What is the Solar Hot Water Rebate?

The Solar Hot Water Rebate component of the Australian Government’s Energy Efficiency Homes Program provides rebates of $1,600 to eligible applicants to install solar and heat pump hot water systems in existing homes. The new hot water system must replace an electric storage hot water system which are the most greenhouse intensive of household hot water systems and generate the largest amount of greenhouse gas emissions.

The rebate encourages switching to alternative hot water technologies by addressing the up-front cost barriers to climate friendly systems, which also deliver low operating costs for the household.

The rebate is to help households replace existing electric storage hot water systems. Rebates are not available for replacing older solar or gas hot water systems.

When can I apply for a rebate?

The rebate is offered from 3 February 2009 until 31 March 2012, subject to the availability of funds for solar hot water systems installed from the 3 February 2009. No applications will be accepted after 31 March 2012. Applicants must apply for the rebate within six months of their new solar or heat pump hot water system being installed.

What is the deadline for applications?

Applicants must apply for the rebate within six months (184 days) of installing an eligible system.

Who can apply for the rebate?

Applicants for the rebate must be the owner or tenant of the dwelling where the system was installed. The application process is simple and straightforward and is completed at the time the new hot water system is being installed. Suppliers and installers of solar hot water systems cannot apply for the Australian Government Solar Hot Water Rebate Component on behalf of their customers.

Government Agencies or occupants of public housing are not eligible for this rebate.

How do I claim the solar hot water rebate?

Rebates of $1,600 will be available to home owners that have not already accessed the Insulating Australian Households rebate.

Can I apply for the rebate if I am renting?

Yes. The system for which a rebate is being claimed must be installed at a principal place of residence. An applicant can be the owner or the tenant of the dwelling.

A tenant should not install a system without approval from the owner of the dwelling. The sharing of any costs is a matter for the landlord and the tenant to negotiate.

Regardless of whether you are an owner or a tenant, all other eligibility requirements must be met.

If my system was installed before the 3 February 2009, can I get the new rebate?

No, unfortunately if your system was installed prior to 3 February 2009, you are only entitled to the rebate that was available at the time (i.e. means tested $1000 rebate).

I installed my system before the 3 February 2009 can I still apply under the $1000 rebate.

Yes, provided you meet the eligibility requirements (i.e. $100,000 means test). Applications for the previous $1,000 rebate will be accepted until 2 August 2009.

Are rebates available for new homes or those which are rebuilt?

In order to maximise the environmental outcomes of the program, solar hot water systems installed on new houses are not eligible for the rebate. In comparison to existing housing stock, new homes are generally more energy efficient. Some state governments also regulate the energy efficiency of hot water systems installed in new homes. Furthermore, it is more expensive to install energy efficient hot water systems onto existing homes than onto new homes.

Houses that are rebuilt are classed as new houses and therefore are not eligible for the rebate.

The Australian Government provides an incentive to all households to install climate friendly hot water systems in the form of renewable energy certificates (RECs). RECs are assigned by the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator as part of the Renewable Energy Target scheme and reflect the deemed value of equivalent renewable energy generation over a ten year period. These certificates are tradable and commonly provide a discount of over $1,000 from the up front cost of the average solar hot water system.

Can I still apply for other State or Territory rebates?

Yes. An application for the Australian Government Solar Hot Water Rebate Component will not be affected by any rebates that other governments may offer. For details on other rebates, you will need to follow up with your relevant state or territory authority.

Can I get the rebate for a system I install on my investment property?

Yes. The system for which a rebate is being claimed must be installed at a principal place of residence. There is no requirement that this is the applicant’s principal place of residence. An owner may apply for a rebate on more than one property.

The sharing of any costs is a matter for the landlord and the tenant to negotiate.

Regardless of whether you are an owner or a tenant, all other eligibility requirements must be met.

Are rebates available for holiday homes?

Rebates are not available for holiday homes. To ensure the largest environmental benefit will be achieved, the rebate program has been designed to replace electric storage hot water systems in principal places of residence.

Is the rebate means tested?

No

How will the payment be made?

Payment is made by electronic funds transfer into the bank account of successful applicants. Applicants must be the owner or tenant of the dwelling where the solar or heat pump hot water system was installed. The applicant provides a bsb and bank account number and the funds are directly deposited. Bank details will only be used to make the payment. Storage and disposal of bank account and other personal details will be managed in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988.

What is my BSB and bank account number?

A BSB number is a unique 6-digit code that identifies the bank/financial institution and branch where your bank account is held. It can generally be found on your bank statement.

Your bank account number can also be found on your bank statement. Bank account numbers are always nine digits or less. They are not the 16 digit number that appear on your credit/debit card.

It is important that you enter the correct BSB and account numbers, otherwise payment cannot be processed.

If you are still unsure, your bank or financial institution will be able provide you with your bank account and BSB number.

When will my payment be credited to my account?

For successful applicants payment will be credited directly to their Australian bank account within 8 weeks of receiving a completed and eligible application form.

What is a solar retrofit and why isn’t it eligible for the rebate?

Solar water heater retrofit kits are used to add solar panels to existing electric off-peak boosted tanks. Conventional tanks are not designed to be connected to solar collectors so retrofit kits are not as effective as a water heater designed specifically for solar, however, significant savings can still be made.

The Solar Hot Water Rebate Program provides rebates for solar and heat pump hot water systems that replace an existing electric storage hot water system. In order to be eligible for the rebate the solar or heat pump system must be a new and complete hot water system that is eligible for at least 20 renewable energy certificates (RECs).

RECs are assigned by the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator as part of the Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme and reflect the deemed value of equivalent renewable energy generation over a ten year period.

The RET scheme does not allow individual parts of hot water systems to be tested separately because the efficiency of the total system can vary greatly with the effects of different ancillary parts and their installed arrangement (as a result solar water heaters currently eligible for RECs are complete systems). For this reason, a ’retrofit’ system that is based around a previously installed component is not eligible for RECs and therefore not eligible for the Solar Hot Water Rebate Program.

Why does a licensed installer need to sign my application form?

As part of the application process we require proof that you are replacing an existing electric storage hot water system and have installed a hot water system that is eligible for 20 renewable energy certificates or more. The installer can certify this and can also provide the tank serial number which is not always easy for the applicant to obtain.