Rebates
CURRENT STC VALUE IS: $25.00
Depending on where you live in Australia and various other criteria, you may be eligible for a number of different government incentives and rebates that can greatly reduce the installation costs of a solar hot water system.
Not only does this make it an even more affordable option, it also means your solarised hot water system can pay for itself even quicker.
STCs - Small-scale Technology Certificates
As part of its environmental commitments, the Federal Government is offering incentives to individuals who produce energy from renewable sources or displace energy usage from non-renewable sources. Solar hot water systems and Heat Pumps are included in this program.
It works like this. The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) rates the energy saving of solar hot water systems and heat pumps by assigning Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). Every STC is the equivalent of 1000 kilowatts of energy saved – so the higher the STCs value, the more energy your system saves, and the less money you’ll spend.
The EcoSmart range has one of the highest STC values on the market. And that means when you buy an EcoSmart Solar Hot water system, you’ll not only save money in the long run, you’ll make a big saving up front as each STC is also credited to you as a point of sale discount, the more STCs the bigger the discount.
Factors such as your location plus the model, tank volume and generating capacity of your solar hot water or heat pump service will determine the full STC value.
For more information click on http://ret.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/
Click here to download a PDF of EcoSmart’s STC application form.
PLEASE NOTE: From 1st November 2012, STC entitlements for air source heat pump water heaters (heat pumps) will be based on five postcode zones rather than four. Please see "Heat Pump STC Zones" further down this page for more information.
Solar Hot Water STC Zones
For the purpose of STC assessment, Australia has been divided in to 4 solar zones as shown in the map below.
Locate your postcode below to find out the Solar Hot Water STC zone you fall into.
From | To | Zone | From | To | Zone | From | To | Zone |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
200 | 299 | 3 | 3750 | 3898 | 4 | 5231 | 5261 | 3 |
800 | 862 | 1 | 3900 | 3900 | 3 | 5262 | 5263 | 4 |
870 | 872 | 2 | 3902 | 3996 | 4 | 5264 | 5270 | 3 |
880 | 909 | 1 | 4000 | 4419 | 3 | 5271 | 5291 | 4 |
1001 | 2914 | 3 | 4420 | 4420 | 1 | 5301 | 6256 | 3 |
3000 | 3381 | 4 | 4421 | 4428 | 3 | 6258 | 6262 | 4 |
3384 | 3384 | 3 | 4454 | 4454 | 1 | 6271 | 6318 | 3 |
3385 | 3387 | 4 | 4455 | 4468 | 3 | 6320 | 6338 | 4 |
3388 | 3396 | 3 | 4470 | 4475 | 2 | 6341 | 6141 | 3 |
3399 | 3413 | 4 | 4477 | 4477 | 1 | 6343 | 6348 | 4 |
3414 | 3424 | 3 | 4478 | 4482 | 2 | 6350 | 6353 | 3 |
3427 | 3451 | 4 | 4486 | 4488 | 3 | 6355 | 6356 | 3 |
3453 | 3453 | 3 | 4489 | 4493 | 2 | 6357 | 6395 | 3 |
3458 | 3462 | 3 | 4494 | 4615 | 3 | 6396 | 6398 | 4 |
3463 | 3465 | 4 | 4620 | 4724 | 1 | 6401 | 6439 | 3 |
3467 | 3469 | 4 | 4725 | 4725 | 2 | 6440 | 6440 | 2 |
3472 | 3520 | 3 | 4726 | 4726 | 1 | 6441 | 6444 | 3 |
3521 | 3522 | 4 | 4727 | 4731 | 2 | 6445 | 6450 | 4 |
3523 | 3649 | 3 | 4732 | 4733 | 1 | 6460 | 6640 | 3 |
3658 | 3658 | 4 | 4735 | 4736 | 2 | 6642 | 6725 | 2 |
3659 | 3660 | 3 | 4737 | 4824 | 1 | 6726 | 6743 | 1 |
3661 | 3709 | 3 | 4825 | 4829 | 2 | 6751 | 6799 | 2 |
3662 | 3709 | 3 | 4830 | 4891 | 1 | 6800 | 6997 | 3 |
3711 | 3714 | 4 | 5000 | 5214 | 3 | 7000 | 8873 | 4 |
3725 | 3749 | 3 | 5520 | 5223 | 4 | 9000 | 9729 | 3 |
The table below shows the actual STCs awarded to EcoSmart Solar Hot Water systems.
