Issue #101
March 2010

• Hot Water Rebates Cool Down
• The First World Plumbing Day
• Get Ready
  Online Footy Tipping
• Haiti: A Reminder Of The
  Plumbers' Importance
• A Royal Flush
• 60 Secs At The Counter
• Where in the World:
  Reece T-Shirts
• In The Pipeline
• Main Price Changes

Hot water rebates
cool down

With the recent Federal Government announcement that both the Home Insulation Program and the Solar Hot Water Rebate Program were discontinued on 19 February 2010, one of the first questions that comes to mind is, where does that leave you and your customers regarding hot water rebates?

Don’t worry. There’s the new Household Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme. From 20 February 2010 rebates are available for solar hot water and heat pump systems, when replacing electric storage units in existing eligible homes.

The new rebate on solar hot water systems is reduced from $1,600 to $1,000 and the rebate on heat pump systems is reduced from $1,000 to $600.

However, during this change over period there have been a number of arrangements made to assist with this transitional period from 20 February until 19 March 2010.

We have outlined some of the questions you may have:

What happens if you have already installed a (solar or heat pump) hot water system before 20 February 2010?

Transitional arrangements have been set up to cater for customers that already paid for or ordered a hot water system prior to 20 February 2010.

Eligible solar or heat pump hot water systems purchased or installed prior to 20 February 2010 may be eligible for a $1,600 rebate for solar hot water or $1,000 for heat pumps.

If your customer fits into this category then they must have proof of purchase or installation prior to 20 February 2010 included in their rebate application.

What happens if your customer has already ordered or made partial payment on a new (solar or heat pump) hot water system prior to 20 February 2010?

In cases where an order was made before 20 February 2010 but not installed until after this date, written evidence of the order must be included in the application.

A receipt for a deposit or a copy of their supplier’s order form is required. A quote is not sufficient evidence of an order.

What happens after the transitional period ends on the 20 March 2010?

All applications received from 20 March 2010 will be assessed for $1,000 for solar hot water and $600 for heat pump hot water systems, regardless of installation date.

For all the latest news on hot water, rebates and REC’s make sure you subscribe to Hot Water Updates.