Selected state governments within Australia also offer rebates to households installing solar hot water systems.
South Australia
The Government of South Australia’s Solar Hot Water Rebate Scheme currently provides a rebate of up to $500 to offset the upfront costs of installing or retrofitting a compliant solar hot water system when purchased and installed within the state.
To be eligible for the rebate you must be an eligible applicant (as defined below) and commission an eligible installation (as defined below).
Eligible Applicants
To be eligible for a rebate, you must be a low-income owner-occupier. Specifically, you must be the owner or part-owner of the dwelling you occupy as your principal place of residence, and hold at least one of the following cards on the day the water heater installation is completed:
Centrelink Health Care Card
Centrelink 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
Your principal place of residence is the primary dwelling you occupy to live, sleep and conduct daily life.
Note that some dwelling types are excluded.
Rebates are limited to one per residence.
Eligible Installations
Eligible applicants who purchase a new solar hot water system or retrofit kit for domestic purposes and install it at their principal place of residence (on or after May 28 2001) are eligible for a rebate if their system fits into any of the following categories:
a solar hot water system that replaces the use of an electric hot water system
a gas boosted solar hot water system that replaces a gas hot water system
a solar hot water system that is installed on a new home that does not have access to reticulated gas
a gas boosted solar hot water system that is installed on a new home that does have access to reticulated gas
a solar boosted heat pump system that replaces the use of an electric hot water system
where a solar retro-fit kit or pre-heating system is attached to an existing water heater, if the existing hot water system is covered by warranty for at least another three years.
Full details can be found at the Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure’s Solar Hot Water page and Application forms for State Rebates.
Western Australia
The Government of Western Australia’s Solar Water Heater Subsidy Scheme provides rebates of up $700 for the installation of environmentally friendly gas-boosted solar water heaters.
To be eligible for a rebate under this scheme, the following key eligibility criteria must be met.
Rebates are available for new, two or more panel, gas-boosted solar water heaters that are accredited to Australian Standard AS2712
Solar water heaters must be used for private residential purposes (excepting display homes and residential developments where special conditions apply)
Solar water heaters must be purchased from suppliers recognised by the Sustainable Energy Development Office
Rebates for installations in new homes must be pre-approved through a formal pre-approval process.
Solar water heaters must be purchased and installed within the 12 months prior to a rebate application being received by the Sustainable Energy Development Office.
Full details can be found at the Sustainable Energy Development Office’s Solar Water Heater Subsidy page and Application forms for State Rebates.
New South Wales
The Government of New South Wales Hot Water System Rebate Program provides a rebate of $300 for the installation of eligible solar water heaters in residential properties.
In general, the new hot water systems must:
Replace an existing electric hot water system
Be for residential properties in NSW only
Be purchased in full and installed between 15 January 2010 and June 30, 2011
Be installed by a licensed plumber
solar or heat pump hot water system eligible for at least 20 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
Full details can be found at the Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW Residential Rebate Program page and Application forms for State Rebates.
Victoria
The Government of Victoria’s Solar Hot Water Rebate program provides rebates from $450 up to $1500 for the installation of eligible solar hot water systems.The amount of rebate is based on the size of a system (amount of water produced) and performance (its solar contribution). Better performing systems, or ones that make the most effective use of the sun's energy, attract a higher rebate.
Generally speaking, the Solar Hot Water Rebate program provides rebates for installations in Victoria that:
Replace a natural gas or LPG water heater with a gas-boosted solar system;
Replace a wood or oil fired hot water system with a solar gas system; and
Replace an electric hot water system where the Federal $1600 rebate has been approved for installation of insulation in your home
Full details can be found at Sustainability Victoria’s Solar Hot Water Rebate page and Application forms for State Rebates.
Click here to download a PDF of the EcoSmart VEEC form
Queensland
The QLD Government is now offering a rebate of $600 (or $1000 for qualifying low income earners) when replacing an electric storage water heater with a heat pump or solar water heater. The main eligibility criteria are as follows;
Key Eligibility Criteria - $600 rebate
The new system must have been purchased on or after 13th April 2010 (please note that payments will not commence until 1st July 2010)
Be a solar or heat pump hot water system eligible for at least 20 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECS)
Replace an existing electric storage hot water system in a principle place of residence
Be installed by licensed parties (current BSA and occupational licenses)
Key Eligibility Criteria – Low Income earner $1000 rebate
To qualify for the $1000, the applicant must meet all of the $600 rebate eligibility conditions, as well as hold one of the pension cards listed below (must be a current and valid card);Centrelink Pension Concession card
Centrelink Low-Income Heath Care card
Commonwealth Seniors Health card or Department of Veterans' Affairs Pension Concession card (Blue only. Orange, white and gold cardholders are not eligible.)
This low income earner/pensioner rebate can only be applied for once. Please also note that the $600 rebate and $1000 rebate cannot both be claimed for the same installation.
Submitting an application form does not guarantee eligibility. Upon receipt of a completed rebate application form, the QLD Government will assess the application against the eligibility criteria before making any payment. The QLD Government may also request further information from the applicant before the rebate is paid.
All payments will commence from July 1 2010, and are available in addition to the Federal Government Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme rebate ($1000 solar, $600 heat pump) and the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) incentive, both of which are detailed on this website.
For details can be found on the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation Office of Clean Energy and Applications Forms for State Rebates