Size | Solar Hot Water Model Number |
Collectors | STC Zones | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
Electric Boosted Split Systems | ||||||
Invincible™ Electric Boosted Split Systems | ||||||
250 Litres | E2S136T2DC | 2 | 38 | 42 | 37 | 32 |
315 Litres | E3S136T2DC | 2 | 39 | 42 | 37 | 32 |
315 Litres | E3S136T3DC | 3 | 44 | 45 | 45 | 40 |
400 Litres | E4S136T2DC | 2 | 39 | 42 | 37 | 32 |
400 Litres | E4S136T3DC | 3 | 44 | 45 | 45 | 40 |
Gas Boosted Split Systems | ||||||
Intelligent Hybrid™ Gas Boosted Split Systems | ||||||
315 Litres | EN15DT2DC | 2 | 38 | 42 | 35 | 30 |
315 Litres | EN15DT3DC | 3 | 44 | 45 | 44 | 38 |
Roof Mounted Gas Systems | ||||||
180 Litres | E1FN26W1CC | 1 | 25 | 28 | 24 | 22 |
330 Litres | E3FN26W2CC | 2 | 39 | 43 | 39 | 35 |
Roof Mounted Electric Systems | ||||||
180 Litres | E1F124W1CR | 1 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 17 |
330 Litres | E3F124W2CR | 2 | 40 | 43 | 39 | 34 |
Heat Pump STC Zones
From 1st November 2012, the Clean Energy Regulator has changed the Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) entitlements for air source heat pump water heaters (heat pumps). These will now be based on five postcode zones rather than four.
The fifth postcode zone has been established to better reflect the performance of heat pumps in cool climate and frost prone areas, for example Canberra and Hobart; it also includes high altitude areas such as Armidale.
The postcode zones for solar water heaters have not changed, and are listed above.
Heat pumps are only eligible for the old 4 zone STCs if installed and capable of producing hot water up to and including 31 October 2012. Any heat pump systems install on or after 1 November 2012 will be assessed based on the new 5 zone STCs.
For the purpose of STC assessment, Australia has been divided in to 5 heat Pump zones as shown in the map below.
Locate your postcode below to find out the Heat Pump STC zone you fall into.
From | To | Zone | From | To | Zone | From | To | Zone | From | To | Zone |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0200 | 0299 | 5 | 3141 | 3156 | 4 | 3661 | 3661 | 4 | 4732 | 4733 | 1 |
0800 | 0862 | 1 | 3158 | 3158 | 5 | 3662 | 3673 | 3 | 4735 | 4736 | 2 |
0870 | 0872 | 2 | 3159 | 3159 | 4 | 3675 | 3678 | 5 | 4737 | 4824 | 1 |
0880 | 0909 | 1 | 3160 | 3160 | 5 | 3682 | 3695 | 3 | 4825 | 4829 | 2 |
1001 | 2348 | 3 | 3161 | 3287 | 4 | 3697 | 3724 | 5 | 4830 | 4895 | 1 |
2350 | 2351 | 5 | 3289 | 3289 | 5 | 3725 | 3730 | 3 | 5000 | 5214 | 3 |
2352 | 2361 | 3 | 3292 | 3292 | 4 | 3732 | 3746 | 5 | 5220 | 5223 | 4 |
2365 | 2369 | 5 | 3293 | 3302 | 5 | 3747 | 3749 | 3 | 5231 | 5261 | 3 |
2370 | 2578 | 3 | 3303 | 3312 | 4 | 3750 | 3767 | 4 | 5262 | 5363 | 4 |
2579 | 2581 | 5 | 3314 | 3315 | 5 | 3770 | 3779 | 5 | 5264 | 5270 | 3 |
2582 | 2582 | 3 | 3317 | 3345 | 4 | 3800 | 3815 | 4 | 5271 | 5291 | 4 |
2583 | 2583 | 5 | 3350 | 3357 | 5 | 3816 | 3835 | 5 | 5301 | 6256 | 3 |
2584 | 2594 | 3 | 3360 | 3361 | 4 | 3840 | 3857 | 4 | 6258 | 6262 | 4 |
2600 | 2617 | 5 | 3363 | 3370 | 5 | 3858 | 3858 | 5 | 6271 | 6318 | 3 |
2618 | 2618 | 3 | 3371 | 3371 | 4 | 3859 | 3860 | 4 | 6320 | 6338 | 4 |
2619 | 2633 | 5 | 3373 | 3373 | 5 | 3862 | 3862 | 5 | 6341 | 6341 | 3 |
2640 | 2648 | 3 | 3374 | 3374 | 4 | 3864 | 3882 | 4 | 6343 | 6348 | 4 |
2649 | 2649 | 5 | 3375 | 3379 | 5 | 3885 | 3885 | 5 | 6350 | 6353 | 3 |
2650 | 2652 | 3 | 3380 | 3380 | 4 | 3886 | 3892 | 4 | 6355 | 6356 | 4 |
