Victorians keen to reduce their power bills can now apply for 50 per cent rebates on solar panel installations thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio today announced that eligible Victorian households who installed solar panels on or after 19 August can now apply for a rebate to cover half the cost, up to a maximum of $2225. Applications for a $1,000 rebate for solar hot water systems will open shortly.

Rebates for eligible households for both solar panels and solar hot water systems will be available until 30 June next year. After this time, a re-elected Andrews Labor Government will pay the full upfront cost of solar panel installations, with households able to pay off half the cost via an interest-free loan.

More than 10,000 people registered their interest in rebates in the three weeks since the program was announced, while solar installation companies have received a flood of inquiries.

10,000 homeowners installing 4kW solar systems would add 40MW of new solar power to the grid – more than the new 34MW Cohuna Solar Farm, announced as part of the Victorian Renewable Energy Target auction.

Under a re-elected Labor Government, the Solar Homes program will cut electricity bills with either solar panels, solar hot water or solar batteries for 720,000 homes over the next 10 years.

To be eligible for a rebate, applicants must have a household income of less than $180,000, and be the owner and occupier of the property, which must be valued at less than $3 million.

Full details about the Solar Homes Package can be found at solar.vic.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio

“We’re offering half-priced rebates on solar panels from today, to save Victorians money and give them control back over their power bills.”

“The Solar Homes program will help 720,000 households cut their energy bills with either solar panels, solar hot water systems or solar batteries.”