Solar battery rebates in Victoria

About 1 in 4 homes in Australia have installed solar as of the end of 2020. Our country receives a massive amount of energy from the sun every year, enough to supply approx. 10,000 times our total energy consumption. Therefore, it comes as no surprise we have the highest uptake of solar per capita globally – as they say, when life gives you lemons, go solar!

This incredible boom of the solar industry in Australia has been supported through a diversity of government programs that encourage households (and businesses in some jurisdictions) to claim rebates or get subsidies on new solar battery installations.

These programs will vary from place to place, so it is important you familiarise yourself with the relevant one to where you live. This entry will dive specifically into the rebate available in VIC.

For residents of other states and territories, please visit:

• Solar battery rebates in SA
• Solar battery rebates in ACT

 

Without further ado…

 

Solar Homes Program – Solar battery rebates for VIC residents

Victoria is home of the Melbourne Cup, the largest tram system in the world, and up to $3,500 point of sale rebate for households aiming at installing a solar battery.

This is how the Solar Homes program works:

1. You assess your eligibility with the criteria of the program (see below for more).
2. You contact us, an authorised solar provider, for a quote. If contacting another provider, make sure all products included in your quote are on this approved products list.
3. We will claim the rebate on your behalf. If approved, the rebate amount (up to $3,500 for this round) will be deducted from the cost of your overall system and installation.
4. You pay the outstanding balance of your quote directly to us. Remember we have financing available for this step.
5. We install your new battery system at your premises.
6. Upon completion of the installation, a Licensed Electrical Inspector is required to attend your premises and lodge a Certificate of Electrical Safety for the newly installed battery system. This is organised by the authorities, so you could experience delays due to lockdowns and restrictions applicable in your area.

Victorian residents wanting to claim the Solar Homes rebate for batteries need to meet the following eligibility criteria:

• the property already has solar PV panels with a capacity equal to or greater than 5kW
• pre-approval is obtained from your Distributed Network Service Provider (DNSP) to safely connect a battery to the grid
• the energy storage solution is listed on Solar Victoria’s Approved Battery List and the property does not have an existing energy storage system
• they are the owner-occupier of the property where the system is to be installed
• the combined household taxable income of all owners is less than $180,000 a year (based on your Australian Tax Office Notice of Assessment)
• it is an existing property, valued at under $3 million based on the current council rates notice
• the owner/s agrees to receive information from their Distribution Network Service Provider about taking part in battery trials to maximise the value households get from them
• they have not already received a rebate as an owner-occupier under the Solar Homes Program
• the property address has not previously taken part in the Solar Homes Program.

Unfortunately, these last points mean that if you claimed the Solar Homes Program rebate when installing your solar PV system (panels only), you are not eligible to receive the battery rebate. However, households can arrange to have their solar PV panels and solar battery installed at the same time.

 

 

If you would like to know how many rebates are remaining in the current release, please visit: https://www.solar.vic.gov.au/solar-battery-rebate

If you would like more information on the Solar Homes Program’s General Terms and Conditions, please visit: https://www.solar.vic.gov.au/applicant-terms-and-conditions