Households across Australia that replace an existing electric storage hot water system with a solar hot water or heat pump system can apply for a rebate under the Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme–Solar Hot Water Rebate (REBS).

Key eligibility

To be eligible for the rebate systems must be installed, ordered (and a deposit paid) or purchased on or before 28 February 2012.

To be eligible for a rebate, you must:

• replace an existing electric storage hot water system
• install the system at a principal place of residence
• install a system that generates 20 or more small-scale technology certificates at the time of installation
• not have previously received assistance from the Home (or Home Owner) Insulation Program
  (unless you’ve had foil insulation removed under the Foil Insulation Safety Program)
• applications lodged up to 30 June 2012 will continue to be processed, applications received after 30 June 2012, will not be eligible.

A number of other conditions apply. Check your eligibility on the Australian Government's Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency website.

Items covered

The rebates that you may be eligible for are:

• $1,000 for installing a solar hot water system
• $600 for installing a heat pump system.

The Government is continuing to support households to install climate-friendly hot water systems through the Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). Under this scheme, solar and heat pump hot water systems are assigned a number of STCs and retailers usually offer an upfront discount on systems in exchange for the STCs.

Next steps

Make sure you understand the full program information at the Australian Government's Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency website.

For more information, you can also call the hotline on 1800 808 571.

Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme - Solar Hot Water Rebate

http://www.climatechange.gov.au/government/initiatives/solar-hot-water.aspx