Victorians will be able to save up to $400 a year on their power bills with discounted solar hot water systems for 60,000 households in the next ten years, under the new Solar Homes program.
Premier Daniel Andrews met workers building solar hot water systems at Rinnai Australia’s manufacturing facility on the 20th of August to announce the $60-million package.
He said Labor was putting solar panels and hot water systems on Victorian homes to help families save hundreds of dollars a year on electricity bills.
Victorian households can replace their old hot water system with a new solar system and get $1,000 back off the cost via a rebate.
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This will save the average Victorian household between $160 to $400 a year in electricity bills.
The solar hot water rebate is part of Labor’s Solar Homes program, which is providing half price solar panels to 650,000 households.
Minister for energy, Lily D’Ambrosio, said putting solar panels and hot water systems on more than 700,000 homes would save Victorians more than $500 million a year.
“[It will] generate enough solar power to keep the lights on at the MCG for 9,000 years,” said D’Ambrosio.
Not all homes can have solar panels installed because of issues such as roof design or shade, which is why the Labor government is providing the $1,000 rebate on solar hot water systems as part of the program.
It means Victorians who can’t install solar panels will still be able to save hundreds of dollars a year on their electricity bills.
The rebate is available to Victorians with a household income of up to $180,000 who live in their own home valued at up to $3 million – and who haven’t already installed half price solar panels under the program.
The Solar Homes program includes $9 million to support accreditation of 4,500 electricians to install solar hot water and solar panel systems.
These systems will only be installed by accredited solar installers using approved products to ensure the highest safety standards.