![\"Canberra](\"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/act-pensioners.jpg\")
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If you’re an ACT pensioner interested in getting solar panels installed; provided you live in your own home, I have good news.\u00a0 To help meet their target of zero net emissions by 2045, the ACT Government is offering a rebate of up to $2,500.<\/p>\r\n
But this isn’t the only good news I have. If you’re in the market for any of the following:<\/p>\r\n
Then the ACT government provides another rebate of up to $2,500.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n
Both these rebates will pay for half the installed cost up to a maximum of $2,500. \u00a0ACT pensioner homeowners can receive up to $5,000 in rebates if both are taken.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n
The bad news is, they haven’t made applying for these rebates straightforward.\u00a0 The ACT Government has zero respect for your time, and you must spend hours on preparation and paperwork to get each one.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n
To help you out and hopefully save you time, I’ll provide step-by-step instructions on how to get each rebate. \u00a0 Then I’ll briefly complain about how goddam difficult they’ve made it.\u00a0 I’ll also give some advice on the most effective way to use these rebates.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n
But first, I’ll mention a couple of other financial incentives available in the ACT.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n
If you receive one of the rebates for pensioners, you can also get a $10,000 zero-interest loan that can be used for a range of environmentally beneficial purchases.\u00a0 If you don’t get any rebates, you can apply for a $15,000 zero-interest loan, but the subsidy is a lot better, so aim to get that if you can.\u00a0 I wrote about the zero-interest loan scheme in the past<\/a>, but it has been expanded to include new and used electric cars, so I’ll publish an up-to-date article on it soon.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n I won’t go into the zero-interest loan scheme in this article, but you can use it to cover the cost of items you receive a rebate for. \u00a0You’ll need a good credit score and enough income to get a zero-interest loan.<\/p>\r\n Another scheme that will be of use to a small number of people is the Wood Heater Replacement Program<\/a>.\u00a0 This will provide a rebate of up to $1,250 to get rid of a wood heater and replace it with reverse-cycle air-conditioning. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n The name of the pensioner rebate scheme is:<\/p>\r\n Home Energy Support:\u00a0 Rebates For Homeowners<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n If you click on the link above you’ll get information straight from the horses’ mouths.\u00a0 But I’ll try to be a little more succinct than these horses.<\/p>\r\n To be eligible for the rebates you must meet two criteria:<\/p>\r\n If you’re a landlord who owns housing in the ACT you don’t live in, you can’t use the rebates to improve your investment properties.<\/p>\r\n There is a limit of one of each rebate per household.\u00a0 If your living arrangements are unusual — for example, you live in shared housing or are part of a pensioner pollycule (a group of people united by their love of parrots) and think your group deserves more than one rebate, you can cross your fingers and ask the ACT government to consider your request on a case-by-case basis.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n The ACT Government hasn’t made the application process easy.\u00a0 I suspect you have to be a retiree to have enough time to fill in all the forms and jump through all the hoops.\u00a0 I’ll begin by explaining how to apply for the solar rebate first and then the rebate for energy-saving home improvements.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n The rebate for solar power is also called a Category A rebate.\u00a0 Getting it is a five-step process:<\/p>\r\n This is a lot more complex than any rebate system I’d design.\u00a0 The only reason I can think it’s so complicated is that it was designed in Canberra and they’re trying to live up to their reputation.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n I’ll go through the five steps below.<\/p>\r\n The first thing you will need to do to get the rebate is attend an “online workshop”.\u00a0 If you don’t know what this is, don’t worry.\u00a0 It basically means “listen to someone talk on the internet for an hour”.\u00a0 If you click on the “chat” feature, you’ll also be able to type in questions.\u00a0 Don’t worry if you think your question may be stupid.\u00a0 The people running the workshop are literally paid to answer stupid questions.