The Victorian Government’s Solar Homes program has hit a new record, helping families slash $1 billion off installing solar panels, energy-efficient heat pumps and batteries.
Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, said that in 2024 Solar Homes has facilitated the installation of more than 78,000 solar panels, hot water systems and batteries – the largest year on record.
According to the State Government, more families than ever are saving $1000 each year on their energy bills by powering their homes with solar panels. Combined with a hot water heat pump, they can save up to $1400 a year or at least $1600 with a battery.
“We’re helping busy families slash their energy bills by making it cheaper to install solar, so they can power their homes with free electricity from the sun and slash $1000 off their bill each and every year,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
Through the program, more than 300,000 solar panels have been installed. Victorian rooftops can generate more than 2100MW of solar power, the equivalent of Loy Yang A, one of Victoria’s largest coal-fired power stations.
“The huge uptake of solar in Victoria has helped push daytime wholesale prices to historic lows – meaning lower power bills for everyone,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
More than 31,000 energy-efficient hot water systems were installed in 2024. That’s a 151 per cent increase in installations on the previous year, the highest increase across all Solar Homes incentives.
The majority of installations occurred in Melbourne’s outer suburbs, with Tarneit, Craigieburn, Point Cook, Clyde North and Truganina accessing the most solar rebates. Sunny Midura leads the charge in regional Victoria, followed by Shepparton, Wangaratta, Traralgon and Wodonga.
Eligible households can access a $1400 rebate to install solar panels, a $1400 interest-free loan and a rebate of up to $1000 to replace their hot water system – reducing their upfront installation costs by $3800.
Today, 30 per cent of Victorian homes have installed solar panels, more than double the amount when the Solar Homes program began in 2018.
