Rebates and assistance
Check what Australian Government rebates are available to all Australians.
And then check what rebates are available in your state.
- Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
- News South Wales (NSW)
- Northern Territory (NT)
- Queensland (QLD)
- South Australia (SA)
- Victoria (VIC)
- Western Australia (WA)
Australia Government Rebates
Renewable power incentive
You maybe entitled to Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) if your Small-scale Generation Unit (SGU), such as small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, wind or hydro unit, is eligible. These certificates can then be sold and transferred to a STC agent (usually electricity retailers) or sold in the STC market or through the STC Clearing House. A STC agent will offer you a financial benefit such as an up-front discount or delayed cash payment when you assign your STCs to them. A majority of owners take this option.
For more details visit the Australian Government's Office of Renewable Energy Regulator solar panels web page and the Fact sheet: Support for small-scale renewable energy systems web page.
Related action: Generate your own electricity
Solar Hot Water Rebate (Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme)
The Government announced on 28 February 2012 that the Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme – Solar Hot Water Rebate (REBS) will close on 30 June 2012.
REBS was available to help eligible home-owners, landlords or tenants to replace their electric storage hot water systems with solar or heat pump hot water systems.
If you have installed a system prior to 28 February 2012, your application must reach the Department within 122 days from the date of installation.
If you purchased or ordered (and paid a deposit) for a system up to 28 February 2012, but installed it after 28 February 2012, applications must be received by the Department by 30 June 2012.
For more details about the Solar Hot Water Rebate visit the Climate Change and Energy efficiency website.
Related action: Install solar hot water
LPG gas vehicle conversion
The LPG Vehicle Scheme offers grants of $2,000 towards the purchase of a new vehicle already fitted with LPG or a grant of $1,500 for the LPG conversion of a new or used vehicle.
To check your eligibility and download an application form visit the AusIndustry LPG Vehicle Scheme website. You can also ring the AusIndustry Hotline on 13 28 46 or email hotline@ausindustry.gov.au
Related action: Buy an efficient car
Australian Capital Territory
Feed-in tariff scheme
The ACT Feed-in Tariff scheme closed on 13 July 2011.
Related action: Generate your own electricity
Home energy assessment and rebate
The Home Energy Advice Team (HEAT) Energy Audit program is free and offers advice, consultations and workshops, as well as a home energy audit, with a $500 rebate to help households save energy and improve the comfort of their homes.
For more details visit the HEAT website.
Related actions: Install efficient appliances and fixtures, Home sustainability assessments, Cultivate energy saving habits
Garden water assessment and rebate
GardenSmart offers a free home garden assessment and horticultural advice to help residents implement water-efficient gardens and a $50 rebate for approved water-saving products.
For more details visit the ACTSmart website.
Related action: Water efficient gardening
Home energy action kit
ACT residents can access a home energy action kit from libraries to perform a home energy self-assessment and develop their own home energy action plans.
For more details visit the ACTSmart website.
Related actions: Install efficient appliances and fixtures, Home sustainability assessments, Cultivate energy saving habits
Toilet replacement kit
The ToiletSmart program assists ACT homeowners to replace their single flush toilet with a 4-star water-efficient dual-flush toilet suite. Participants are also eligible for a free home water audit and additional low-cost water saving fixtures and repairs.
For more details visit the ACTSmart website.
Related action: Install efficient appliances and fixtures
Rainwater tank rebate
The Rainwater Tank Rebate provides residents with up to $1,000 to purchase and connect a new water tank to their internal plumbing. The ACT Internal Connection Rebate provides residents with up to $600 to connect existing water tanks to their internal plumbing.
For more details visit the ACTSmart website.
Related action: Harvest and use your rainwater
News South Wales
Solar Bonus Scheme
The Solar Bonus Scheme for NSW has been suspended. No new applications are being considered as of midnight 28 April 2011.
Related action: Generate your own electricity
Home Power Savings Program
The Home Power Savings Program helps residents with an eligible concession card improve their household energy efficiency. The program includes a home energy assessment, a power savings product kit and a personal action plan.
For more details visit the Save Power website.
Related actions: Install efficient appliances and fixtures, Home sustainability assessments
Fridge Buyback Program
Fridge Buyback program pays you to help save the environment and reduce your power bills by giving up your old second fridge.
To participate in the program, your fridge must be a working second fridge that has been in regular use, is 250 litres or more in size (8.83 cubic feet) and at least 10 years old.
Fridge Buyback provides residents with free collections by professional removalists and a $35 rebate.For more details visit the Fridge Buyback website.
