RESIDENTIAL
The Photovoltaic Rebate Program will now be known as the Solar Homes and Communities Plan (SHCP).
A household income means test of $100,000 now applies to all new (post Budget) rebate applications. This means test is based on the annual taxable income of the applicant and their spouse (if any) in the most recent tax year prior to application.
The Australian Government has increased funding for the Solar Homes and Communities Plan by $25.6 million in 2008-09. The previous budget allocation would have allowed up to 3000 household rebates to be paid.
The increased funding – now a fixed total of $56.6 million – will allow up to 6000 household rebates to be paid next year. In addition to household rebates, the budget allows 400 rebates to be paid to community organisations in 2008-09.
The budget allocation for SHCP in 2009-10 is $49.3 million.
Due to increased demand for rebates, funding previously allocated in 2010-11 and 2011-12 has been brought forward into 2008-09 and 2009-10. What was a five year program will now be completed in three years.
The future of the SHCP will be considered as part of the Government’s response to the strategic review of climate change policies and programs. This review is looking at whether existing programs are efficient, effective and complementary to an emissions trading scheme.
In order to manage the work flow associated with the new guidelines, we will assign an individual registration number on receipt of each valid, completed application for pre-approval.
Updated guidelines will be available on the web page shortly.
New application forms will be available on the web page shortly.
All applications received prior to 13 May 2008 or not yet received but post-marked 13 May 2008 or earlier will be assessed under the old guidelines (i.e., the new means test will not be applied).
All residential applications postmarked 14 May 2008 or later will be assessed under the new guidelines. These applications will be assigned a registration number. The applicant will be sent a simple supplementary form specifically in relation to the means test.
A list of FAQs will be available at http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/renewable/pv/index.html
SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES
School rebates are no longer being offered under SHCP (i.e., applications from primary and secondary schools under the old PVRP Schools and Communities program are now closed. Instead, schools will have access to funding for the installation of PV power systems under the new National Solar Schools Program (NSSP) that is expected to be launched on 1 July 2008.
The NSSP will offer every recognised primary and secondary school in Australia a grant of up to $50,000 for the installation of PV power systems and a range of energy and water efficiency measures.
The NSSP will require each school to install a minimum 2kW PV power system.
A fact sheet is available at http://www.environment.gov.au/programs/greenvouchers/
Community building rebates will continue to be available. Updated guidelines are under development and are expected to be available in June.
Educational institutions that do not fall under the National Solar Schools Program may apply for the community building rebate.
INSTALLATION REPORTS
The timeframe for submission of installation reports has been extended by three months so that installers will now have nine months from the date of pre-approval to submit an installation report.
Installers must submit their installation Reports before pre-approval expires (as is stated clearly in the guidelines). However, the Program Manager will have the discretion to grant an extension of the pre-approval due to unforseen circumstances.
OTHER MEASURES
People will have access to green loans of up to $10,000 that they can use to purchase solar power systems – starting in early 2009