FAQs: Solar panel (PV) rebate

The Essential Services Commission regulates energy prices in Victoria

https://www.esc.vic.gov.au/electricity-and-gas

Solar customers that install small-scale batteries as part of their current PV system will continue to be eligible to receive feed-in tariffs for the electricity generated and exported by their system to their retailer.

This also means that you can install a battery and still receive the PFiT as long as you maintain your eligibility requirements as outlined in your contract.

All systems listed as Clean Energy Council (CEC) approved products meet Australian Standards and are accredited as Approved Products by the Clean Energy Council. To be eligible for a rebate products must be on approved products list.

Solar Homes rebates are additional to the federal STC scheme. Rebates will be calculated after the STC discount has been applied.

No, the Victorian Government has said that it will provide a rebate on the cost of solar panels (PV) system, up to a maximum rebate value. You will need to speak to your solar retailer to ensure the size of your system meets any other restrictions that may be in place.

Read more in our solar panel PV buyers guide about why the system size is important.

Not everyone will be able to feed excess energy into the grid and your local distribution network service provider should inform you if this is the case.

Yes, for existing properties applicants can arrange to have their solar PV panels and battery installed at the same time. However, applicants can only apply for one of these Solar Homes rebates.

The Solar Homes solar battery rebate value is up to a maximum rebate of $2,950 and the solar PV rebate is valued up to a maximum of $1,400. Visit our solar battery rebate page for more information on installing solar PV in conjunction with the solar battery rebate.

Solar battery rebates are not available for homes under construction. If you are building a home and are interested in installing a solar battery, you should do your research. and see what best suits your household, then apply for a solar battery rebate after the home construction is completed, and opt to install solar PV at the same time. However, you will only be able to apply for either a solar battery rebate or a solar PV rebate.

Lists of approved products and approved installers are available on our website to ensure people can easily determine what is approved and therefore eligible.

Approximately 350,000 solar systems have been installed in Victoria.

Installing solar PV will save a typical household around $1,073 per annum off their electricity bill.

They can if meet the Solar Homes criteria for community housing organisations.

To find out if your organisation is eligible please contact us to discuss the requirements.

If you meet all of our Solar panel (PV) rebate eligibility criteria, off grid homes are eligible for the Solar Panel rebate. Unfortunately a grid connection is a requirement for the Solar battery rebate.

Please see further information for the Solar panel (PV) rebate.

Yes, if you have received a solar PV rebate as an owner occupier for an existing property, you can also apply for a hot water rebate. Hot water rebates are available to replace existing systems, and may not be suitable for customers who currently have homes under construction. More information can be found here: Hot water rebate.

No, owner-occupier households that have received a solar battery rebate are not eligible for a solar PV or a hot water rebate.

If you are building a new home, you can apply for a solar PV rebate and interest-free loan while your house is being built.

No. Eligibility for other rebates in the Solar Homes Program (solar hot water and solar battery rebates) applies only to existing homes.

After construction is complete, you can apply for other Solar Homes rebates as an existing property if you meet the eligibility criteria for each rebate.

If you are building a new home, you can apply for the solar PV rebate and interest-free loan if:

• You are the owner of the property
• You have a combined household taxable income of less than $180,000 per year (based on their Australian Tax Office Notice of Assessment)
• You do not have an existing solar PV system
• The value of the property will be under $3 million at the time of completion
• The property address has never received a solar battery or PV rebate.
• You have not already received a solar battery rebate as an owner-occupier under the Solar Homes Program
• You can demonstrate property ownership with a Council Rates Notice, a copy of their Certificate of Title (available through Landata).

Other documents as proof of ownership may be accepted where a copy of the Certificate of Title or a Council Rates Notice are not available.

Please visit Landata for information on how you can access a copy of your Certificate of Title for your property. You will need to provide information such as your street address or lot number to access it. A fee for this may be involved and it may be referred to as a 'Copy of Title' on the Landata website. Once you apply through the website, Landata will send you an email with a PDF copy of your certificate.

No. You will not be able to receive another solar PV rebate at a different address under your name.

A home under construction means a new home that is being built and is not occupied.

No. Renovations to an existing home do not qualify as a home under construction because it is an existing home. You can apply for other Solar Homes rebates as an existing property if you meet the eligibility criteria for each rebate.

Yes. If you are building a new home at your existing address you can apply for the rebate and interest-free loan if you or the property have not previously received a solar PV or battery rebate.

Investing in renewable energy by installing solar on your new home will increase the energy efficiency of your property and can help you save on power bills as soon as you move in. Installing solar during construction could save on installation costs and means that you can do it all in one go without further work on your house once construction has finished and you can start saving with solar straight away.

As construction time can vary and there may be several elements that can impact the completion of a new home, you should:

• Talk to your builder as early as possible during the planning phase and tell them that you want solar PV installed during construction
• You will need your builder's consent for the solar installation to go ahead during the build
• Discuss with your builder when and how solar products can be installed.
• Read our Solar Panel PV Buyers Guide for approved products that will best suit your roof and home
• Find an authorised solar retailer under the Solar Homes Program to get a quote. They can advise you on the best time to apply for the solar PV rebate and interest free loan to ensure that installation can be completed within the application timeframe. Application timeframes for homes under construction have been extended to allow for up to 8 months from application to the completed installation
• Work with your builder and the authorised solar retailer to organise site access and installation

Visit solar PV for information about how to apply for a solar PV rebate and interest-free loan.

You should talk to your builder about when an authorised solar retailer can access the construction site to install your solar PV. When you have this timeframe from your builder, you can get a quote from your retailer who can advise you on the best solar products that would suit your home.

Then your retailer can advise you about the right time to apply for the rebate and interest free loan to ensure that installation can be completed within the application timeframe. Application timeframes for homes under construction have been extended to allow for up to 8 months from application to the completed installation.

As the customer, you should have ongoing discussions with the builder about the right time to install solar PV during construction. Update your retailer on any possible delays so they can adjust the installation times accordingly. The retailer will tell you if you need a new quote (if the old one has expired) and when to apply for a rebate and interest free loan depending on your date of installation.

As the customer, you should liaise with both your builder and the retailer that will be installing your solar PV system. You will need to talk to your builder about access to site and pass this information on to your retailer.

You will need the builder's consent for the solar installation to go ahead during the build.

As the customer, you should be talking to both your builder and your retailer throughout the construction, application and installation timeframes, any possible delays so that you can keep your retailer updated on when installation can occur. Retailers can then advise customers of the best time to apply for the rebate.

Solar Victoria has mandated that only authorised retailers may participate in the Solar Homes Program and Solar for Business Program to oversee all stages of the installation and post-installation service and provide a minimum 5-year warranty on all systems. See our authorised solar retailer page for more information on high standards and the requirements to become an authorised retailer under the Solar Homes Program.

PV rebate customers must use an authorised solar retailer. If you cannot make arrangements with your builder to use an authorised solar retailer during construction, you could choose to wait until the home is completed and apply for a PV rebate as an owner-occupier at that time.