{"id":58918,"date":"2022-02-15T07:06:53","date_gmt":"2022-02-14T20:36:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=58918"},"modified":"2022-02-15T07:06:53","modified_gmt":"2022-02-14T20:36:53","slug":"solar-switch-sa-mb2356","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/solar-switch-sa-mb2356\/","title":{"rendered":"South Australia’s Switch For Solar Program Expands"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Switch<\/p>\n

SA’s Marshall Government has decided to expand its “Switch for Solar” program, which provides free solar installations for eligible low-income households.<\/p>\n

The Switch for Solar initiative was announced in February<\/a> last year and a trial kicked off in May 2021<\/a> involving 1,000 SA concession holder households in the Goolwa area and north-eastern suburbs of Adelaide. Qualifying participants choose to forego their energy concession and Cost of Living Concession (COLC) for 10 years in exchange for a free (or almost free) 4.4kW solar power system.<\/p>\n

Yesterday, SA Deputy Premier Dan van Holst Pellekaan announced the program is to be expanded to 5,000 low income households in total across the state after the success of the pilot.<\/p>\n

\u201cElectricity bills of households already in the program have fallen by well over $1000 a year resulting in a net benefit of up to an average of $538 for these low-income households,\u201d said<\/a> Deputy Premier van Holst Pellekaan.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Up to an average? Either it’s an average or it isn’t – but anyway, the program appears to have worked out to be a pretty good deal for participants, assuming quality gear has been installed that lasts the distance. The $538 is the benefit over and above the foregone $215.10 per year Cost of Living Concession and $231.41 annual energy concession participants are experiencing after having solar systems installed.<\/p>\n

Households aren’t locked into a 4.4kW solar power system – they can choose to have a bigger system installed and pay the difference. According to Minister for Human Services Michelle Lensink, around 28 per cent of households so far have opted for a larger system. A battery can also be added, again at the participant’s own expense.<\/p>\n

While system installations are free for the most part, there may be some cost involved where an installation isn’t “typical”, such as major switchboard upgrades or meter upgrades where one is required and an electricity retailer charges for this. Any additional costs will be discussed prior to installation and participants can choose to not proceed at that point.<\/p>\n

Switch For Solar Eligibility Criteria<\/h2>\n

Among the eligibility criteria for the program, applicants must:<\/p>\n