2653 | 2653 | 5 | 3381 | 3381 | 5 | 3893 | 3900 | 5 | 6357 | 6395 | 3 |
2655 | 2717 | 3 | 3384 | 3384 | 3 | 3902 | 3996 | 4 | 6396 | 6398 | 4 |
2720 | 2720 | 5 | 3385 | 3387 | 4 | 4000 | 4419 | 3 | 6401 | 6439 | 3 |
2721 | 2727 | 3 | 3388 | 3396 | 3 | 4420 | 4420 | 1 | 6440 | 6440 | 2 |
2729 | 2730 | 5 | 3400 | 3402 | 4 | 4421 | 4428 | 3 | 6441 | 6444 | 3 |
2731 | 2785 | 3 | 3407 | 3407 | 5 | 4454 | 4454 | 1 | 6445 | 6452 | 4 |
2786 | 2792 | 5 | 3409 | 3413 | 4 | 4455 | 4468 | 3 | 6460 | 6640 | 3 |
2793 | 2794 | 3 | 3414 | 3424 | 3 | 4470 | 4475 | 2 | 6642 | 6725 | 2 |
2795 | 2800 | 5 | 3427 | 3429 | 4 | 4477 | 4477 | 1 | 6726 | 6743 | 1 |
2803 | 2844 | 3 | 3430 | 3463 | 5 | 4478 | 4482 | 2 | 6751 | 6799 | 2 |
2845 | 2847 | 5 | 3464 | 3465 | 3 | 4486 | 4488 | 3 | 6800 | 6899 | 3 |
2848 | 2848 | 3 | 3467 | 3469 | 5 | 4489 | 4493 | 2 | 6900 | 6997 | 3 |
2849 | 2849 | 5 | 3472 | 3520 | 3 | 4494 | 4615 | 3 | 7000 | 7499 | 5 |
2850 | 2899 | 3 | 3521 | 3522 | 4 | 4620 | 4724 | 1 | 7500 | 7923 | 5 |
2900 | 2914 | 5 | 3523 | 3649 | 3 | 4725 | 4725 | 2 | 8001 | 8873 | 4 |
3000 | 3138 | 4 | 3658 | 3658 | 4 | 4726 | 4726 | 1 | 9000 | 9499 | 3 |
3139 | 3140 | 5 | 3659 | 3660 | 3 | 4727 | 4731 | 2 | 9500 | 9729 | 3 |
The table below shows the actual STCs awarded to EcoSmart Products.
Size | Heat Pump Model Number |
STC Zones | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
Solar Heat Pump | ||||||
250 Litres | E2FHG2000C | 22 | 21 | 26 | 27 | 27 |
250 Litres | E2FHG4HW0C | 22 | 21 | 26 | 27 | 27 |
Federal Government Rebates
As of the 28th of February 2012, the Federal Government Rebate of $1000 for solar hot water systems and $600 for heat pumps has ended. Customers can still claim the rebate provided systems are installed, ordered (and a deposit paid) or purchased on or before 28 February 2012. Applications lodged up to 30 June 2012 will continue to be processed. Applications received after 30 June 2012 will not be eligible.
For full details of the closure of the Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme, click here.
The Federal Rebate Application form can be found by clicking here
State Government Rebates
Selected state governments within Australia also offer rebates to households installing solar hot water systems.
South Australia
The Government of South Australia’s Solar Hot Water Rebate Scheme currently provides a rebate of up to $500 to offset the upfront costs of installing or retrofitting a compliant solar hot water system when purchased and installed within the state.
To be eligible for the rebate you must be an eligible applicant (as defined below) and commission an eligible installation (as defined below).
Eligible Applicants
To be eligible for a rebate, you must be a low-income owner-occupier. Specifically, you must be the owner or part owner of the dwelling you occupy as your principal place of residence, and hold at least one of the following cards on the day the water heater installation is completed:
- Centrelink Health Care Card
- Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card - Totally and Permanently Incapacitated
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card - War Widow
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs - Extreme Disablement Adjustment
Your principal place of residence is the primary dwelling you occupy to live, sleep and conduct daily life.
Note that some dwelling types are excluded. Rebates are limited to one per residence.
