Expanding solar savings for more Victorians
The Carroll and Albanese Labor Governments are expanding the program, helping residents save up to $500 a year on their electricity bills while covering much of the upfront cost of installing solar.
Successful applicants can access rebates of up to $2,800 per apartment and $140,000 per building, covering an average of 76% of installation costs.
Changes to the program will make more apartments, units and townhouses eligible.
Larger developments will have greater access, with buildings of up to 150 lots now eligible, up from 50 lots.
The existing median property value limit will also be removed, opening the program to more buildings across Victoria.
Owners corporations will also be able to allocate up to 20 per cent of generated solar energy to common property, helping bring down the cost of powering common areas.
The expansion comes as more than 150 rooftop solar installations have now been completed through the program across Victoria, with almost half on rental properties.
More than 2,800 residents are already saving with rooftop solar through the program, with another 726 set to benefit from 17 installations underway.
Applications for the program are currently open and will run until June 2027.
The Commonwealth is also working with the Carroll Labor Government and other states and territories to safely unlock plug-in solar and batteries, giving apartment residents and renters more ways to bring down their bills.
Victoria Minister for Energy and Resources Jaclyn Symes said: Solar means lower power bills – apartment residents and renters deserve to share in those savings.”
“We’re opening the program to more buildings, that means more solar on more rooftops and lower power bills for more Victorians.”
Federal Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Wilson said: Where you live should not determine whether you can benefit from solar. Through our partnership with Victoria, we’re helping more apartment residents access rooftop solar today while working together on reforms to safely unlock balcony solar and plug-in batteries for the future.”