Rebates - Bushfire affected households
A range of rebates and sustainable building advice is available to residents rebuilding their homes after the 2009 Victorian bushfires.
There are currently rebates/incentives available to homeowners installing a solar hot water system in rebuilt homes, with a Victorian Government rebate available also for installing water tanks in rebuilt homes.
Sustainable building ideas
Sustainability Victoria has compiled the Sustainable Rebuilding Ideas - fact sheets to assist people to rebuild homes which were damaged or destroyed in the 2009 Victorian bushfires. A Sustainable Rebuilding Ideas - booklet is also available to provide a quick overview of the fact sheet information. For more information please use the link at the bottom of the page.
Solar Hot Water Rebates/Incentives
- Victorian Government Solar Hot Water Rebate
- Australian Government Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme - Solar Hot Water Component
- Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
Victorian Government Solar Hot Water rebate - Bushfire Affected Homes
A Victorian Government rebate of up to $1600 is available to assist bushfire affected homeowners replacing a gas or non-electric water heater with a gas boosted solar hot water system in their new home. This rebate for new homes is only available to applicants whose residences were destroyed as a result of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires and are eligible to receive a Destroyed Homes Payment through the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund (VBAF).
Eligibility criteria
Householders are eligible for the Victorian Government rebate where:
- their residence was destroyed as a result of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires and their eligibility to receive a Destroyed Homes Payment is confirmed by the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund (VBAF) and
- they have rebuilt their home in Victoria, and
- the destroyed water heater was not an electric or electric boosted solar unit and
- an eligible gas boosted solar hot water system has been installed at the new residence. A link to the list of eligible systems is available at the bottom of this page.
Rebate amounts
Rebates for solar hot water systems will vary depending on their size (amount of water produced) and performance (its solar contribution). Better performing systems, or those that make the most effective use of the sun's energy, attract a higher rebate.
For rebate amounts for each accredited system refer to Rebate amounts for solar hot water systems in Regional Victoria at the bottom of this page.
An additional rebate of $200 is available for a rebuilt home that is in reticulated (mains) gas area and natural gas was not previously connected to the destroyed home. This additional rebate is only available if you are eligible to receive the Victorian Government Solar Hot Water Rebate and cannot be claimed separately.
Rebate amounts are subject to change in response to availability of new incentives, adjustments to existing incentives or other market conditions.
For more detailed information on rebate eligibility requirements download the application form by using the links at the bottom of this page.
How to get the rebate
Unlike the Victorian Government Regional and Metropolitan Melbourne Solar Hot Water rebate, which is a point of sale rebate only, the Bushfire Affected Homes Solar Hot Water rebate is paid directly to the applicant after the system has been installed.
Step 1
Householder arranges installation of an accredited gas-boosted solar hot water system.
Step 2
Householder downloads and completes an application form, which can be found at the bottom of this page.
Step 3
Attach to your application copies of:
- plumbing Certificate of Compliance
- tax invoices/receipts for supply and installation of the solar hot water heater*
- tax invoice for new gas connection (where applicable)
- letter from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund confirming eligibility for a destroyed homes payment (blue cards are not acceptable)
Send application to:
Solar Hot Water Rebate
Sustainability Victoria
Level 28, 50 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne 3000
*Where the system and installation have been billed separately please provide a copy of both tax invoices.
Step 4
Sustainability Victoria will assess each application for eligibility and will pay the appropriate rebate directly to the owner either by cheque or electronic funds transfer.
Australian Government Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme - Solar Hot Water Component
The Australian Government's Solar Hot Water Rebate of $1000 to install a solar hot water system or $600 for a heat pump will be available to bushfire affected homeowners, rebuilding on the site of the destroyed home. For further information visit the rebates page at the website of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (link at the bottom of this page).
Renewable Energy Certificates
The Australian Government's Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) scheme provides financial incentives to promote renewable energy. RECs are created when a householder installs a solar hot water system. For example, if the REC price is $35 and your installation attracts 30 RECs you could save $1050. For more information on how to access this incentive please contact your solar hot water supplier. For further information on RECs visit the website of the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator (ORER) at the link at the bottom of this page.
Summary of Solar Hot Water Rebates/incentives
| Location | Previous system | Replaced with | Rebate available |
| Rebuilt on site of destroyed home | Natural gas, LPG, wood, briquette or oil fuelled | Gas boosted solar | Victorian and Australian Government rebates and RECs |
| Electric boosted solar | Australian Government rebate and RECs | ||
| Electric or electric boosted solar | Electric or gas boosted solar | Australian Government rebate and RECs | |
| Rebuilt home on a different site in Victoria | Natural gas, LPG, wood, briquette or oil fuelled | Gas boosted solar | Victorian Government rebate and RECs |
Notes:
- Based on current Australian Government advice.
- For owners choosing to purchase a replacement home rather than rebuild, an Australian or Victorian Government rebate may be available in accordance with the current eligibility guidelines applying to all existing homes.
Rainwater Tank Grants
A one-off grant is available to residents rebuilding homes after the 2009 bushfires to purchase and install rainwater tanks. The grant is only available to applicants whose residences were destroyed as a result of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires and are eligible to receive a Destroyed Homes Payment through the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund (VBAF) as per the Solar Hot Water rebate above.
Current building standards must be met, and tanks must be plumbed into all toilets in the house. To be eligible for the grant, residents must provide a Plumbing Industry Certificate of Compliance and tax invoices/receipts for supply and installation of the rainwater tank(s).
Grants will be provided on the following basis:
- $1000 for a tank 4000+ litres connected to all toilets and laundry
- $900 for a tank 4000+ litres connected to all toilets
- $500 for tank 2000-3999 litres connected to all toilets (connection to laundry optional)
The grants will be available for installations until 30 June 2012 with claims to be lodged by 30 September 2012.
Application forms are available at the bottom of the page.
How to get the rebate
The Bushfire Affected Rainwater Tank Grant is paid directly to the applicant after the rainwater tank has been installed & the completed application received and processed.
Step 1
Householder downloads and completes an application form, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
Step 2
Attach to the application a copy of the:
- Plumbing Certificate of Compliance
- Tax invoice* showing the rain water tank and installation costs and
- Letter from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund confirming eligibility for a destroyed home grant (blue card not acceptable) and send to:
Home Rainwater Tank Grant
Sustainability Victoria
Level 28, 50 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne 3000
*Where the system and installation have been billed separately please provide a copy of both tax invoices.
Step 3
Sustainability Victoria will assess each application for eligibility and will pay the appropriate rebate directly to the owner either by cheque or electronic funds transfer.
More information
For more information download the guidelines and application forms available below, or call 1300 363 744 or contact us.
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