Rebates and Finance
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How to apply
Important information
Applying for the rebate is straightforward, simple and free.
Only individuals aged 18 years and over who are the owner or tenant of the dwelling are eligible to apply.
Only apply for the rebate after the system has been installed.
The rebate is not available as a point of sale discount nor can a retailer, installer or commercial business apply for the rebate on behalf of their customers.
To claim a rebate, the applicant will need to submit an application using the application form which is below. The application form is also included as part of the guidelines.
An applicant has up to six months after an eligible system is installed to submit an Application Form.
The applicant should allow eight weeks for the application to be processed.
An applicant must submit a copy of their purchase receipt with their application. No other supporting documentation is to be submitted with the application.
The Solar Hot Water Rebate requires the applicant to agree that, if requested, they will provide evidence to support claims made in the application as part of an audit process to ensure the applicant has met all program guidelines. For example, proof of system installation or allowing an authorised representative access to your property may be requested at a later date.
Application FormYou can apply by using the application form. The DPR Network installer signs the form after finishing the installation so you can claim the Rebate inmediately. Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)Under the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) - a scheme set up under Commonwealth law to promote the development of renewable energy - installation of solar and heat pump hot water heaters may be eligible to create Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). While households can create and trade these certificates on their own, Registered Agents may create and trade RECs on behalf of households. Registered Agents will generally pay the household for the right to create RECs, meaning the cost of the hot water system to the household is reduced. This will provide additional cost reductions to eligible hot water systems. To be eligible for the Solar Hot Water Rebate, a hot water system must be eligible for at least 20 RECs at the time of purchase at the installation address. A list of eligible systems is available in the Register of Solar Water Heaters. Hot water system retailers can also advise you on the number of RECs assigned to a system. More information about RECs is available on the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator website:
What is the Solar Hot Water Rebate?The Solar Hot Water Rebate component of the Australian Government's Energy Efficient Homes Package provides rebates of $1,000 to eligible applicants to install solar or heat pump hot water systems in existing homes. The new hot water system must replace an existing electric storage hot water system which are the most greenhouse intensive of household hot water systems. 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 designed 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 $1,000 rebate is offered from 3 February 2009 until 30 June 2012, subject to the availability of funds, for solar hot water systems installed from 3 February 2009. No applications will be accepted after 30 June 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's Solar Hot Water Rebate on behalf of their customers. Government agencies or occupants of public housing are not eligible for this rebate. Rebates of $1,000 will be available to home owners that have not already accessed assistance to install ceiling insulation under the Homeowner Insulation Program.
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.
Are rebates available for new homes or those which are rebuilt?In order to maximise the environmental outcomes of the rebate, 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 upfront 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 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. This can be an investment property which must be the tenant's principal place of residence. It cannot be a holiday home. An owner may apply for a rebate on more than one property. A separate application must be submitted for each 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 has been designed to replace electric storage hot water systems in principal places of residence.
Is the $1,000 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 six-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 to 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 eight 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 storage 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 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.
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. |
Solar Hot Water Federal Rebate