ACT Energy Wise Home Energy Audits

ACT Energy Wise, the ACT Government's new program for home energy audits and rebates can show you how to reduce your energy bills and also save money, as well as providing financial assistance to invest in energy-saving options.

For just $30, a professional energy auditor from the Home Energy Advice Team (HEAT) will visit your home, check the features of your house that affect your energy use and identify what savings can be made. You will receive a written report which will set out a plan to capture the energy savings identified.

Homeowners who spend at least $2000 on energy efficiency improvements identified during the audit will be eligible to receive a $500 rebate from the ACT Government, plus a refund of the $30 audit fee.

In order to receive the rebate homeowners must agree that the ACT Government can use their household energy bills for up to a year before and after the improvement measures, to allow evaluation of the improvements.

Only houses and semi-detached houses built before 1996 are eligible for an audit. People who have an energy audit will be asked to provide their energy bill information so that energy use can be measured and improvements monitored. Information on how to apply for a rebate will be provided with the audit.

To register for an energy audit or find out more, phone (02) 6260 6165.

Photovoltaic Rebate Program

Under the Photovoltaic Rebate Program, cash rebates are available to householders who install grid connected or stand alone photovoltaic systems. The rebates are available at the rate of $8.00 per Watt peak of photovoltaic capacity, up to a maximum of 1000 Watts (ie. maximum rebate of $8000).

The rebate starts at a minimum of 450 watts.

The program is funded by the Commonwealth Government and is designed to encourage the long-term use of photovoltaic technology to generate electricity from sunlight to increase the use of renewable energy in Australia. Rebates of up to $8000 are available to owners of community use buildings such as schools, providing that the installation can be demonstrated to have educational and interpretative merit. Further details on rebates available for community-use buildings are available.

More about solar rebates at the Commonwealth Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

See also: HEAT fact sheet Introduction to Electricity

ACT Government Rainwater Tank Rebate

The ACT Government offers ACT residents a rebate for the installation of approved rainwater tanks with an internal plumbing connection on properties connected to ACTEW Corporation's water supply network. ActewAGL administers this program on behalf of the ACT Government. This program, which commenced 1 August 2005, replaces previous rainwater tank rebate programs.

More information about the ACT Government Rainwater Tank Rebate

Goverment Solar Hot Water Rebates

Water heaters are one of the largest users of household energy. Heating water in an average house will use between one fifth and a third of all energy consumed in the home. A smart way to reduce that cost is to install a solar hot water heater.

The ACT Government provides a rebate to ACT residents for instalation of solar hot water services that replace an electrical hot water services however, only the first $1,000 of the cost can be used to calculate the $2,000 expenditure on improvements. Please see Home Energy Audit Terms and Conditions.

The Federal Government is also helping households install greenhouse friendly hot water technologies by offering a $1,600 rebate to eligible applicants. Under the Solar Hot Water Rebate Programme, rebates of $1,600 are available to install solar or heat pump hot water systems. These systems must replace existing electric pump hot water systems. For full details of eligibility requirements and how to apply please visit www.environment.gov.au/energyefficiency or call the Energy Efficient Homes Package Hotline on 1800 808 571.

Please note that you can not claim both the ACT Government Rebate AND the Federal Governmnet Rebate for the same improvements. This means that if you apply for the Federal Government solar hot water rebate, you can not also claim the ACT Government Rebate for the same solar hot water system. 

See also: HEAT fact sheet Solar Hot Water

Wood Heater Replacement Program

Canberra has excellent overall air quality compared to other cities. However, it does have a winter air pollution problem due to emissions from wood heaters used for home heating. When funding is available, a program offering financial incentive to replace wood heating with gas heating is run for a specified period. Please visit the Department of the Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water website below for information on the 2009 Wood Heater Replacement Program.

For more information, including how to apply, see:
http://www.environment.act.gov.au/rebates_and_incentives/environment_rebates_and_incentives

or call Canberra Connect on 13 22 81

See also: HEAT fact sheet Choosing a Heating System