Related actions: Install efficient appliances and fixtures
Waterfix program
While not a rebate as such, the Waterfix program provides assistance for leak repairs and toilet replacements. Learn more here or call the WaterFix hotline on 1800 807 475.
For more information visit Sydney Water.
Related actions: Install efficient appliances and fixtures
Northern Territory
Solar electricity feed-in tariff
The Northern Territory Grid Connected Solar Feed-in Scheme rewards households that install solar power (photovoltaic – PV) renewable energy systems by paying them for the electricity that they generate.
For more details visit the PowerWater website.
Related action: Generate your own electricity
Solar hot water installation rebate
Northern Territory households may be eligible for a Solar Hot Water Retrofit Rebate of up to $1,000 to help with the costs of installing a solar hot water system. The rebate is designed to help you with the installation costs when replacing your electric hot water system with a solar hot water system.
For more details visit the PowerWater Solar Hot Water Retrofit Rebate web page.
Related action: Install solar hot water
Home energy rebates
Northern Territory households can claim a 50 per cent rebate, up to the value of $200, on the cost and installation of selected energy saving items including power boards, timers and power usage meters.
For more details visit the Energy Samrt Rebate NT web page.
Related action: Install efficient appliances and fixtures
Waterwise Rebate Scheme - Central Australia
The Northern Territory Government offers a range of Waterwise Rebates for water efficient products, water saving plumbing work and for rainwater tanks and associated guttering and connections for property owners and tenants in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.
For more details visit the Central Australia Waterwise Rebate Scheme web page.
Related action: Harvest and use your rainwater, Install efficient appliances and fixtures
Queensland
Solar Bonus Scheme
The Queensland Solar Bonus Scheme rewards households that install solar power (photovoltaic – PV) renewable energy systems by paying them for the excess electricity that they generate.
For more details visit the Queensland Government's Office of Clean Energy website.
Related action: Generate your own electricity
Solar hot water and heat pump rebate
Queensland households can access rebates of $600 or $1,000 (for eligible pensioners and low income earners) to replace an electric hot water system with a solar hot water system or heat pump.
For more details and to check your eligibility visit the Queensland Government’s Solar Hot Water Rebate web page on the Do the Bright Thing website.
Related action: Install solar hot water
Home energy and water assessments and incentives
The ClimateSmart Home Service can help Queensland residents improve their household energy and water efficiency. The home service involves a qualified electrician visiting your home to do an energy audit and provide you with a range of products and services to help save energy and water.
The service costs $50 and could save you hundreds on your energy and water bills each year.
For more details, and to book online, visit the ClimateSmart Home Service website.
Some local councils also offer rebates for purchasing water saving devices. Contact your local council to find out.
Related action: Install efficient appliances and fixtures
ecoBiz rebate
ecoBiz is a free eco-efficiency program providing self-assessment tools, training and information developed to guide Queensland business to improve efficiencies and resource use for financial and environmental benefits.
For more details visit the ecoBiz web page.
Related action: Make your business carbon neutral
South Australia
Solar Feed-in Scheme
The South Australian Solar Feed-In Scheme rewards households that install solar power (photovoltaic - PV) renewable energy generation systems by paying them for the electricity they generate.
For more details visit the SA Solar Feed-in Scheme web page.
Related action: Generate your own electricity
Solar hot water rebate
Concession card-holders in South Australia may be eligible for a rebate of $500 for the cost of installing a new solar hot water or electric heat pump hot water system.
For more details visit the Transport, Energy and Infrastructure website.
Related actions: Install solar hot water
Home water saving rebates
South Australian households can claim a rebate of up to $200 for the installation of a rainwater tank and for $30 (free for concession card holders) a licensed plumber will come to your home and check your plumbing fixtures and fittings, retrofit water saving devices (including up to two showerheads) and provide water saving advice.
For more details visit the SA Water website.
Some local councils also offer rebates for purchasing water saving devices. Contact your local council to find out.
Related action: Harvest and use your rainwater, Install efficient appliances and fixtures
Home energy incentives
The Residential Energy Efficiency Scheme (REES) provides South Australian households assistance with installing efficient lighting, showerheads, draught proofing and upgrading to energy efficient appliances to reduce their energy usage.
For more details visit the Transport, Energy and Infrastructure website.
Related actions: Install efficient appliances and fixtures, Insulate, Shade and Weatherproof Your House
Victoria
Electric feed-in tariff
The Victorian Feed-In Tariff scheme rewards households and businesses with a financial return when they generate renewable electricity that they feed back into the grid.
