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MASH: Community Solar Bulk-Buy

MASH-wide news

Talking Solar in Beaufort

Have you thought about going solar but looking for more information?

Find out more about Solar and Battery Storage

Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance in partnership with Pyrenees Shire Council are holding an online community information meeting on Wednesday 25 August from 6.00-7.00pm.

Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance’s Jo Kaptein said that anyone thinking about ‘going solar’ or adding battery storage to their home or business is invited to join the online meeting.

“This session will provide attendees with the information they need to decide whether now is a good time to get solar installed or to invest in a battery,” she said.

Ms Kaptein said the evening presenters were from solar and battery bulk-buy – MASH (More Australian Solar Homes) – which is owned and organised by the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance.

Why MASH?

“MASH aims to encourage the uptake of more solar in the region, helping residents cut their electricity bills and reduce CO2 emissions,” she said.

“With Government Solar Rebates available for households, rental properties and small businesses, now really is a good time to go solar,” said Ms Kaptein.  “With the right system, many households are realising a payback of 3-5 years on their solar system.  9-5 businesses can do even better with a payback period sometimes as short as two years.”

Ms Kaptein said that community groups can also benefit with one percent of bulk-buy revenues being distributed to not-for-profit groups in the region in the form of free solar.

Customer Testimonials

Already residents in the area have gone ahead with solar through the program and have reported good results.

Beaufort resident Denis Thurgood who had a 5.92kW solar system installed in April through MASH said, “The customer service team at MASH’s solar retailer were very helpful and made the process straightforward. They helped us with the application for the Solar Victoria Panels rebate as well, which we appreciated.”

Avoca resident Stephanie Wardlaw who also had a 6.66kW solar system in the same month through MASH said, “MASH’s solar installer – Matt – was professional and friendly. He and his team arrived early, as planned, and got the job done in one day. The solar panels look great!”

To register for this online event, visit https://bit.ly/3AOYOW3

To learn more about MASH visit mash.org.au or call 1300 466 274.

 

Castlemaine Battery Storage Meeting

If you are thinking about adding battery storage to your home solar system, there’s an opportunity to learn more at an event online via Zoom on Tuesday 20 July.

Hosted by the Castlemaine-based MASH community solar bulk-buy, this session is designed to equip ‘would-be’ battery owners with the information they need to decide whether battery storage is right for their circumstances.

“It is fantastic to know that 100% of our power needs are now met by our 6.6 kW solar and Powerwall battery system,” Ian Temby, Ashbourne

“With the recent power outages in the Dandenongs, we’ve seen the level of interest in batteries increase”, said MASH organiser Jo Kaptein. “People are telling us they want to protect their homes from a major outage. They have lots of different reasons why. For example, some have medical equipment they rely on which needs continuous power, others are running businesses where they can’t afford their equipment or computers to be offline.”

“Even though batteries are still expensive – even with the State Government rebate – many people are investing in them in order to get that energy security,” said Jo.

“Currently the battery rebate is worth up to $4,174 for eligible households but once the current allocation has gone, then the rebate will drop to $3,500. There’s only 1,000 rebates left at the higher value and we are expecting that they will go soon.”

The MASH bulk-buy is a project of the not-for-profit Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance which is based in Castlemaine.

To register for the meeting, please call the MASH team on 1300 466 274 or visit the MASH website at mash.org.au

Get Energy Savvy this Winter by Jo Kaptein, MASH organiser

Powerpal – a great way to get in control of your electricity spending

We all want to be warm and comfortable in winter. If you’re like me, you’ll also be keen to keep your energy bills under control.

Free electricity monitoring device

Through the MASH solar bulk-buy, we are offering a free electricity monitoring device – called Powerpal – to all new customers. I got one installed at my Castlemaine home to see how it works and I have to say that it’s great!

Powerpal shows how much electricity you are buying from the grid in real-time. It’s perfect for any household with a mains electricity connection; it doesn’t matter whether or not you have solar.

Despite working in solar, I’m not an electricity nerd. I like Powerpal because I can take a quick look at the app on my phone and see how much electricity I’m using right now, or for any time period – and what it’s costing me.

Switch off at the wall!

It also shows how much electricity is used on “always-on appliances”. These are appliances that use power even when they’re not being actively used, i.e. TV, games consoles, fridges etc. Older appliances can use a surprising amount of power – for instance a large old fridge can cost you $500 a year to run. The classic beer fridge could be costing you more than you think! (So it’s a good idea to switch them off at the wall).

