Ms VAGHELA (Western Metropolitan): My constituency question is directed to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change and Minister for Solar Homes, the Honourable Lily D’Ambrosio MP.
My question relates to the minister’s portfolio responsibilities for Solar Homes.
The Victorian government has expanded the Solar Homes program so more renters and landlords across the state can access affordable rooftop energy with a Solar Homes rebate.
Eligible landlords can apply for an interest-free loan in addition to the existing rebate available, encouraging more solar installations that benefit renters.
Landlords can apply and pay for the entire solar system themselves, or work with their renters for a loan repayment co-contribution of up to $19.27 a month.
More than 550 rental households across Victoria have benefitted from the Solar Homes program so far.
With so many Victorians currently working and studying from home and using more energy during the day, rooftop solar helps keep energy costs down, even in winter.
My question to the minister is: can the minister advise the number of rebates available to the constituents in my area of Western Metropolitan Region?
RESPONSE:
The Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio MP (Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, and Minister for Solar Homes): The Victorian Government’s landmark $1.3 billion Solar Homes Program is making it easier for families from across Victoria to slash their energy bills by installing solar PV, a solar battery or a solar hot water system, including those living in the Western Metropolitan Region.
We have had tremendous interest in the program since it opened in August 2018, with more than 100,000 households across Victoria applying for a rebated solar system under the Solar Homes Program.
Our Solar for Rentals rebate provides landlords with a saving of up to $3,700 off the upfront cost of a solar panel system on their rental property. 1000 Solar for Rental rebates will be made available between 1 July 2020 and 31 December 2020 to all Victorians including residents of Western Metropolitan Region.
We know that suburbs within the Western Metropolitan Region are among the top suburbs for Solar Homes supported installations, including Tarneit. In postcodes located within the Western Metropolitan Region, 101 households have so far installed a solar system under the Solar for Rentals rebate stream.
The Solar Homes program will continue to make sure that households in the Western Metropolitan Region and across the state are able to get the benefits of solar.
I thank the member for their question.