There have been a number of recent changes to the Victorian feed-in tariff scheme, which continues to be under review. We suggest you undertake your own considered research before deciding on installing renewable power system such as solar panels.
For more details visit the Department of Primary Industries website.
Related action: Generate your own electricity
Solar hot water rebate
The Solar Hot Water Rebate provides up to $1,500 for metropolitan households and up to $1,600 for regional households, dependent on the systems size and performance. The rebate is provided at point of sale to replace or improve your existing hot water system with a range of new gas and solar hot water solutions.
For more details visit the Resource Smart website.
Related actions: Install solar hot water, Install efficient appliances and fixtures
Gas hot water rebate
The Gas Hot Water rebate offers households up to $400, or $700 for concession card holders, to replace their existing wood-fired or peak-rate electric hot water heater with a natural gas hot water system.
For more details visit the Resource Smart website.
Related action: Install efficient appliances and fixtures
Living Victoria Water rebate
The Living Victoria Water Rebate Scheme rewards Victorians for their efforts to be water efficient around the home, garden and small business. Rebates are available on a range of water efficient products and appliances, such as washing machines, pool covers, dual-flush toilets, rainwater tanks, greywater systems and water-efficient gardening products.
For more details visit the Living Victoria Water Rebate Program website.
Some local councils also offer rebates for purchasing water saving devices. Contact your local council to find out.
Related action: Install efficient appliances and fixtures
Home appliance rebate
The Whitegoods Appliance Rebate offers $100 to eligible concession card holders to help them buy energy efficient refrigerators and washing machines.
For more details visit the Resource Smart website.
Related action: Install efficient appliances and fixtures
Home energy incentives
The Energy Saver Incentive provides a range of discounts and special offers on selected energy saving products and services including fridges, freezers, heaters and hot water systems.
For more details visit the Save Energy website.
Related action: Install efficient appliances and fixtures, Use water efficiently, Water efficient gardening
DHS Water Concessions
The Department of Human Services (DHS) and other agencies offer a variety of concessions and benefits to eligible cardholders to assist low-income Victorians with water and sewerage bills.
For more details visit the Department of Human Services website.
Related actions: Harvest and use your rainwater, Cultivate water-saving habits
Bushfire affected households rebates
A range of rebates and sustainable building advice is available to residents rebuilding their homes after the 2009 Victorian bushfires.
There are currently rebates/incentives available to homeowners installing a solar hot water system in rebuilt homes, with a Victorian Government rebate available also for installing water tanks in rebuilt homes.
For more details visit the Resource Smart website
Related actions: Install solar hot water, Harvest and use your rainwater
Showerhead exchange
The Water Wise Scheme provides eligible concession card-holders with a free water audit and up to $500 worth of repairs, replacement fittings and new water saving products.
For more details visit the Showerhead exchange programs web page.
Related actions: Install efficient appliances and fixtures, Cultivate water-saving habits
Gas heater discount for concession card-holders
If you’re the holder of an eligible concession card you can claim a $700 point-of-sale discount off the supply and installation of a high efficiency gas space heater. The rebate assists eligible households switch from electric to gas heating but is not available for the replacement of existing gas heaters. Ducted gas heating systems and unfllued (flueless) heaters are not eligible products for the discount.
With heating accounting for up to 50 per cent of the energy used in Victorian homes, the switch from electric to gas heating can provide significant savings on your energy bill and greenhouse gas emissions.
For more details visit the Resource Smart web page.
Related actions: Install efficient appliances and fixtures, Embrace energy efficiency
Dual-flush Toilet replacement scheme
The Dual-flush Toilet Replacement Program can help Melbourne households save on water use, saving you almost half the usual cost of a dual-flush toilet and installation. Other products available, depending on your water retailer, include water-saving showerheads and flow control valves.
For more details visit the Melbourne Toilet Replacement Program web page.
Related action: Install efficient appliances and fixtures
Western Australia
Feed-in tariff scheme
The Western Australian Feed-in Tariff scheme was suspended from 8:00am on 1 August 2011. Applications received or postmarked before 1 August will be accepted. Existing customers will not be affected by the closure of the scheme.
For more details visit the Office of Energy website.
Related action: Generate your own electricity
Solar hot water rebate
The Solar Hot Water Heater Subsidy provides rebates from $500 to $700 to Western Australian households who install environmentally friendly, gas-boosted solar water heaters.
For more details visit the Office of Energy website.
Related action: Install solar hot water