A solar panel (PV) system is a significant investment, with the Solar Panel (PV) Rebate helping to make systems more affordable for Victorians.
Solar Panel (PV) Rebate
Victorian residents can apply for the solar panel rebate to help pay for the cost of a new solar panel system. The solar panel rebate gives Victorian households a discount of up to 50 per cent of the purchase cost to install solar panels, to a maximum of $1,400 in 2020-21.
Not-for-profit community housing providers are also eligible to apply for the rebate on behalf of their tenants.
Find out more about the Solar panel (PV) rebate here.
Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs)
Your new system is also eligible for Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). This is effectively a payment made to purchasers of small renewable energy systems for the value of the emissions reduction they create. The quoted price of the system from your installer will have the STC discount included in the final price.
Selling your surplus electricity with Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs)
Any excess electricity generated at home throughout the day can be sold to the grid through your electricity retailer for a feed-in tariff, which is a fixed rate paid to households per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity exported to the grid. Feed-in tariffs vary across states and territories, between retailers, and in some states, even across distribution networks.
Not everyone will be able to feed excess energy into the grid and your local distribution network service provider should inform you if this is the case.
It’s a good idea to investigate whether you will be able to feed excess energy into the grid before buying a system. Your solar retailer should discuss any constraints on exporting energy into the grid with you as part of the quote process.
Victoria has minimum tariffs set every financial year by the Essential Services Commission, and electricity retailers must pay these or higher rates.
Find out more about Victoria’s feed-in tariffs at the Essential Services Commission website.
Compare offers from retailers at Victoria’s Energy Compare website.
Updated