FEDERAL GOVERNMENT  REBATES

The Australian Government currently offers a rebate of $1000 for solar hot water systems and $600 for heat pumps to eligible applicants to offset the up-front costs of installing a solar hot water system in an existing home. To qualify for this rebate, you must satisfy certain criteria such as home ownership and system specifications. The rebate can only be claimed by applying to the Department of the Environment and Water Resources Australian Greenhouse Office in writing within three months of installation.

Full details of eligibility are provided in the program guidelines, however key criteria are listed below.

Eligible systems
To be eligible for the rebate, a solar hot water system must:

• replace an existing electric storage hot water system
• be purchased and installed on, or after 3rd February 2009
• be a solar or heat pump hot water system that is eligible
  for at least 20 Renewable Energy Certificates (Solar RECs)
  at the time and place of installation
• be verified by a Registered Agent
• be installed by a suitably qualified person
  (for example an electrician or plumber)
• have a warranty of at least five years.

Eligible households
The dwelling where the solar hot water system is installed must be a principal place of residence.

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STATE GOVERNMENT SOLAR HOT WATER REBATES

Selected state governments within Australia also offer rebates to households installing solar hot water systems.

Queensland
The QLD Government is now offering a rebate of $600 (or $1000 for qualifying low income earners) when replacing an electric storage water heater with a heat pump or solar water heater. The main eligibility criteria are as follows;

Key Eligibility Criteria - $600 rebate

• The new system must have been purchased on or after 13th April 2010 (please note that payments will not commence until 1st July 2010)
• Be a solar or heat pump hot water system eligible for at least 20 Renewable Energy Certificates (RECS)
• Replace an existing electric storage hot water system in a principle place of residence
• Be installed by licensed parties (current BSA and occupational licenses)

Key Eligibility Criteria – Low Income earner $1000 rebate

To qualify for the $1000, the applicant must meet all of the $600 rebate eligibility conditions, as well as hold one of the pension cards listed below (must be a current and valid card);

• Centrelink Pension Concession card
• Centrelink Low-Income Heath Care card
• Commonwealth Seniors Health card or Department of Veterans' Affairs Pension Concession card (Blue only. Orange, white and gold cardholders are not eligible.)

This low income earner/pensioner rebate can only be applied for once. Please also note that the $600 rebate and $1000 rebate cannot both be claimed for the same installation.

Submitting an application form does not guarantee eligibility. Upon receipt of a completed rebate application form, the QLD Government will assess the application against the eligibility criteria before making any payment. The QLD Government may also request further information from the applicant before the rebate is paid.

All payments will commence from July 1 2010, and are available in addition to the Federal Government Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme rebate ($1000 solar, $600 heat pump) and the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) incentive, both of which are detailed on this website.

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