Concession holders to be given free solar systems

South Australian concession holders can now access cheaper, cleaner electricity with the Marshall Liberal Government’s Switch for Solar pilot program kicking off today.

The Switch to Solar trial program gives one thousand eligible households the chance to have a free solar system installed in exchange for their concession payments and drives further job creation in the renewable energy sector.

A typical household joining Switch for Solar could be up to $665 better off every year, compared to continuing to receive the energy concession and Cost of Living Concession (COLC).

One thousand concession holders in selected suburbs will be offered the chance to ‘switch’ their energy concession and COLC for a period of ten years for a 4.4 kilowatt solar PV system installed on their home at no upfront cost.

Suburbs selected for this pilot include Hope Valley, Banksia Park, Tea Tree Gully, Vista, Modbury, Modbury Heights, Modbury North, Felixstow, Campbelltown, Newton, Paradise, Athelstone, Dernancourt, Holden Hill, Highbury, Redwood Park and Ridgehaven and Goolwa and Hindmarsh Island in regional SA.

Local companies Sharpe Energy Hub and Zen Energy have been selected as program partners and will install the solar systems for the pilot program.

Minister for Energy and Mining Dan van Holst Pellekaan said the $4.25 million Switch for Solar pilot program was designed to remove the main barrier to solar uptake, which is the cost of buying and installing the solar system.

“From Monday eligible concession holders in the selected suburbs will be contacted directly to hear more about how the program can save them money on their electricity bills and how they can go about signing up,” said Mr van Holst Pellekaan.

“Modelling shows a typical household joining Switch for Solar could be $210 to $665 better off every year, compared to the energy concession and Cost of Living Concession they currently receive.

“Modelling shows that electricity cost savings from the free solar system will outweigh the two concessions foregone.

“Since we announced the program in February we are now able to deliver larger solar systems meaning concessions holders that join the program are set to save even more on their energy bills.

“This pilot program is a great chance for concession holders to not just access more affordable electricity but cleaner electricity – more than 56 per cent of electricity generated in South Australia was from renewable sources last financial year and we’re aiming for net 100 per cent renewable generation by 2030.

“Under the Marshall Liberal Government electricity prices have fallen by $269 since June 2018 and South Australians will continue to see further falls with the government’s support of programs such as Switch for Solar. We hope to roll out this program and its energy savings to more concession holders in the future.”

Minister for Human Services Michelle Lensink urged eligible South Australian concession holders to consider the new deal.

“Our new Switch to Solar pilot is a win-win for everyone,” said Minister Lensink.

“Not only is the Government injecting money into the economy and supporting vital jobs through the purchase of 1000 new solar panels, our concession holders will get big bill savings off their energy bills.

“There is no doubt this is huge bill relief for the households that take part in this program.”

Background:

Eligible ConcessionsSA customers can receive up to $215.10 per year from the Cost of Living Concession and up to $231.41 per year towards their energy bill, totalling up to $446.51.

In exchange for these payments, eligible concession holders will get a free solar PV system and the flow on effect of huge bill savings annually. A small fee may be payable if a non-standard installation is required.

Eligible households will need to own their own home and not have an existing solar system.

The suburbs and regions were selected by the Department for Energy and Mining based on where the network can best accommodate the volume of solar installations.