Labor powers up big solar panel pledge

LABOR has pledged a massive solar panel rollout program if it wins the coming state election, saying it will help Victorians save about $890 a year on their power bills.

The new Solar Homes program will see solar panels installed on 650,000 homes over 10 years.

Under the $1.24 billion program, Victorians can install a solar panel system for half price and pay the rest of the cost back over four years with an interest-free loan.

This will save the typical Victorian household up to $2,225 for installation of an average 4kW solar system.

A new independent agency, Solar Victoria, will be established to work with industry, regulators and training organisations to deliver the program, which will create almost 5,500 new jobs.

Labor will invest $9 million to support accreditation of 4,500 electricians to install solar panels.

It will also cut carbon emissions by almost four million tonnes and generate 12.5 per cent of Victoria’s 40 per cent target for renewable energy by 2025.

In the meantime, Labor has invested $68 million to launch the Solar Homes program, under which Victorians can install a solar panel system and get half of the cost back via a rebate, and will be expanded to include the interest-free loan from July next year (assuming Labor wins the election).

“We know the cost of living is going up and it’s getting harder to make ends meet. That’s why Labor is helping families with their energy bills,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.

Environment Victoria and Solar Citizens have welcomed the pledge.

“The only certain way to bring down your energy bill is by going solar,” Solar Citizens national director Joseph Scales said.

“Unfortunately, many people are locked out of enjoying the benefits of cheaper energy bills that solar provides because they can’t afford the upfront cost. The Andrews Government has today provided a simple but significant answer to that.”