Rebates, incentives & solar news.
Stay up to date on government rebates, solar incentives, and energy tips — written by the SOE team.
How much does a solar system cost in 2026? Echuca & Northern Victoria price guide
A general guide to after-rebate solar pricing for homes across Echuca, Moama and Northern Victoria, plus battery storage options — sized and quoted for your home.
GoodWe ESA — the most powerful home battery on the market
The GoodWe ESA with EHA (single phase) and ETA (three phase) ranges is a genuine game-changer. Built-in home backup, modular design, sourced locally.
GoodWe's community spirit: donated solar for CLRS disability homes in Echuca
GoodWe don't just make the inverters we install — they give back locally too. Here's how GoodWe, AWM Echuca, Jinko and RGM Electrical teamed up to put donated solar on CLRS disability housing.
How solar is changing lives in our local community — our work with CLRS
Together with SEC and AWM, we've put solar on the roofs of CLRS homes in Echuca — and helped raise over $30,000 towards new CLRS home builds.
Apprenticeships: a genuine pathway out of school
University isn't the only road. An electrical apprenticeship builds skills, character and a real career.
Heat pump hot water — the Haier & Apricus systems we install
Hot water is up to a third of your energy bill. The Haier and Apricus all-in-one heat pumps we install slash that cost — especially when paired with solar.
NSW $15,000 interest-free loan for solar & batteries
The NSW Sustainable Home Loan offers eligible households up to $15,000 interest-free over 10 years.
Solar Victoria $1,400 rebate + interest-free loan
Victorian homeowners can access a $1,400 upfront rebate AND a $1,400 interest-free loan — effectively $2,800 in savings.
Heat pump hot water — up to $3,500+ off with VEECs
Victoria's heat pump rebate gives you $1,000 off. Combined with VEECs, many households get their unit heavily discounted.
VEECs explained — how Victorian energy certificates save you thousands
VEECs are a hidden gem. When you install energy-efficient equipment, you generate certificates worth thousands of dollars.
$1,000 induction cooktop rebate — ditch gas
Solar Victoria's $1,000 induction cooktop rebate helps Victorian households upgrade from gas cooking to efficient induction.
Federal STC rebates — how Australia's solar rebate works in 2026
Every Australian home solar installation generates STCs that reduce your upfront cost. In 2026, most households receive $3,000–$6,000.
NSW commercial battery rebate: BESS4 & BESS5 explained (from 1 September 2026)
From 1 September 2026, NSW businesses can generate Peak Reduction Certificates for a battery install — real money off the system, stacked on top of the federal STC rebate on any eligible solar. Not a loan.
New $4,000 upfront discount for NSW households under $80,000 income
NSW's Home Energy Saver Program is adding a direct $4,000 discount for households earning $80,000 or less, or holding an eligible concession card — real money off, not a loan, and it stacks with the existing $15,000 interest-free loan.
Getting off gas and shifting your usage: the real way to cut your power bill long-term
Electrifying your home — reverse cycle instead of gas, heat pump hot water, a battery — only pays off properly if you also shift when you use power. Here's how to actually do it.
GoodWe ESA vs Tesla Powerwall 3: which home battery is right for you?
GoodWe ESA and Tesla Powerwall 3 are the two batteries homeowners in Echuca and Moama ask us about most. Here's an honest, spec-by-spec comparison — including where we stand.
Solar Victoria rebate vs the NSW Sustainable Home Loan: which one is yours?
Echuca and Moama sit across the river from each other, and get completely different solar incentives. Here's exactly which scheme applies to your address — and how the two actually compare.
What size solar system do you actually need? 6.6kW vs 11kW vs 13.3kW vs 17kW compared
The most common solar mistake is sizing to a neighbour's system instead of your own usage. Here's how our four standard sizes actually compare, and how to tell which one's yours.
Solar only vs solar + battery: is a battery actually worth it?
Once you've decided on solar, the next question is always the same: do I actually need a battery too? Here's an honest look at what a battery changes, and when it doesn't earn its keep.
The federal battery rebate explained — what you actually get in 2026
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program is the biggest single discount on a home battery right now — around 30% off the upfront cost. Here's how it's calculated, why the size of your battery changes what you get, and why it's worth less every six months you wait.
What size home battery do you need? 16kWh vs 24kWh vs 32kWh vs 40kWh
Most people size a battery off their total daily usage, which is the wrong number. Here's how the four GoodWe ESA sizes compare, who each one suits, and the rebate quirk that makes the first 14kWh the best value part of any battery.
Does your solar work in a blackout? The honest answer
It's the question we get after every storm, and the answer surprises people: standard grid-connected solar shuts itself off in a blackout, even in full sun. Here's why that happens, and what a battery does and doesn't change.
Solar and batteries for farms: irrigation, dairies and sheds
Farms are a better fit for solar than most houses, because the big loads run in daylight when the panels are producing. Here's how we approach shed arrays, irrigation pumps, dairies and three-phase properties across Northern Victoria and the Riverina.
How long does a home battery actually last?
It's the fair question to ask about a five-figure purchase, and the answer is more specific than "about ten years". Here's what warranty terms, capacity retention and cycle counts actually mean once the battery is on your wall.
Get rebate-ready quotes
We handle STCs, VEECs, Solar Victoria and NSW loans. You sit back and save.
Start my quote