Image: Geralt
SA’s Energy Minister has issued a warning that prospective Home Battery Scheme businesses engaged in deceptive marketing may not get a look-in.
The Adelaide Advertiser (paywall) reports battery installation businesses found to be misleading customers or attempting to secure deposits in relation to the scheme before they are accredited for the initiative could have their System Provider applications rejected.
Energy Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan said misleading advertising had popped up on his radar and the businesses involved will be contacted by the Department for Energy and Mining.
South Australia’s Home Battery Scheme aims to support 40,000 households across the state in installing energy storage through subsidies of up to $6,000 per battery system installed initially, gradually tapering off.
Part of the conditions of the subsidy is systems must be designed/installed by a Clean Energy Council-accredited professional with a battery endorsement. Additionally, participating installation businesses must qualify as System Providers and be CEC Approved Solar Retailers.
According to SolarQuotes‘ Ronald Brakels, the Approved Solar Retailer requirement narrows down the choice of installers to (currently) four South Australian solar companies or approximately 20 national retailers that are active in SA; assuming all those companies apply for and are accepted as System Providers.
At this stage, businesses interested in becoming System Providers must register their contact details here, to be notified when the accreditation process is announced.
Where “free money” in the form of government subsidies is involved there is often shenanigans, and over the years shonky behaviour in relation to financial support for solar power has been no exception.
Another recent example is across the border, where Solar Victoria issued a warning earlier this month it was aware that state’s Solar Homes rebate has caught the attention of scammers, who have been targeting households in the state.
Home Battery Scheme Subsidy Numbers Crunched
In other recent news related to SA’s Home Battery Scheme, SolarQuotes’ Ronald crunched the numbers and arrived at the conclusion that even with the subsidy it is still possible to lose money buying home solar batteries if care is not taken when making a purchase decision.
“One thing batteries can’t beat in South Australia is rooftop solar,” says Ronald. “Even if you use no solar electricity yourself and send it all into the grid for a feed-in tariff you will still get a better return than from a battery at typical solar installation costs today.”
The Home Battery Scheme is slated to kick off in October (date not yet set), when a web site will be available to help homeowners in accessing the subsidy and applying for finance if required.
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$16500 is universal for a battery worth less than the 6K subsidy, if you can change the battery in your car then you could set up one of these systems. On top of this if your off grid your not eligible, not that the off grid community can be conned that easily. What flow gov expert adviser can see through this blatant rip off. Seriously WTF.