<\/p>\r\n To sign up for the online workshop you will need to:<\/p>\r\n You will then receive an email with a link to click on when it’s time for the online workshop.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n They only appear to have these sessions once a month, so if you’re considering applying for a rebate, sign up for the earliest one to get it out of the way.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n \u00a0If you have trouble connecting or would prefer to attend in real life, you can contact Sustainable Home Advice and arrange to attend a live session in person.\u00a0 Their contact details are:<\/p>\r\n Sustainable Home Advice You may wonder, “Do I have to attend a workshop?” The answer to that question is yes, because you must tick a box on the application form saying that you attended.<\/p>\r\n This is what the online workshop will be about:<\/p>\r\n I attended one of these workshops, and I thought it was pitched at a level that was too advanced for most beginners.\u00a0 The presenter was also a little hard to understand.\u00a0 While I didn’t have a problem, some people probably will.\u00a0 The advice given was good but a little different from what I would provide.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n One thing they said was the average solar system size in Canberra was around 6.6 kilowatts (kW)<\/a>, but going smaller or larger than that was okay.\u00a0 This is interesting because, when you fill in the rebate application form, it encourages people to install a system from 5.5 to 6.69kW.\u00a0 I have my own opinion on system size, but I’ll save it until near the end of this article.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n If you have any questions after attending the workshop, you can email them to Sustainable Home Advice.\u00a0 But if you want to read up on rooftop solar power, either before or after the workshop, I think we do a pretty good job explaining the basics in our Solar 101 Guide<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n Next, you’ll need to get a quote from an installer participating in the scheme.\u00a0 You can find a list of them by following these steps:<\/p>\r\n There are currently 31 installers listed in the ACT.\u00a0 You could choose one from the list but I recommend getting quotes through us.\u00a0 My boss, Finn, personally vets every installer in our network and we back them up with our Good Installer Guarantee<\/a>.\u00a0 This way, you can be confident you’ll get a high-quality installation.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n To get quotes through us, click\u00a0here<\/a> and enter your postcode.\u00a0 Then answer the questions that come up as best you can.\u00a0 When it asks the question, “Anything else you’d like to tell us?”\u00a0 Click “Yes” and write that you want to receive the ACT $2,500 solar rebate for pensioners.<\/p>\r\n The next challenge is to fill out the rebate application form.\u00a0 You can find the form here<\/a>.\u00a0 Note this form is just for the rebate.\u00a0 If you also want to apply for a zero-interest loan, you’ll need a different form.<\/p>\r\n On the form, you’ll have to enter the proposed solar system size.\u00a0 This isn’t too surprising, but if the system is less than 5.5kW or more than 6.69kW they want you to explain why:<\/p>\r\n This is very odd.\u00a0 For one thing, the 6.69kW figure is probably a typo and meant to be 6.66kW.\u00a0 This is the standard maximum panel capacity installed with a 5kW inverter.<\/p><\/div>\r\n The usual reasons for installing a solar power system less than 5.5kW are:<\/p>\r\n While common reasons for installing more than 6.6kW are:<\/p>\r\n I can understand the ACT Government wants to ensure people aren’t wasting solar rebate money by getting tiny solar systems.\u00a0 But if they are trying to discourage systems over 6.6kW that’s nuts.\u00a0 A 5.5 to 6.6kW system will receive the $2,500 maximum rebate.\u00a0 If a household gets a larger system, the expense is coming out of their pockets while reducing emissions and helping lower electricity prices for others.\u00a0 Even if the ACT reaches its zero emissions target, the more clean energy it exports to NSW, the more it will lower that state’s emissions.\u00a0 Greenhouse gases don’t stop at territory borders.<\/p>\r\n There’s one more strange question:<\/p>\r\n If the answer is “no” you have to give the proposed inverter size and explain why it’s not 5kW.\u00a0 There are two reasonable answers to this:<\/p>\r\n This question is unnecessary, and it’s not reasonable to expect homeowners to answer.\u00a0 It’s the sort of thing most people would have to ask their installer.<\/p>\r\n The other questions on the form are relatively straightforward, but you’ll need to provide copies of…<\/p>\r\n Their preference is for you to email the document, along with scans or photographs of the documents to:<\/p>\r\n homeenergysupport@act.gov.au<\/p>\r\n Alternatively, you can print out the form and mail it to them along with printouts or photocopies of the documents.