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Australian solar hot water rebates

You can save thousands on your new solar hot water system purchase, not only through Energy Matter's deeply discounted prices and specials on systems, but also through Federal and State government solar hot water rebates and the redemption of RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates)!

Save up to $1500 on solar hot water!

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.

Avoid confusion and maximise your rebates!

The following is information regarding federal rebate assistance, plus rebate programs in each state. As you'll see, calculating rebates can be quite confusing and you may miss out on claiming incentives you're entitled to. That's where our team can help. By completing a short form that only takes a minute or two to complete, we'll be able to tell you exactly how much you're entitled to and about your projected energy savings.

This is a free service, there's no obligation - so try our solar hot water quoting system or contact us via email or on 1300 727 151 for expert, friendly advice.

Commonwealth government solar hot water rebate

Newsflash - Major solar hot water rebate changes were announced by the Federal Government on February 19, 2010. Rebates of up to $1000 are now available to install solar hot water systems and up to $600 for heat pumps installed to replace electric storage hot water systems in existing privately owned homes. The rebate is offered for systems installed after February 19 2010 until March 2012 and applies throughout Australia. The new rebate is offered through the Medicare system rather than as a point of sale discount.

To be eligible for the rebate, the system must 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 and be installed by a suitably qualified person (for example an electrician or plumber). The dwelling where the hot water system is installed must be a principal place of residence.

Applicants must apply for the rebate within 6 months of the heat pump or hot water system being installed. People who are renting are also eligible for the rebate, however the system should not be installed without approval of the landlord. Investment properties are also eligible as long as they are the principle residence of the owner or of the renter.

Solar hot water systems installed on new houses are not eligible for the rebate, however Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) accompany most solar hot water systems and can provide a discount of over $1,000 on the upfront cost of the average solar hot water system

Download the Solar Hot Water Rebate Applicant Information Booklet (PDF -contains all the documents and forms you'll need)

Questions? Contact us today via email or on 1300 727 151 for expert, obligation-free advice.

Renewable energy certificates (RECs)

RECs are issued when a complete solar hot water system is installed. The number of renewable energy certificates issued varies with each system. The certificates can be traded for a substantial cash discount on your purchase through Energy Matters. The value varies depending on market conditions. . You can check the REC information for each system via the Australian Government's register of solar hot water heaters or contact our friendly team who can tell you the REC value for each system.

You'll notice that on the register of solar hot water heaters, REC assignment levels depend on where you live. The following diagram shows the different zones throughout Australia.

Renewable Energy Certificate zones in Australia

Heat pump specific rebates and RECS

Heat pumps are a different form of solar hot water that doesn't require panels on your roof. You can learn more about heat pumps here and REC and rebate information for heat pump systems can be viewed here.

State specific solar hot water rebate and REC information

Some Australian states offer additional incentives for householders to install solar hot water systems. The following links provide further details for arrangements in each state:

South Australia
Victoria
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Australian Capital Territory
Western Australia
Queensland
Tasmania

South Australia solar hot water rebates

The South Australian Government's Solar Hot Water Rebate Scheme provides a rebate of $500 on the cost of a new solar or electric heat pump water heater system installed on or after 1st July 2008.

The Rebate Scheme is targeted at low income households to help them comply with the Performance Standards for Domestic Water Heater Installations, effective from the 1st July 2008. These new standards aim to increase the uptake of high-efficiency gas, solar and electric heat pump water heaters.

Eligibility Criteria

The following table summarises hot water systems eligible for the rebate:

	New Home or Renovation*		Established Home Replacement of Existing Hot Water System
New System	No Gas access**	Yes Gas access**	Gas***	Gas* Solar**	Electric Element, Electric Solar, Heat Pump	All Other Types - including Oil & Combustion
Gas Solar	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Electric Solar, or Heat Pump	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Electric or Gas Storage / Instantaneous	No	No	No	No	No	No

* Renovation - new hot water system not replacing an existing one
** Gas access is natural gas or LPG, reticulated in the street
*** Includes reticulated and bottled gas already in use for water heating.

The water heater must be eligible for a minimum of 18 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) in ORER zone 3, regardless of the zone in which it is installed. A list of eligible systems is available in the Register of Solar Water Heaters.

