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• Queensland Solar Hot Water Program
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Eligibility Criteria

This offer is only open to Queenslanders who have an electric storage hot water system installed in their home.

The Federal Government is offering a $1600 rebate to help with the cost of installation. Applicants must be eligible for the Federal Government Solar Hot Water Rebate. The Queensland Government will pay that federal rebate upfront on your behalf to ensure you receive your hot water system sooner and to ensure you are not out-of-pocket. When you receive the federal rebate, you will need to repay the rebate amount to the Queensland Government by depositing the equivalent rebate amount into the Queensland Goverment account. For this reason, to be eligible for the Queensland Government Solar Hot Water Program, applicants must be eligible for the Federal Solar Hot Water Rebate.

Also under this Program, you need to agree to transfer the right to create and trade Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to the hot water system Contractor responsible for installing the hot water system. RECs are issued when a complete solar or heat pump hot water system is installed. The number of RECs issued varies with each hot water system. For more information about RECs visit the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator.

To participate in the Queensland Solar Hot Water Program, you need to satisfy the following:

1. You need to meet eligibility criteria under the Federal Government's $1600 Solar Hot Water Rebate. That information is available online or via the Energy Efficient Homes Package Hotline on 1800 808 571

2. If you are considering applying as a pensioner or low income earner, you will need to verify that you hold a Centrelink Pension Concession Card, a Centrelink Low Income Health Care Card, a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or a Department of Veterans' Affairs Pension Concession Card.

Emergency replacement of electric hot water systems

If your existing electric hot water system fails, you will need to purchase a new system from the marketplace, you will not be able to access a new system under this program.  You may still be eligible for the Federal Government's Solar Hot Water Rebate and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).

Other costs inside the program

All costs associated with the installation of your new solar technology hot water system will be detailed in a quote provided to you by your Queensland Solar Hot Water Program supplier prior to you making a decision to proceed to installation.

The Program does not cover any additional costs such as council inspection fees or any other non-standard installation costs (for example cranage, cyclone brackets, extra copper piping etc).

Council inspection fees vary throughout Queensland ranging from no charge in some areas, up to about $300 in a small number of council areas. For more information on inspection fees in your area, please contact your local council.

Changes to the Federal Rebate 

Recently the Federal Government announced a reduction in its rebate for homes that install a heat pump hot water system.

The Queensland Government is assessing the impact of this change to participants in the Queensland Solar Hot Water Program who will require a heat pump installation.

The future of the Queensland Program would be reviewed in light of any further change to the federal rebate program.  

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