Eligible Installations
Eligible applicants who purchase a new solar hot water system or retrofit kit for domestic purposes and install it at their principal place of residence (on or after May 28 2001) are eligible for a rebate if their system fits into any of the following categories:
- A solar hot water system that replaces the use of an electric hot water system
- A gas boosted solar hot water system that replaces a gas hot water system
- A solar hot water system that is installed on a new home that does not have access to reticulated gas
- A gas boosted solar hot water system that is installed on a new home that does have access to reticulated gas
- A solar boosted heat pump system that replaces the use of an electric hot water system
- Where a solar retro-fit kit or pre-heating system is attached to an existing water heater, if the existing hot water system is covered by warranty for at least another three years
Western Australia
The Government of Western Australia’s Solar Water Heater Subsidy Scheme provides rebates of up $700 for the installation of environmentally friendly gas-boosted solar water heaters.
To be eligible for a rebate under this scheme, the following key eligibility criteria must be met.
- Rebates are available for new, two or more panel, gas-boosted solar water heaters that are accredited to Australian Standard AS2712
- Solar water heaters must be used for private residential purposes (excepting display homes and residential developments where special conditions apply)
- Solar water heaters must be purchased from suppliers recognised by the Sustainable Energy Development Office
- Rebates for installations in new homes must be pre-approved through a formal pre-approval process.
- Solar water heaters must be purchased and installed within the 12 months prior to a rebate application being received by the Sustainable Energy Development Office
Full details can be found at the Sustainable Energy Development Office’s Solar Water Heater Subsidy page.
New South Wales
As of 30th of June 2011, the NSW Government offer has ended and is now only available to installations completed and paid for prior to the 30th of June 2011.
Victoria
The Government of Victoria’s Solar Hot Water Rebate program provides rebates from $450 up to $1500 for the installation of eligible solar hot water systems. These rebates are commonly called Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates or VEECs.
The amount of rebate is based on the size of a system (amount of water produced) and performance (its solar contribution). Better performing systems, or ones that make the most effective use of the sun’s energy, attract a higher rebate.
Generally speaking, the Solar Hot Water Rebate program provides rebates for installations in Victoria that:
- Replace a natural gas or LPG water heater with a gas-boosted solar system;
- Replace a wood or oil fired hot water system with a solar gas system; and
- Replace an electric hot water system where the Federal $1600 rebate has been approved for installation of insulation in your home
EcoSmart's current VEEC market value is $11.00. Please contact your local Victorian dealer for how much you are entitled to.
Full details can be found at Sustainability Victoria’s Solar Hot Water Rebate page and Application forms for State Rebates.
Click here to download a PDF of the EcoSmart VEEC form.
Queensland
The Queensland Government announced on 22 June 2012 that the Solar Hot Water Rebate (the Rebate) has now closed, with all applications to be received by close of business on Friday 28 September 2012.
Rebate applications must follow the correct criteria to be assessed as eligible:
- The system must have been purchased or ordered (and a deposit paid) by close of business on 22 June 2012. The supporting documentation must clearly show this.
- The system must be installed by 27 July 2012.
- Rebate applications must be:
(1) fully complete, including all supporting documentation
(2) lodged on the current form (V3-18.02.11)
(3) received by the department and postmarked no later than 28 September 2012.
It is important to note that:
- Systems purchased or ordered after 22 June 2012 are not eligible for the Rebate.
- Systems installed after 27 July 2012 are not eligible for the Rebate.
- Incomplete applications are not eligible for the Rebate.
- Applications received on superseded forms are not eligible for the Rebate.
- Applications received by the department and post marked after 28 September 2012 are not eligible for the Rebate.
Key Eligibility Criteria - $600 rebate
- The new system must have been purchased on or after 13th April 2010 (please note that payments will not commence until 1st July 2010)
- Be a solar or heat pump hot water system eligible for at least 20 Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs)
- Replace an existing electric storage hot water system in a principle place of residence
- Be installed by licensed parties (current BSA and occupational licenses)
Key Eligibility Criteria - Low Income earner $1000 rebate
To qualify for the $1000, the applicant must meet all of the $600 rebate eligibility conditions, as well as hold one of the pension cards listed below (must be a current and valid card);
- Centrelink Pension Concession card
- Centrelink Low-Income Heath Care card
- Commonwealth Seniors Health card or Department of Veterans' Affairs Pension Concession card (Blue only. Orange, white and gold cardholders are not eligible.)
This low income earner/pensioner rebate can only be applied for once. Please also note that the $600 rebate and $1000 rebate cannot both be claimed for the same installation.
For further information, applicants may contact 13 43 87 or visit QLD Government's Clean Energy Website.
Northern Territory, ACT and Tasmania
No additional rebates are currently available in these states.