Friday, March 13, 2020

More Victorian households will be able to store cleaner, cheaper rooftop energy, with the Andrews Labor Government adding an extra 143 postcodes to its Solar Homes battery rebate scheme.

Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing said this meant households in Maryknoll, Garfield North, Longwarry North, Jindivick, Bona Vista, Seaview, Gainsborough, Yarragon, Trafalgar East, and Thorpdale are now eligible to apply for a Solar Homes battery rebate of up to $4,838.

Households with an average 11kwH battery around can expect to save around $650 a year on their electricity bills, in addition to savings they are already making with solar panels.

More than 70 per cent of the new postcodes are in regional Victoria, including in the Goulburn Valley, North East Victoria, Gippsland and Barwon South West regions.

The expansion will include regional centres such as Bendigo, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Yarrawonga, Mildura, Port Fairy, Traralgon, Sale and Bairnsdale, and reach approximately 50 per cent of households that have a pre-existing solar panel system of at least 5kW.

There have been more than 359 approved applications for solar batteries since they became available in July 2019, with 219 of those systems already installed.

To be eligible for a rebate, householders must obtain approval to install a battery from their distribution network service, have an existing rooftop solar system of 5kW or more, and meet other eligibility criteria. Full eligibility details can be found at: solar.vic.gov.au/solar-battery-rebate.

Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing

“Solar batteries will help local families store energy from the sun, reduce their reliance on the grid, and save money.”

“This is a fantastic opportunity for households in the Eastern Victorian region that already have solar panels to capitalise on their solar systems and take greater control of their energy bills.”

 “Solar batteries are a huge money saver, so it’s great news for Eastern Victorian families that they are now eligible to apply for a rebate and get a battery installed with their solar system.”