How to get your Powerpal

Through MASH, you’ll get a Powerpal installed when you confirm your order. Plus, if you request a solar panels clean/system maintenance check through us, we’ll offer you the Powerpal as a freebie. If you aren’t ordering a MASH system and want one anyway, get in touch as we can get it installed for a small fee (covering the installation call-out).

A member of the installation team will set the device up on your switchboard and get the app set up. The whole thing takes around 15 minutes. That’s it – no ongoing costs, just an easy tool to get you more energy savvy!

Find out more

To find out more call MASH on 1300 466 274.

By Jo Kaptein, Program Lead, MASH community solar bulk-buy organised by the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, a not-for-profit based in Castlemaine

Beat the 30 June Rebate Cut

The much-anticipated cut in the value of the solar and battery rebates through the Victorian Government’s Solar Homes program has just been announced. From 1 July, the value of solar and battery rebates for households will be reduced as follows:

Solar panels rebate for homeowners

  • Currently worth up to $1,850, the solar panels rebate for homeowners will drop in value to $1,400 from July 1, 2021. There are still 7,356 solar panels rebates left in the current allocation through to 30 June (as of 21/6/2021). Whilst that sounds like a lot, we expect that most – if not all – of these rebates will be allocated.

Solar panels interest-free loan

  • This is worth up to the same amount as the solar panels rebate (ie. $1,850). From 1 July, it will drop to $1,400. The loan is repayable either over a four year period or sooner, as a lump sum. It’s a great way to reduce the upfront cash outlay for a new solar system.

Solar battery rebate

  • Currently worth $4,174, this rebate for homeowners is proving popular with only 1,909 remaining before the 30 June deadline. From 1 July, it will drop to $3,500. It’s important to be aware that you can’t get both the solar panels rebate AND the solar battery rebate – it’s one or the other (eligibility criteria apply).

Solar panels rebates for rental properties

  • The value of this rebate is the same as the solar panels rebate for homeowners, i.e. $1850 – and the drop in value from 1 July will be the same. There are only 608 rental rebates remaining at the higher value. There is also an interest-free loan available for the same amount as the rebate.

Solar panels rebates for businesses

  • This rebate was launched in May 2021. It is worth up to $3,500 to cover 50 per cent of the cost of a solar system for eligible small businesses. It will remain at this value until the current allocation of rebates runs out. It will then drop to $1,750. The program launched with 5,000 rebates. There are now 2,118 left – so we expect these to go fast too!

Beat the rebate deadline

There is still time to apply for the solar panels and battery rebates. You simply need to get in touch with the MASH bulk-buy organisers and request a quote as soon as possible. Our solar retailers are standing by ready to help you with your application. As the supply of rebates is finite we highly recommend that you don’t delay!

To request an obligation-free quote through our bulk-buy program either:

  • Call us on 1300 466 274
  • Click here to complete the online form

Of course, if you aren’t ready to apply for a rebate by 30 June don’t worry. Solar is still a great investment for most Victorian households even when the value of the panels rebate drops from the 1st of July.  Plus, it is still heavily subsidised by the Federal Government through the Small-scale Technology Certificates which are available for all eligible solar power systems up to 100kW in size.

 

 

EOFY for Solar and Battery Rebates

State government rebates for solar panels and battery storage are guaranteed at current values until 30 June 2021. From 1 July they will change, and based on past years, the change is likely to be downwards (but of course, you never know!).

We are lucky in Victoria to have a generous rebate program for solar and batteries, as this is not the case in all states.

What they are worth

The Victorian Government rebates – administered by Solar Victoria through the Solar Homes program – are worth applying for if you are interested in solar panels or a battery for your home. Currently they are worth:

  • Solar panels – up to $1,850 (owner-occupied properties and rental)
  • Solar panels interest-free loan – up to $1,850 (as above)
  • Battery storage – up to $4,174

Eligibility

You can only apply for one rebate from the Solar Homes program – i.e. for panels or a battery, not both.

Deadlines

Solar Victoria will honour the rebate application of anyone who has submitted a completed application via their portal by 30 June, providing there are sufficient rebates and they meet the eligibility criteria. As of 28 May, the remaining allocation of rebates through to 30 June is around 7,600 for solar panels and 2,400 for batteries.

Before you can submit an application, you need a quote from an authorised solar retailer listed on the Solar Homes website.

High demand expected

We expect that demand for rebates will be high in June. Therefore, we encourage anyone considering applying for a rebate to request a quote as soon as possible.

Next steps

If you have any questions, please contact MASH on 1300 466 274 or complete the obligation-free request a quote form at mash.org.au.

To check eligibility criteria, visit solar.vic.gov.au