Victoria’s Solar Homes program had a record year, helping households cut energy costs with rooftop solar while driving the state’s renewable transition.
According to the State Government, it has facilitated $1 billion in savings on solar panel, heat pump, and battery installations, reducing household energy bills by hundreds of millions annually.
Energy and Resources Minister Lily D’Ambrosio announced that in 2024, more than 78,000 solar panels, hot water systems, and batteries were installed across Victoria—marking the program’s biggest year yet.
“We’re helping busy families slash their energy bills by making is 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,” D’Ambrosio said.
“The huge uptake of solar in Victoria has helped push daytime wholesale prices to historic lows – meaning lower power bills for everyone.”
Since its inception, the Solar Homes program has supported the installation of more than 300,000 solar panels, equating to over 2100 megawatts of rooftop solar—comparable to the output of Loy Yang A, one of Victoria’s largest coal-fired power stations.
In 2024, installations of energy-efficient hot water systems surged by 151 per cent from the previous year, totaling more than 31,000. Melbourne’s outer suburbs, including Tarneit, Craigieburn, Point Cook, Clyde North, and Truganina, recorded the highest number of solar rebates.
In regional Victoria, Mildura led installations, followed by Shepparton, Wangaratta, Traralgon, and Wodonga.
Eligible households can access a $1400 rebate for solar panels, a further $1400 interest-free loan, and an additional rebate of up to $1000 for hot water system upgrades — cutting upfront installation costs by as much as $3800.
With solar now installed on 30 per cent of Victorian homes—more than double the figure when the program launched in 2018—the impact extends beyond individual savings.
The increased adoption of solar has contributed to record-low daytime wholesale electricity prices, delivering cost reductions across the grid.
According to the State Government, in addition to Solar Homes, the Victorian Energy Upgrades program has saved households $440 million by providing discounts on energy-efficient appliances, from heat pumps to cooktops.
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