Solar Homes Boosts Latrobe Valley Jobs And Businesses

9th Jan 2019

The Andrews Labor Government’s Solar Homes program is driving down energy bills, creating new jobs and boosting local industry in the Latrobe Valley.

Minister for Solar Homes Lily D’Ambrosio visited local business Gippsland Solar in Traralgon today to see first-hand the difference the rebates program is having on the region.

Since the program’s launch, the company has hired five more staff and seen a spike in the number of people registering their interest in solar energy.

Solar Victoria, based in Morwell, has already received nearly 50 local applications for solar PV rebates in the Latrobe Valley.

Solar Homes launched in August last year and provides rebates of up to $2,225 to support the installation of solar panels on 24,000 homes, as well as up to $1,000 for solar hot water systems on 6,000 homes.

The Solar Homes program is available to Victorians with a household income of up to $180,000 who live in their own home valued at up to $3 million – with homeowners only eligible for one rebate.

The expanded program will see solar panels installed on 700,000 Victorian homes, including 50,000 rental homes, and support a further 60,000 homes to install solar hot water and 10,000 homes to install solar batteries.

The program is part of the Labor Government’s plan to cut energy costs, create new jobs in the renewables sector and tackle climate change.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Solar Homes Lily D’Ambrosio

“Our Solar Homes program is creating a renewable energy boom in the Latrobe Valley.”

“We’re driving down energy costs for families, creating local jobs and supporting local businesses.”  

Quotes attributable to Gippsland Solar Managing Director Andy McCarthy

“The Solar Homes announcement has directly created new jobs in the Latrobe Valley.”

“We have hired five staff since Solar Homes was announced and we’re actively looking to fill multiple roles across our workshops, showrooms and offices. It’s a great time to be working in the solar industry.”

Cheaper Electricity With 10,000 Home Batteries for Victorian Households

CHEAPER ELECTRICITY WITH SOLAR BATTERIES FOR 10,000 HOMES

A re-elected Andrews Labor Government will provide half price solar batteries for 10,000 Victorian households that already have solar panels to help them save even more on their electricity bills.

The $40 million program is part of Labor’s massive new Solar Homes initiative, which is putting power back into the hands of Victorians and cutting electricity bills with either solar panels, solar hot water or solar batteries for 720,000 homes over the next 10 years.

Eligible homeowners will be able to save up to $4,838 on installation of a battery storage unit. This will save households with an average 11kwH battery around $650 a year on their electricity bills in addition to savings they are already making with solar panels.

Under the scheme, homeowners can get a 50 per cent rebate for installation of a battery storage unit, capped at $4,838 in the first year and tapering down to $3,714 by 2026 as the price of batteries comes down.

The battery program will be available in growth areas where there are already a large number of homes with solar panels. This will pave the way for future microgrids allowing households in a local area to share their stored power to lower electricity prices even further.

A re-elected Labor Government will also work with distributors and invest $10 million to transition the grid to support more renewable energy over the next ten years, including a new expert Network Services Advisory Committee and regulatory reform.

The Solar Homes program is available to Victorians with a household income of up to $180,000 who live in their own home valued at up to $3 million – with homeowners only eligible for one rebate.

The $1.34 billion program includes half price solar panels for 650,000 households, $1000 off the cost of solar hot water with rebates for 60,000 homes and half price solar batteries for 10,000 households that already have solar panels.

A new independent agency – Solar Victoria – will be established to work with industry, regulators and training organisations to deliver the program, which will create almost 5,500 new jobs.

Safety is paramount, and the Solar Homes program includes $9 million to support accreditation of 4,500 electricians to install solar panels and batteries. These systems will only be installed by accredited solar installers using approved products to ensure the highest safety standards.

Labor’s Solar Homes program will bring the number of homes in Victoria with solar panels to one million within ten years. It will also save Victorians more than $500 million a year on their electricity bills once the program is complete and generate 12.5 per cent of Victoria’s target to generate 40 per cent renewable energy by 2025.

Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews

“This is a game changer for Victorian families fed up with big corporations that have been price gouging and ripping consumers off ever since Jeff Kennett and the Liberals privatised our electricity.”

“Only Labor will put solar panels, solar hot water or solar batteries on 720,000 homes – saving Victorians thousands of dollars on their electricity bills with renewable energy.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio

“This is about modernising our electricity grid to help us transition to a more affordable, reliable and clean energy system.”