Free online tool helps Gippslanders find trusted installers and discounts for solar and battery setup

With so many different systems and government discounts available, deciding on a new solar panel or battery can be confusing. A new online tool created by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SEC) aims to help people find the tech, rebates and local businesses to electrify.

What happened: Released in May, Easy Electric SEC is a free website that lets users explore rebates and discounts for electric upgrades to their home, get obligation-free quotes and find local SEC-endorsed installers to complete their upgrades.

Close to home: Five years ago, Heather Buntine and her husband Lindsay Linnell moved to Ellinbank. They told the Monitor finding a trusted electrician to help upgrade their home with a solar and battery system was a daunting task.

“Finding a good provider was a bit of a stab in the dark,” Buntine told the Monitor.

Buntine said the installation of 24 rooftop solar panels and a home battery three years ago went well – but there were a few minor issues that needed to be fixed after the initial works.

It’s cases like this that led the SEC to create the Easy Electric directory.

Local businesses: Manager of Adsolar & Electrical in Moe, Adam Robertson, told the Monitor his business was approached by the SEC to become a trusted installer.

“The SEC is a really professional organisation and very, very thorough. They went through our business and made sure that we're ticking all the boxes and doing all the right things,” Robertson said.

His business has been installing solar panels in Gippsland for over 10 years.

What makes them a trusted installer?

During the application process, the SEC vetted Adsolar & Electrical to make sure they were a fully licensed installer, had the expertise to shift homes from gas to fully electric systems and offered clear and free quotes.

Robertson said the SEC also made sure his business was officially authorised to provide government the federal and state rebates to customers.

• “We've got a team here in the office that helps out with everyone’s rebate applications, and we make that process really simple.”

What are the rebates and discounts?

• Solar panels: A federal government rebate can save Victorians on the cost of installing solar panels. This rebate is determined by how much power your system will generate and the date of installation - the more power your system will generate and the sooner you install, the greater the discount.

• A state rebate is available for household incomes less than $150,000, which provides an upfront discount of up to $1,400 on installing solar panels and an optional interest-free loan of another $1,400.

• Home batteries: For home batteries, a federal government rebate exists that covers about 30 percent of installation cost.

• Heat pumps: A Victoria rebate for heat pumps covers 50 percent of the product's price.

Robertson said there are additional subsidies and rebates available for businesses as well.

What are the savings like?

Robertson said it’s been fascinating to watch how these systems have improved over the past 10 years.

• “Home electrification has become so good for consumers with the amount people can save and the impact it has on the cost of living and lowering power prices.”

Linnell said their power bills had dropped from $150 to $30 a month during summer and they are saving roughly $50 a month during winter.

“I kind of like being a little bit self-sufficient, plus we’re doing something good for the environment as well,” Buntine said.