<\/p>\r\n Hopefully, you’ll have chosen a good installer<\/a> and the installation will go ahead without a hitch.\u00a0 But make sure you have organized the paperwork with the installer for the final step.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n The form you filled in previously was just to apply for the rebate.\u00a0 After you get solar installed, you have to fill in the rebate claim form<\/a>.\u00a0 It requires information from both you and the installer.\u00a0 While the solar installer has to provide many details, what you have to fill in isn’t too complex.\u00a0 But they do ask you to tick this box:<\/p>\r\n I’m afraid most people will have to take their installer’s word on this.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n After you’ve filled in and sent off this form, the process is complete.\u00a0 All you have to do is wait for your rebate to arrive.<\/p>\r\n In addition to a rebate for solar power systems, the ACT Government also offers a rebate to home-owning pensioners for:<\/p>\r\n The rebate can be put towards one, two, or potentially all three items.\u00a0 The amount is the same as for solar — 50% of the installed cost, up to a maximum rebate of $2,500.\u00a0 This is referred to as a Category B rebate, while solar is Category A.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n Getting the rebate is a six-step process:<\/p>\r\n After you’ve decided what to use the rebate for, the next step is to attend a workshop.\u00a0 This can be done either online or in person.\u00a0 It is different from the workshop for solar power, so if you want both rebates, you’ll have to attend both.\u00a0 It’s called “Transitioning your home from gas to all-electric” because reducing gas consumption is the main reason the ACT offers the rebate.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n To attend, either online or in person, you’ll need to:<\/p>\r\n They appear to have both online and in-person workshops every two weeks, so you shouldn’t have to wait too long to attend one.<\/p>\r\n Note:<\/strong> When you click on the link in the email it will download a program called “Webex”. It will take up around 500 megabytes of space after it installs itself. I used it to join the online seminar and immediately deleted it afterwards because I like keeping my laptop tidy.<\/p>\r\n After attending the workshop — or more likely before — you’ll need to decide what you are going to use the rebate for.\u00a0 Here’s a quick overview of the three categories:<\/p>\r\n Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner:<\/strong>\u00a0 This is an air conditioner that can be used for heating and cooling.\u00a0 An efficient one can provide over four times as much heat per kilowatt-hour of electricity than conventional heaters. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n Heat Pump Hot Water System:<\/strong>\u00a0 This is a hot water system that uses a heat pump<\/a> to provide hot water. \u00a0In practice, they generally use around one-third as much electricity as a conventional hot water system, but a good quality one may do better than this.\u00a0 Be wary of systems with a decent warranty length for some components but only 12 months for others.\u00a0 Those will be the parts most likely to wear out.\u00a0 I recommend paying extra for a system with a reasonable warranty length for all components.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n Electric Stovetop:<\/strong>\u00a0 Electric stoves are more energy efficient than gas ones.\u00a0 Induction stovetops are the most efficient, but only slightly more than conventional electric stoves.\u00a0 Despite this, I recommend induction stovetops because they cook your food faster.\u00a0 Some people say they don’t want one because they won’t be able to use their aluminium pots, but I say if cooking food faster would make your life a little better, then don’t let your pots tell you what to do.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n Any of the above items can reduce your energy bills, but often you can get the greatest savings if you use the rebate to go off gas entirely.\u00a0 This is because you’ll no longer have to pay the daily supply charge to remain connected to the grid.\u00a0 This is usually at least $220 a year before you are charged for any gas.\u00a0 Note that going off gas won’t affect any ACT Utilities Concession<\/a> you may receive.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n On the negative side, the fee for permanently removing your gas connection is around $750<\/a>.\u00a0 It seems strange households have to bear the full cost of this while the ACT is handing out rebates to reduce gas use.