Eligible applicants are home owners who install a complying water heater, as outlined above, to serve their principal place of residence; and at the time of installation, hold at least one of the following Australian Government concession cards:

Centrelink Health Care Card
Centrelink or Department of Veterans' Affairs Pensioner Concession Card
Department of Veterans' Affairs Gold Card - Totally and Permanently Incapacitated
Department of Veterans' Affairs Gold Card - War Widow
Department of Veterans' Affairs - Extreme Disablement Adjustment

Please note that Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and Medicare card are not eligible, or are pensioner allowance or retirement funds paid by foreign countries.

If you live in Port Augusta, Miranda or Stirling North you may be eligible for a rebate under the Flinders Power Scheme. Contact the Port Augusta City Council on (08) 8641 9152 for further details.

Applying for the Rebate

From 1st July 2008, eligible home owners will have six (6) months from the date of completed installation, as per the Electrical or Gas Certificate of Compliance, to lodge their rebate applications.

To apply for the Solar Hot Water Rebate, download the Rebate Application Form

Questions? Contact us today via email or on 1300 727 151 for expert, obligation-free advice.

Victoria solar hot water rebates

In addition to the federal rebate of up to $1000:

Metropolitan Melbourne: Rebates range from $300 to $1,500 for installing solar hot water into an existing residential property; depending upon system size.

Regional Victoria: Rebates for complete systems range from $400 to $1500, depending upon the size and performance of a system

Installation situation	Victorian Government Rebate	Commonwealth Government $1600 Rebate*	Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) eligible**	Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEEC) eligible***
For private homes (owner-occupied or permanently tenanted)
Replacing a natural gas or LPG water heater with a gas-boosted solar system	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Adding a solar water heater to an existing natural gas or LPG water heater, as a *preheater*	Yes	No	No	Yes
Adding solar panels to an existing off-peak electric water heater either with a pump or by thermosiphon as a retrofit kit	Yes	No	No	Yes
Replacing an existing solar, wood, briquette or oil fuelled water heater with gas-boosted or electric 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.	Yes	No	Yes	No
Replacing 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	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Replacing an electric water heater with gas-boosted or electric solar system where applicant has not installed ceiling insulation under the Australian Government's Homeowner Insulation Program	No	Yes*	Yes	Yes
New homes and buildings installing a gas-boosted or electric solar system	No	No	Yes	No
For commercial buildings
New or existing buildings installing a solar water heater	No	No	Yes	No

* Conditions apply, refer to www.environment.gov.au/rebates or telephone 1800 808 571.

** Indicates whether a situation is eligible for a financial incentive through the Commonwealth Government's Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) scheme. For example, if the REC price is $50 and your installation attracts 30 RECs you could save $1500. Contact us for details.

***Indicates whether a situation is eligible for a financial incentive through the Victorian Government's Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs) scheme. For further information please visit the Essential Services Commission's website at www.esc.vic.gov.au/

PLEASE NOTE: Sustainability Victoria reviewed rebate levels in relation to the recent introduction of additional incentives for the installation of solar hot water systems and a new Victorian rebate structure came into effect on September 4.

Details of the new rebate structure can be downloaded here (PDF).

Check for your check for address eligibility

Questions? Contact us today via email or on 1300 727 151 for expert, obligation-free advice.

Western Australia solar hot water rebates

The government of Western Australia is currently offering a $500 rebate for natural gas-boosted solar water heaters and a $700 rebate for bottled LP gas-boosted solar water heaters used in areas without reticulated gas.

Installation situation	WA Rebate $500(Nat) or $700(LPG)	Aust Gov't Rebate $1600*	Aust Gov't RECs eligible**
For private homes
New private and display homes and private residential developments installing a gas-boosted solar water heater	Yes	No	Yes
Existing homes installing a gas-boosted solar water heater	Yes	No	Yes
Replacing an electric water heater with a solar system or heat pump	No	Yes	Yes
New and existing homes installing a solar system or heat pump	No	No	Yes
For commercial buildings
New or existing buildings installing a solar water heater or heat pump	No	No	Yes

Terms and conditions of the Solar Water Heater Subsidy Scheme are outlined in the scheme guidelines (PDF ) and the process for applying for a rebate is outlined on the application form (PDF)

*Conditions apply

** Indicates whether a situation is eligible for a financial incentive through the Australian 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. Contact us today via email or on 1300 727 151 for RECs value on any of the solar hot water systems we stock.

You can also check the REC information for each solar hot water system we stock via the Australian Government's register of solar hot water heaters in conjunction with this postcode zone table

Questions? Contact us today via email or on 1300 727 151 for expert, obligation-free advice.

