Hobart City Council has introduced a new Solar Hot Water Rebate Scheme, offering Hobart ratepayers a $500 incentive to install a solar hot water system in their homes.
Water heating accounts for about 30 percent of an average household's total energy use. Installing a solar water heater can greatly reduce a household’s energy bills, as it directly uses ‘free’ and renewable energy from the sun to heat water. A solar water heater can provide between 50 percent and 90 percent of a household’s hot water requirements, depending on climatic conditions and the model of heater.
Importantly, using solar energy to heat water produces no harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Given that Tasmania has recently connected to the National Electricity Grid via Basslink, energy savings through solar hot water now have a direct greenhouse gas reduction benefit.
The rebate provides a one-off payment of $500 per solar hot water system for Hobart ratepayers who are ineligible for Council’s current planning and building administration fee rebate.
Please note that to be eligible to qualify for the rebate you must have:
No rebate will be offered for systems that have been purchased outside of this period.
Council will require adequate proof of purchase and installation. Acceptable documentation and terms and conditions of the scheme are specified on the application form. You may also collected an application form in person from the Council Centre at 16 Elizabeth St, Hobart.
The Solar Hot Water System must be installed by a currently registered plumber.
The rebate scheme imposes no restrictions on the brand, size or cost of the unit that someone chooses to buy. Council’s advice is that anyone interested should talk to their plumber or local solar hot water distributor.
A planning permit may be required if your property is identified as being either located within a Heritage Area or listed under the Heritage Schedule of the City of Hobart Planning Scheme 1982.
A Planning Permit is required for properties located within the Battery Point and Sullivans Cove Planning Scheme Areas. Please contact Council on 6238 2715 and ask to speak to a Council Planning Officer if you are unsure or have any further questions.
The Rebate Scheme began on 1 July 2007 and will continued until 31 December 2008.
Subject to approval, the rebate will then be deducted from subsequent rates instalment notice(s).
Solar Hot Water Rebate Application Form
For further enquiries contact Council’s Environmental Development Planner on 6238 2168.
The Australian Government is helping Australian households install greenhouse friendly solar and heat pump hot water systems in existing eligible homes1 by offering a rebate of $1000.
To claim a rebate, you will need to fill out an application form and submit it no more than 3 months after an eligible system2 has been installed. For more information and an application pack phone the Australian Greenhouse Office hotline on 1800 808 571 or visit www.greenhouse.gov.au/rebates.
1Eligible homes -
2Eligible systems - details of eligibility are provided in the programme guidelines available on the Australian Greenhouse Office website.
The installation of a solar water heater may be eligible for the creation of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000, if it displaces electricity to heat water and results in a positive greenhouse gas benefit.
Once created RECs can be traded, purchased or sold, thereby making a solar water heater installation cheaper for the owner. Householders may assign their right to create certificates to an Agent in return for some benefit, such as a rebate or price reduction. In this case, the Agent will create and own the certificates.
Are you installing solar panels on your residential or community property? The Photovoltaic Rebate Program (PVRP) is a Commonwealth Government funded initiative that is administered in Tasmania by the Office of Energy Planning and Conservation. The PVRP provides funding to assist with the purchase of photovoltaic (PV) power systems serving households and community buildings.
Further information about the Photovoltaic Rebate Program is available by contacting the Office of Energy Planning and Conservation:
