Victorians will be able to save up to $400 a year on their power bills with discounted solar hot water systems for 60,000 households over ten years, under the new Solar Homes program.

Premier Daniel Andrews met workers building solar hot water systems at Rinnai Australia’s manufacturing facility today to announce the $60 million package.

From today, Victorian households can replace their old hot water system with a new solar system and get $1,000 back off the cost via a rebate. This will save the average Victorian household between $160 to $400 a year off their electricity bills.

The solar hot water rebate is part of Labor’s massive new Solar Homes program, which is putting power back into the hands of Victorians and cutting electricity bills by providing half price solar panels to 650,000 households.

Not all homes can have solar panels installed because of issues such as roof design or shade, which is why the Labor Government is providing the $1,000 rebate on solar hot water systems as part of the program. It means Victorians who can’t install solar panels will still be able to save hundreds of dollars a year on their electricity bills.

The $1,000 rebate is available to up to 6,000 households from today and will be expanded to 60,000 households from July next year, under a re-elected Andrews Labor Government.

The rebate is available to Victorians with a household income of up to $180,000 who live in their own home valued at up to $3 million – and who haven’t already installed half price solar panels under the program.

A new independent agency – Solar Victoria – will be established to work with industry, regulators and training organisations to deliver the program, which will create almost 5,500 new jobs.

Safety is paramount, and the Solar Homes program includes $9 million to support accreditation of 4,500 electricians to install solar hot water and solar panel systems. These systems will only be installed by accredited solar installers using approved products to ensure the highest safety standards.

Labor’s Solar Homes program will bring the number of homes in Victoria with solar panels to one million within ten years – saving Victorians more than $500 million a year on their electricity bills once the program is complete.

It will also cut our carbon emissions by almost four million tonnes – the same as taking one million of Victoria’s 4.6 million cars off the road – and generate 12.5 per cent of Victoria’s 40 per cent target for renewable energy by 2025.

Find out more at solar.vic.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews

“Jeff Kennett and the Liberals privatised electricity and now corporations are price gouging. Only Labor will stand up for families against big corporations.”

“We’re putting solar panels and hot water systems on Victorian homes to help families save hundreds of dollars a year on their electricity bills.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio

“Putting solar panels and hot water systems on more than 700,000 homes will save Victorians more than $500 million a year on their electricity bills and generate enough solar power to keep the lights on at the MCG for 9,000 years.”