\u00a0 You’d think they could charge a little more for gas and use that money to allow people to disconnect for free.<\/p>\r\n The next step is to get a quote from a supplier participating in the rebate scheme.\u00a0 You can find a list of them by doing the following:<\/p>\r\n After you have a quote, you’ll need to apply for the rebate using this form<\/a>.\u00a0 It’s not too difficult to fill in, but you will need to include copies of:<\/p>\r\n The next step is to get the item installed.\u00a0 Be sure your installer doesn’t forget about the paperwork required for you to submit the rebate claim form.<\/p>\r\n The final step is to fill out the form to get the actual rebate.\u00a0 It can be found here<\/a>.\u00a0 It’s not difficult to fill in, but the installer will need to provide some information.<\/p>\r\n When people ask me how much solar they should install, I give this advice:<\/p>\r\n Provided it won’t cause financial hardship, install as much solar as you reasonably can, given your roof space and what the local connection rules allow.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n The first part is important.\u00a0 Solar panels will save you money, but there is no point in starving to death while waiting for your electricity bill savings to arrive.\u00a0 If you can only afford a small system, the good news is — so long as your roof isn’t heavily shaded — any solar is better than no solar.\u00a0 Especially if the ACT is paying for half of it.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n But if you can afford a larger system, I recommend filling your roof with solar panels.\u00a0 This is because it will normally pay for itself, and you’ll be prepared for the future if you get an electric car or home battery.\u00a0 While a 6.6kW system is a good size, I recommend considering a larger system of 8kW or more.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n Most homes have single-phase power, and in the ACT they are only allowed to export a maximum of 5kW.\u00a0 This can cause some solar generation to be lost<\/a>, but for a typical home with an 8kW solar power system, it’s likely to be around 2% of generation or less.\u00a0 If an effort is made to shift electricity consumption to the middle of the day, then the losses can be next to nothing.\u00a0 This lack of losses makes me more optimistic about larger systems than the presenter in the online workshop.<\/p>\r\n At the online workshop, they recommended occasional panel cleaning, but I’ve found<\/a> for most systems, it’s not economically worthwhile.\u00a0 The slight increase in output isn’t worth the cost of having them cleaned.\u00a0 There are exceptions to this — often due to the location of trees and the behaviour of birds<\/a> — and some panels can build up enough dirt to make professional cleaning worthwhile.<\/p>\r\n Unless your roof is heavily shaded, solar will normally provide the most savings, so it makes sense to get that rebate first.\u00a0 The other rebate items will usually save Canberra homes the most money on energy bills in the following order:<\/p>\r\nPensioner Rebate Eligibility<\/h2>\r\n
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Rebates Limited By Household<\/h2>\r\n
How To Apply<\/h2>\r\n
Applying For The Solar Rebate<\/h2>\r\n
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1. Online Workshop For Solar<\/h3>\r\n
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Email: homeenergysupport@act.gov.au
Phone: 1300 141 777<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/actrebate.png\")
<\/p>\r\n2. Get A Quote<\/h3>\r\n
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3. Solar Rebate Application Form<\/h3>\r\n
![\"ACT](\"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/actrebate_size.png\")
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![\"ACT](\"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/actrebate_inverter.png\")
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4. Get Solar Installed<\/h3>\r\n
5. Fill Out The Solar Rebate Claim Form<\/h3>\r\n
![\"Is](\"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/actrebate_working.png\")
<\/p>\r\nHow To Apply For Air-Con, Heat Pump Hot Water Or Stovetop Rebate<\/h2>\r\n
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1. Online Workshop For Going Off Gas<\/h3>\r\n
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2. Decide What You Want<\/h3>\r\n
3. Get A Quote<\/h3>\r\n
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4. Fill In The Application Form<\/h3>\r\n
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5. Have The Item Installed<\/h3>\r\n
6. Fill Out The Rebate Claim Form<\/h3>\r\n
My Size Advice For Solar Power Systems<\/h2>\r\n
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Panel Cleaning — Often Not Economically Worthwhile<\/h2>\r\n
Solar Provides The Most Savings<\/h2>\r\n