Solar Power Rebates

Federal Government rebates are available for the installation of solar power (photovoltaic) systems under the Solar Homes and Communities Plan and also under the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) scheme. We can provide advice on your eligibility for solar power rebates and we look after the application and processing of rebates for our customers.

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)

The Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) supports the reduction of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the proportion of Australia's electricity generated from renewable energy sources. This is achieved through an innovative market-based certificate trading scheme. The commodity in this market is the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC). Each REC represents the equivalent of one megawatt hour of electricity generation from an accredited renewable energy source.

Owners of eligible Small Generation Units (SGUs) may be able to create and trade RECs, which may help to offset the cost of installing renewable energy systems in the home. Under the MRET scheme the following types of SGUs may be eligible to create RECs:

• Small solar (photovoltaic) systems
  
• Small wind turbines
  
• Small hydro systems
  
  

Quite often owners of these SGUs may have already received a benefit from RECs by the time they have the system installed, possibly in the form of a product rebate or upfront discount from the full purchase price of the system, from a Registered Agent.

The person who is entitled to create RECs for a SGU is the owner of the system at the time it is installed. In some circumstances where SGUs are installed in new buildings, this can be the builder or property developer. Before you create RECs or assign your rights to create RECs you should make sure you are the owner of the system at the time it was installed.

For additional information: www.orer.gov.au/sgu

Solar Credits

For additional information:  www.climatechange.gov.au

Victorian Premium Feed-in Tariff for Solar Power

Victorian households qualify for a premium feed-in tariff for installing solar power systems and providing excess electricity into the State electricity grid.

The feed-in tariff offers householders a premium rate for excess power and is designed to increase the number of private households in Victoria generating renewable energy.

Victorian homes generating their own small-scale solar power will be eligible for Australia's highest premium feed-in tariff from 2009.

Households with small-scale solar energy generators (up to two kilowatts) will be paid 60 cents per kilowatt hour for any unused electricity they feed back into the power grid - almost four times the standard retail price for electricity.

The premium feed-in tariff will support the solar industry and make it more affordable for people to play a part in tackling climate change. It also encourages people to be more energy efficient, by rewarding those who use less power.

For additional information:  new.dpi.vic.gov.au/energy   Premium Feed-in Tariff for Solar Power.pdf