Let’s make solar savings available to more tenants

详细摘要

So it’s not surprising more and more households are taking advantage of solar power to tackle rising electricity costs. According to the 2024 Australian Housing Conditions Data…

Western Australia has no shortage of sunshine. The Bureau of Meteorology says Perth has an average of 8.8 hours of sunshine a day. The Pilbara is the only place in the country to record an annual average of more than 10 hours a day of sunshine.

So it’s not surprising more and more households are taking advantage of solar power to tackle rising electricity costs. According to the 2024 Australian Housing Conditions Data Infrastructure Survey, 55.2 per cent of homeowners have access to solar panels.

However, not everyone can share in the savings our abundance of sunshine can deliver. The same survey found only 17.5 per cent of tenants have access to solar panels. Unlike homeowners, tenants generally don’t get to decide whether solar panels are installed at the property they are living in.

That’s why the State Government’s recent announcement that it intends to legalise plug-in solar panels and batteries is welcome news. These portable systems could give tenants – particularly those living in apartments – a way to reduce their electricity bills. Importantly, tenants could take them with them when they move.

While there are still safety, technical and regulatory matters to work through, it’s a positive initiative which deserves support.

In our 2027-28 Pre-Budget Submission, we’ve proposed a rebate scheme to encourage investors to install solar panels and batteries on rental properties.

We’re asking the State Government to provide investment property owners with a financial incentive to invest in solar, which will allow tenants to enjoy the benefits through lower electricity bills.

Queensland has the Supercharged Solar for Renters program, which provides eligible investors with rebates of up to $3500 to install solar on their rental properties. New South Wales operates the Home Energy Saver program. This provides investors and home owners with loans of up to $15,000 for a range of energy efficiency upgrades, including rooftop solar, batteries and switchboard upgrades.

The…

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