Home Solar Rebates, Incentives & Subsidies
Solar Shop Online has a special department that deals purely with community and residential solar power grid connect system rebates and subsidies.
| State | Current scheme(s) | Max Size | Rate Paid | Program Duration | Further info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIC | A mandatory of minimum of 5c/kWh is in place until 30 June 2017, at which point it will be increased to 11.3c/kWh | Less than 100kW | Depends on retailer: Currently ~6-10¢/kWh | No set end-date | Energy Made Easy(Government site for comparing electricity and solar buyback rates) |
| SA | No mandatory minimum; rates based on retailer competition | First 45kWh per day | Depends on retailer: Currently ~6-12c/kWh | No set end-date | Energy Made Easy(Government site for comparing electricity and solar buyback rates) |
| ACT | No mandatory feed-in tariff minimum contribution from retailer | n/a | Depends on retailer: Currently ~6-8c/kWh | No set end-date | n/a |
| TAS | Rate set by local utility, Aurora Energy | 10kW (single phase), 30kW (three phase) | ~7¢/kWh | No set end-date | Office of the Economic Regulator – Feed-in Tariffs |
| NT | Solar Buyback scheme through PowerWater | Systems up to 4.5kW can be connected without inspection, buyback for systems over 30kVA will be calculated upon application | Domestic buyback rate set by PowerWater | No set end-date | PowerWater: Photovoltaic (PV) solar systems |
| WA | 2 Solar Buyback Schemes in place | Residential: Up to 5kW on Synergy grid (Southwestern region) Commercial: No size limit (Southwestern Region) Residential: Size limit varies by location on Horizon grid (Northwestern region) | Synergy residential customers: ~6-9c/kWh | No set end-date | n/a |
| QLD | No minimum feed-in tariff rate for residential customers in southeastern Qld (rates depend on retailer competition) Mandatory minimum of ~6-8¢/kWh for regional Qld customers (determined annually) | 5kW | Rates based on retailer competition in southeastern Qld Mandatory minimum of ~6-8¢/kWh in regional Qld (reviewed annually)
| No set end-date | Energy Made Easy(Government site for comparing electricity and solar buyback rates)
|
| NSW | No mandatory feed-in tariff rate; electricity retailers set rates on voluntary basis | Depends on retailer | Depends on retailer: Currently ~6-12c/kWh | No set end-date | Energy Made Easy(Government site for comparing electricity and solar buyback rates) |
Solar Credits Subsidy
IMPORTANT: The Solar Credits subsidy will be reduced at the end of this year!
The Solar Credits subsidy offers substantial savings depending on the size and location of installation and applies to new installations of small-scale renewable energy generators eligible under the scheme.
Most Australians have access to the incentive, which can reduce your outlay by thousands of dollars! Even if you you live in an apartment complex; you may also be eligible to apply for a subsidy under the program. In order to be eligible you must satisfy the following three additional criteria:
- Applicant must be an owner occupier of an apartment within the apartment block
- You must have permission from body corporate
- You need to provide proof that the panels are owned by you (an invoice from Solar Shop Online will suffice)
How the subsidy works
When you select Solar Shop Online as your residential solar power grid connect supplier and installer, we help greatly simplify the process for you! Here’s how the process works through us:
- Select a special, submit for a quick solar quote from Solar Direct Online or contact our friendly, expert consultants for advice.
- A no-obligation quote on the basis of the information you provide will be generated,
including the Solar Credits discount. An email copy of the quote will also be sent to you. - Accept quote and pay your deposit.
- Installation occurs.
Don’t forget about feed in tariffs (FiT)!
While feed in tariffs (FiT) are not a solar rebate as such, they are a further incentive to install a PV system. Feed in tariffs
exist in most states and pay you for the surplus electricity you produce.
Is your feed in tariff ending?
Some of the older feed in tariff programs in Australia will be ending soon, with those participants being switched over to current programs.
We’ve published some guides to help those affected:
Victoria (Transitional Feed In Tariff)
The Transitional Feed-in Tariff (TFIT) closed to new customers on 31 December 2012. The scheme pays existing participants with small-scale solar power systems of five kilowatts capacity or less a minimum credit of 25 cents per kilowatt hour for surplus electricity fed back into the grid.
South Australia (Group 4)
On the first of October, participants in South Australia’s legacy Group 4 solar feed in tariff were switched to a new solar feed in tariff rate.
Group 4 participants include those who signed up between 1 October 2011 and 30 September 2013 and had their import/export meters installed before January 30, 2014. Prior to October 1, these participants were receiving 16 cents per kilowatt-hour for surplus electricity generated by their solar power systems that was exported to the grid. With the end of the program, the solar feed-in tariff has dropped to as little as 6.8c per kilowatt hour. This reduction will have a significant impact on the electricity bills of affected participants; the number of which is estimated at around 60,000. Group 4 participants who haven’t shopped around power retailers for the best deals for their high value solar electricity should certainly consider doing so now. Now is the time to consider upgrading a system with batteries to incorporate more solar panels and/or retrofitting a battery system in order to increase self-consumption of solar electricity.
Battery system rebates and subsidies
Energy storage is the next solar revolution – and there can be some financial assistance for purchasing a battery system depending on where you live. Get on the road to solar savings today! Get a quick solar quote, check out our discount solar power packages and get started on making the switch to generating power from the sun today – you’ll have clean, green electricity powering your home very soon!
