Hotlinks

Solar Hot Water Rebate, Renewable Energy Certificates

To be eligible for this scheme all Solar Hot Water Systems are required to be certified against Australian Standard AS2712:2002 for design and manufacture.

When a Solar Hot Water System is installed a rebate may be received from Power and Water. This rebate will depend upon the brand/type and tank size of the system installed. Based on our calculations, a standard solar system will pay for itself in around five years. That means free hot water for the life of the system, which is usually 15 to 20 years.

Installing a Solar Hot Water System is also an environmental plus. By converting to Solar Hot Water you are helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about three tonnes per year. That is the equivalent to taking a small car off the road for the same period.

How do I get the rebate?

Once you have decided to go to solar, all you need do is see a Solar Hot Water System supplier and tell them you are applying for a Solar Hot Water Rebate. The supplier will then give you the information you need about the system you are buying and the number of Renewable Energy Certificates (REC's) it will attract.

Power and Water will process these applications and aim to pay customers within 21 days. Some delays may be caused due to Office of Renewable Energy Regulator (ORER) requesting a site audit or a query on model and installation type. Please remember to make your application for this rebate within 12 months of your purchase.

Why is there a rebate?

The Federal Government wants to encourage electricity utilities like Power and Water to look for ways to support renewable energy. One way to do that is by the creation of the Renewable Energy Certificate scheme. This benefit is passed on to you the customer when a Solar Hot Water System is purchased. The amount you receive depends upon the certification, where you live and the size of the system purchased.

The Price of REC's

The REC's price offered by Power and Water may fluctuate. Power and Water take no responsibility for loss arising from the variance in price offered for REC's.

The price offered by Power and Water is $47 per REC certificate. This price is effective from 14 March 2008.

Application form – complete this form once your new system is installed and bring it in to a Power and Water Customer Service Centre