Many Australians eager to invest in home solar power but who do not qualify for the current $8,000 solar rebate ending this month are still in the dark about a new incentives program announced late last year by the Federal Government.
Under the current Solar Homes and Communities Program (SHCP), only households with an income of $100,000 or less qualify for the rebate. However, the SHCP was due to finish at the end of this month, to be immediately followed by the new Solar Credits scheme. The new program will offer a less generous subsidy, but will be open to just about everyone; including businesses.
While the Solar Credits scheme is due to start on July 1, little information has been forthcoming since the original announcement late last year and there are concerns it may not be rolled out at the beginning of the new financial year.
According to Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment & Water Greg Hunt, the new scheme is tied to the Government’s planned Renewable Energy Target legislation which would need to be passed by 30 June, but the legislation is yet to be introduced into Parliament. Mr Hunt says that if the Solar Credits scheme won’t start until until next January, that would leave a massive six month black hole and “amount for a massive broken promise on solar energy”.
Mr Hunt was also critical of the lesser new subsidy, saying the vast majority of Australians will be between $4,000 – $4,500 worse off than the current $8,000 rebate.
In a press release issued yesterday, Mr Hunt said “just one day out from World Environment Day, it is time the Rudd Government spelled out its plans for a new solar rebate scheme that makes it harder for many families to ‘go solar'”.
It is not known at this time whether the Federal Government will use the occasion of World Environment Day to provide further details of the new Solar Credits scheme.
