I have done the pre-approval application. Basically unlike other rebates where you pay for the item then get some money back afterwards, with the solar rebate you get approval before you make the purchase and the rebate money goes directly to the company supplying and installing the equipment.
I *think* you can get pre-approval by yourself and then find a company to do the work afterwards, but we have already got quotes for the work and chosen the company so we have done the application in conjunction with them (there are some techincal details that need to be supplied on the form that they have filled in). Not sure if I can give any other information about the process because we haven't got pre-approval yet.....other than we were advised the approvals are taking 12-14 weeks to be processed which is longer than the suggested time frame.
Oh also, it may be worth getting some one out to look at your roof/house because differents roof designs and orientations can vary in their suitability for solar panels. For example our roof is north facing but with a HUGE gum tree in front which shades the best north facing section So we are putting the panels on another section of roof but this limits how many panels will fit.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I just heard on the radio driving home about an hour ago that it has been axed and you only have until the close of business today to get the solar heating rebate. I would definitely look into it. Hopefully I'm wrong
We were in the process of organising this and got the call from the solar company this afternoon that they needed all our paperwork by 7pm tonight because the rebate has been scrapped 3 weeks early. 2 hour return trip but we made it.
Sounds like a lot of people will be missing out now.
well, we found out that as long as we had the paperwork sent to Qld (where they are still able to accept applications until tomorrow, apparrently) via express post today we'd be ok.
I heard the govt's estimated allowance for this has blown out by 5 times, that's why they had to end it early.
Fingers crossed it will all go ok, I didn't have time to shop around
I would have loved to have taken up this rebate - but it was just way too $$ for us...
And i know that our energy is too cheap, but with the way it is i would loose so much putting this in as this isn't the house we are going to live at forever...
You would think that along with cutting down carbon emissions etc, if the government & the public sponsered this a whole lot more, and it was compulsary for all houses, not just new ones to have solar panels, solar hot water, grey water recycle and water tanks, imagine what we could do for the enviroment. Also, with such a greater demand, hopefully more plces would manafacture and the prices would come down.
But alas, power & water is too cheap, so nobody will ever do it.
Does anyone know if that rebate to put insulation in your home is still running? Has it even started yet??
Hi Lara! Was great chatting with you on Saturday night
We have our fingers tightly crossed, DH send our paperwork off via Express Post last Thursday (it was going to Canberra) and it still hadn't arrived yesterday . We're not sure if we'll be accepted or not now, we will not be happy with Aussie Post if we don't!
Just another thing - I think the legislation for the replacement scheme is going before parliament this week or next week? so hopefully there will only be a 3 week break between rebate schemes. I'm not sure what the new rebate amounts will be though.
If your rebate application wasn't in to the Government by COB yesterday the rebate wont be available any longer. However, there will be a new system (a market based one, rather than a Gov't subsidy) in place in the coming months through new legislation. Some householders will get more Solar Credits (equivalent in money or discount on their PV system) than others depending on where you live and how much the price of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) are in the marketplace (it fluctuates like shares but has been going up over time in general). With the new Solar Credits system there wont be a limit on who can apply ie what your income level is and it wont be restricted to just up to 1000 Watt systems so you can put larger systems in.
The next few months will probably find the solar companies working out the new system and pricing for householders but it should be working soon once the legislation is passed.
Yael, the household insulation scheme is up and running and after 1 July it wont cost householders anything upfront as long as the cost of the insulation is under $1600. Until 1 July you can get the insulation installed but you pay up front and get it refunded from the Government (there are a couple of rules about getting two quotes etc). This scheme is designed to install roof insulation in 2.9 million Australian homes that are currently uninsulated. If you are planning on getting this done (it runs for about 2.5 years I think), my advice would be book in ASAP as the waiting times may be quite long but a great deal IMO. There is information on Environment, Water and Heritage (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts - DEWHA) - Home Page about it as well as the alternative Solar Hot Water $1600 rebate.
In my opinion, and I have solar electricity panels on my roof, the best bet for most families is to buy green power. It is cheaper than large upfront costs of PV panels and may even have a bigger impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Solar Hot Water is also a great way to reduce electricity bills as 30% of your energy bill is likely to be hot water and the sun will heat it for you for free. With some States also offering rebates it can have a 1-2 year pay back and after that it is all free hot water.
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