Queensland Government Announces Cost Slashing Energy Efficiency Rebate

Around 40,000 Queensland households will soon become eligible for rebates of up to one thousand dollars for upgrading household appliances from two to four-star energy efficiency models. The big winner? Hot water. The Queensland Government announced the rebate that will begin rolling out in September under the Climate Smart Energy Savers initiative.

How much will Queenslanders be able to claim?

The $22 million fund allocation will include upgrades on washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, air conditioners and solar and heat pump hot water systems. Rebates will be allocated at two levels, a standard level and additional aid for low-income households. These rebates are in addition to the federal government Small Scale Renewable Energy Scheme and the existing Cost of Living Rebate.

“The NSW government offered rebates on energy efficient appliances for a long time now. The key difference here is that Queensland is putting a cap on the dollars allocated to rebates. This would likely cause a massive rush in NSW, leading to long installation delays and problematic supply,” said Joe Rantino, veteran plumber Sydney.

What’s the catch?

The fund is limited to first in best served. You must be among the first to lodge your solar or heat pump rebate application to ensure that you don’t miss out. The rebate means for some households it may be free to upgrade some household appliances, so these will likely “sell out” very quickly.

“Hot water installations usually come when something goes very wrong with an ageing system. The supply chain isn’t “set up” for a rush on purchases and not every plumber and sparky can correctly fit a hot water system, especially the new heat pump systems. I predict wait times, supply shortages and disappointed people as this rebate is going to be in HIGH demand” said John Salmon, Brisbane’s leading supplier of heat pump hot water systems.

How to avoid the stampede

The scheme opens in September, which will likely create a supply shortage for applicable appliances and those with complex installation processes will mean a shortage on qualified plumbers and electricians. Here are some insights into claiming your new rebate:

1. Pre-order “no-install” appliances like dryers for purchase after the September launch date.

2. Start shopping around NOW for solar hot water installations as there are multiple tradies involved.

3. Consider heat pump hot water – a newer entrant to the sustainable hot water game, but the most efficient hot water system on the market – and ideally suited for Queensland’s hot weather.

The comprehensive guide to heat pump hot water.

Buying brand new technology

While brands like Solahart and Rheem are household names, new tech comes with new players. Heat pump hot water is at the cutting edge of energy efficiency technology, so while the brands you know still lead the way in solar, there are new players in the market (and some of your trusted brands too). Do your research carefully as not all new players in the market are equal. With new tech comes new problems, and even new scams. The market will likely be flooded by overseas models and some are much better, and much worse than others.

Read comprehensive heat pump hot water reviews

The new rebates open September 2023. More information is coming.