- TENS of thousands of households will miss out on an $8000 solar panel rebate after the Rudd Government abruptly ended the program three weeks early.
The Government’s decision left solar retailers scrambling to push through thousands of rebate applications yesterday after they were given just eight hours’ notice that the scheme would be finishing prematurely.
From today the rebate will be replaced with a far less generous solar credits scheme that retailers say will typically net Victorian households about $4000 for a one-kilowatt system. This will be cut over time to about $800. A one-kilowatt system typically costs about $12,500.
But while the new scheme offers less cash back to consumers, more people will have access to it because it will not be means-tested and small businesses will not be excluded.
Full storey; Tom Arup and Adam Morton: theage.com.au