Northern Territory solar hot water rebates

Residents may be eligible for an additional rebate of up to $1,000. The level of rebate depends on the modifications required to the roof. The rebate applies only to solar hot water systems that replace electric systems and attract at least 20 RECs under the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target. Further details.

Installation situation	NT rebate up to $1,000*	Aust Gov't Rebate $1600*	Aust Gov't RECs eligible**
For private homes
Replacing an electric water heater with a solar system or heat pump	Yes	Yes	Yes
New and existing homes installing a solar system or heat pump	No	No	Yes
For commercial buildings
New or existing buildings installing a solar water heater or heat pump	No	No	Yes

Questions? Contact us today via email or on 1300 727 151 for expert, obligation-free advice.

*Conditions apply

You can also check the REC information for each solar hot water system we stock via the Australian Government's register of solar hot water heaters (PDF) in conjunction with this postcode zone table

Queensland solar hot water rebates

There are no rebates available in Queensland for solar hot water, aside from the Federal Government rebate.

Installation situation	Aust Gov't Rebate $1600*	Aust Gov't RECs eligible**
For private homes
Replacing an electric water heater with a solar system or heat pump	Yes	Yes
New and existing homes installing a solar system or heat pump	No	Yes
For commercial buildings
New or existing buildings installing a solar water heater or heat pump	No	Yes

*Conditions apply

You can also check the REC information for each solar hot water system we stock via the Australian Government's register of solar hot water heaters (PDF) in conjunction with this postcode zone table

New South Wales solar hot water rebates

The New South Wales government offers up to $1200 for a solar or heat pump hot water systems eligible for at least 20 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).

Installation situation	NSW Rebate $600 - $1200	Aust Gov't Rebate $1600*	Aust Gov't RECs eligible**
For private homes
Replacing an electric water heater with a solar system or heat pump	Yes	Yes	Yes
New and existing homes installing a solar system or heat pump	No	No	Yes
For commercial buildings
New or existing buildings installing a solar water heater or heat pump	No	No	Yes

The rebate is scaled as follows:

Number of RECs	Rebate
20-27	$600
28-35	$800
36-43	$1000
44+	$1200

Full details and application form can be downloaded here (PDF)

*Conditions apply

You can also check the REC information for each solar hot water system we stock via the Australian Government's register of solar hot water heaters (PDF) in conjunction with this postcode zone table

NEWS! Energy Matters is currently offering special deals on solar hot water systems for New South Wales residents!

Questions? Contact us today via email or on 1300 727 151 for expert, obligation-free advice.

ACT solar hot water rebates

The ACT Energy Wise program offers rebates of up to $500 on a solar hot water system. However, in order to qualify for the rebate, the homeowner is required to spend an additional $1000 on other energy saving improvements around the home. The homeowner is also required to have an energy audit performed at the cost of $30 and provide supporting documentation.

Installation situation	ACT Rebate $500****	Aust Gov't Rebate $1600*	Aust Gov't RECs eligible**
For private homes
Replacing an electric water heater with a solar system or heat pump	Yes	Yes	Yes
New and existing homes installing a solar system or heat pump	No	No	Yes
For commercial buildings
New or existing buildings installing a solar water heater or heat pump	No	No	Yes

Further information can be downloaded here (PDF)

*Conditions apply

You can also check the REC information for each solar hot water system we stock via the Australian Government's register of solar hot water heaters (PDF) in conjunction with this postcode zone table

Questions? Contact us today via email or on 1300 727 151 for expert, obligation-free advice.

Tasmania solar hot water rebates

There are no rebates available in Tasmania for solar hot water, aside from the Federal Government rebate mentioned above, with Hobart City being the exception.

Hobart City Council offers Hobart ratepayers a $500 rebate for systems purchased and installed before December 31 2008

Installation situation	Aust Gov't Rebate $1600*	Aust Gov't RECs eligible**
For private homes
Replacing an electric water heater with a solar system or heat pump	Yes	Yes
New and existing homes installing a solar system or heat pump	No	Yes
For commercial buildings
New or existing buildings installing a solar water heater or heat pump	No	Yes

Further details and an application form can be viewed here

*Conditions apply

You can also check the REC information for each solar hot water system we stock via the Australian Government's register of solar hot water heaters in conjunction with this postcode zone table

Buy a solar hot water system online today or contact us via email or toll free on 1300 727 151 for expert, obligation-free advice.