Solar Homes and Communities Plan
Receiving your rebate
Check the steps below before you go ahead with your installation in order to receive your rebate.
Before installation
- Your system must be installed by the expiry date provided on your pre-approval letter which allows nine months for installation.
- Your accredited installer must have permission from the relevant electricity supply authority to connect your solar panels to the grid.
- Installers, designers and systems must be accredited by the Clean Energy Council at the time of installation. You can check the accreditation of your installer on the Clean Energy Council website at cleanenergycouncil.org.au
- The Department allows applicants to switch installers provided the installer is accredited. If you are considering this, check your contract with your installer. If you change installers, reflect the change in your installation report.
- You may also like to investigate whether you can sell excess electricity back to your electricity supplier and if feed-in-tariffs are available from your state or territory government.
If installation is not completed by your nine month expiry date, you will no longer be able to claim a rebate.
Completing your installation report after installation
Once your system is installed by the nine month expiry date, you must complete and submit an installation report with your installer within eight weeks. An installation report is sent with your pre-approval letter and also available for download below.
The installation report must include:
- Copies of receipts for the purchase of equipment and installation costs. Receipts must include labour and equipment costs as separate items, be dated and include the Australian Business Number of your supplier and installer. A sample invoice is available for download below.
- Photographs showing the panels installed, the number of panels and the inverter. On the back of one of the photographs, the accredited installer or system owner must sign a statement certifying the address of the property pictured and that installation has taken place. On inspection of the photos, the program manager may require further works to be carried out before making payment.
- For systems connected to the electricity grid, a certificate of compliance must also be signed by a licensed electrician.
Once your completed installation report is received, payment of your rebate will take up to six weeks to arrive in your nominated account.
Ensuring quality installations
- You can check the accreditation of your installer and system through the Clean Energy Council's lists of approved photovoltaic (PV) inverters and modules, and accredited installers at cleanenergycouncil.org.au
- For tips on how your system can be positioned to catch the most sun, maintenance and a range of other things to consider, visit livinggreener.gov.au/take-action/save-energy/install-solar-power
- The Department will be inspecting some homes to check that systems installed meet our program requirements and will contact you if your home is chosen
- If you are not satisfied with your installation, you should discuss it with your installer
- If you are unable to resolve concerns with your installer, you are encouraged to report your concerns to the Clean Energy Council, the fair trading organisation in your state or territory and the Department