The Solar Savers program is a flagship local government initiative supporting residents and businesses in installing energy upgrades through a panel of vetted suppliers.
Currently, EAGA is responsible for delivering Solar Savers to 20 councils, including all 8 EAGA members as well as 12 non-member councils.
The program began with a focus on solar (hence the name) and has since expanded to include a broad range of products in support of the growing electrification ambitions of councils. In addition to solar PV and battery storage, the program now includes, hot water systems, split systems, EV chargers, induction cooktops, insulation, draught proofing, and home energy assessments.
As of November 2024, the program has successfully facilitated the installation of approximately 880 systems, with an estimated 18,098 tCO2e saved.
To learn more about the program or to participate, please visit the dedicated Solar Savers website.
Background
Solar Savers was initiated in the City of Darebin in 2014 and pioneered the use of council rates as an underpinning finance mechanism to support low-income households access solar. In June 2016, EAGA and its partners secured a $0.76M State Government Grant through the New Energy Jobs Fund to extend delivery of Solar Savers across 26 councils and four of Victoria’s Greenhouse Alliances. The grant funded program delivered over 434 solar systems (1.6MW) saving households an average of $260 per year. Independent evaluation demonstrated:
- solar provides low cost energy throughout the day meaning that householders could cool their homes during heatwaves without fear of ‘price shock’
- councils can facilitate private-sector investment within a community segment traditionally viewed as high risk to investors by establishing partnership finance models with the banking sector
- a shared services approach to project implementation enabled access to dedicated capability and thereby reduce resource requirements and risks to councils
To find out more, please contact Anna Imberger, Program Leader here.