchased from 20 February 2010.
Guidelines and applications forms for the Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme - solar hot water rebate are now available.
IMPORTANT CHANGE: An applicant has up to two months (62 days) after an eligible system is installed to submit an application form.
| IMPORTANT UPDATE: |
Applications are no longer being accepted for the former Solar Hot Water Rebate. If you purchased and installed your system prior to 20 February 2010 you had until 14 May 2010 to apply for the rebate at the former Solar Hot Water Rebate levels. |
Eligibility requirements
Full details of eligibility are provided in the guidelines. Key criteria are listed below.
- Rebates are only available to people who have not previously received assistance to install ceiling insulation through the Home Insulation Program or the Homeowner Insulation Program at this address.
- The system must replace an existing electric storage hot water system.
- An owner-occupier, landlord or tenant can apply for the rebate as long as the dwelling where the hot water system is installed is a principal place of residence.
- The system must be installed and certified by a suitably qualified person (for example an electrician and/or plumber).
How to apply
Important information
- Applying for the rebate is straightforward and simple.
- You can only apply for the rebate after the system has been installed.
- The rebate is not available as a point of sale discount nor can a retailer, installer or commercial business apply for the rebate on behalf of their customers.
- To claim a rebate, you need to submit an application using the application form below.
- You have up to two months (62 days) after an eligible system is installed to submit an application form.
- Please attach a copy of your purchase receipts which clearly indicates that you have installed a solar or heat pump hot water system with the application. No other supporting documentation is required.
- You are required to agree that, if requested, you will provide evidence to support claims made in the application as part of an audit process to ensure you meet the program guidelines. For example allowing an authorised inspector access to your system.
- You should allow eight weeks for the application to be processed.
You should read the guidelines to ensure you meet all eligibility requirements before applying.
Your application will need the following information:
- Date of installation of your new solar or heat pump hot water system.
- Type of system (ie solar hot water or heat pump system).
- BSB Number - six digit number which identifies the bank/financial institution and branch where your bank account is held.
- Bank Account Number where the rebate is to be deposited.
Download guidelines and application form
A booklet incorporating all documents and information you will need on the rebate
Submitting your application
Once you have completed your application form, ensuring you have met all requirements of the guidelines send it to:
Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme - solar hot water rebate
Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
GPO Box 854
Canberra ACT 2601
For more information please call 1800 808 571 or e-mail: solarhotwater@climatechange.gov.au
What is the role of the installer?
To be eligible for the rebate, a hot water system must be installed by a licensed electrician or plumber as required under standard regulations. The licensed installer must sign your application form verifying that:
- The system has been installed in accordance with the relevant building standards and government requirements.
- The system is a new and complete hot water system that replaces an existing electric storage hot water system previously operational at the dwelling.
- The system is eligible for at least 20 RECs at the time and place of installation.
- Installers are also required to provide other technical and installation details including the tank number of the new system and the installation date. Installers are aware of the process and have easy access to the information.
It should take no more than a few minutes for them to complete their part of the form.
We recommend you seek around three quotes to ensure you are getting the best value for your system.
Information for installers
Licensed plumbers and electricians have an important role in the rebate application process. Installers need to complete and sign part of their customer’s application form at the time the system is installed. Completing these parts of the application form is straightforward and only takes a few minutes. The information provided by installers is used by the Australian Government to verify certain eligibility requirements for the rebate.
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
Under the Australian Government's Renewable Energy Target (RET) - a scheme set up under Commonwealth law to promote the development of renewable energy - new solar and heat pump hot water heaters may be eligible to create Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). Households can create and trade these certificates on their own, but it is more common for Registered Agents to create and trade RECs on behalf of households. The RECs benefit for consumers usually comes as a point of sale discount. Most retailers will advise potential buyers how many RECs are provided by each solar or heat pump hot water system model and how much each of those RECs are worth at today's prices (the price of RECs vary according to market forces). The retailers then provide a discount to the buyer, meaning the cost of the hot water system to the householder is reduced.
Hot water system retailers can also advise you on the number of RECs assigned to a system.
More information about RECs is available on the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator website:
Applicants rebuilding following the February 2009 Victorian bushfires
The Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme - solar hot water rebate has been opened up to people who lost their homes in the February 2009 Victorian bushfires and have rebuilt. The rebate is not usually available for people building new homes, but the Government has made an exception for homes destroyed or left uninhabitable in the February 2009 fires.
Eligible systems
To be eligible for the rebate, a hot water system must:
- replace an electric storage hot water system (Exception: if your home was destroyed in the February 2009 Victorian bushfires, you may be eligible for the rebate for your newly rebuilt home on the same site, provided the home also includes a 2000 litre rainwater tank (compliant with Victorian 5-star building standards) which is connected to the dwelling for toilet flushing).
- be a solar or heat pump hot water system that is eligible for at least 20 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) at the time and place of installation
- be installed by a suitably qualified person (for example an electrician or plumber).
Queensland Solar Hot Water Rebate Scheme
Access to the Queensland Government's former Solar Hot Water Program relied on applicants being eligible for the Australian Government former Solar Hot Water Rebate.
For further information regarding the former Queensland Solar Hot Water Program please call 13 25 23
Frequently asked questions