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Note: The NEW AND EXCITING GOOD NEWS is saved until the end of this article ...
THE BAD NEWS
The Federal Government "Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme" ($1,000 Solar Hot Water Rebate) was axed on February 28th, four months earlier than the scheduled date.
The Government appears to have done this to avoid over-subscribing the available funding due to a last minute stampede by householders aiming to avoid missing out of the grant (as has occurred at the close of similar rebate schemes). The decision means thousands of households who might have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by making the switch to Solar Hot Water will now be unable to pay the full cost and not go ahead. And businesses that had geared up to meet that last minute demand will be stuck holding stock they cannot sell fast enough - a classic case of business being hurt when government's move the goalposts as so often occurs in the renewable energy industry.
The "Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme" was available to householders an electric hot water system with gas-boosted or electric-boosted solar system (where the applicant had **NOT** installed ceiling insulation under the Australian Government's Homeowner Insulation Program). Householders in this situation now receive no assistance.
THE GOOD NEWS
The Victorian Government's Solar Hot Water Rebate is still available for householders wanting to replace exiting gas systems with gas-boosted solar. And also to replace an existing electric system with gas-boosted or electric-boosted solar system (if natural gas is not available in the street) where the applicant **HAS** installed ceiling insulation under the Australian Government's discontinued Home Insulation Program.
THE (NEW AND EXCITING) GOOD NEWS
At least one manufacturer of Solar Hot Water Systems has been preparing for the end of the Federal Rebate and now offer low-cost Retrofit Kits to attach Solar Hot Water Panels to existing electric tanks. The low-cost of these kits goes some way to compensating for the end of the Rebate.
They also have new "Solar Ready" Tanks the electric-boosted storage tanks that can installed quickly in an emergency but then allow a householder the option to add the solar component within 60 days and still claim the STCs ("RECs") (and state rebates if applicable). Note that standard electric storage tanks cannot be retrofitted in this way.
And also "Solar Ready" Instantaneous Gas Units that are designed to accept pre-heated water and can therefore have solar collectors fitted to them afterwards. Note that standard Instantaneous Gas Units cannot be retrofitted in this way.
For more information about your options for making the switch to Solar Hot Water, including the low-cost retrofit kits and Solar Ready Tanks, visit the BREAZE Solar Hot Water Webpage and/or come to the BREAZE Solar Info Session on Thursday April 19th, 7pm. |
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