Solar Savers Adelaide

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Consultation has concluded

The Solar Savers Adelaide Program provided up front funding for the purchase and installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems on eligible low-income and rental residential properties. Participating properties had ~2kW solar PV energy system installed on their property and Council is recovering the costs from participating property owners through a separate rate charge.

Installations on Stage 1 properties were completed in early 2018. This page has been retained as an archive of the program design, consultation process, and technical information.

Do you own or live in a Solar Savers Adelaide property?

Please go to Solar Savers Properties page for information about the energy monitoring system and living with solar.

Note: you will need to register (for free) to see this page.

The Solar Savers Adelaide Program provided up front funding for the purchase and installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems on eligible low-income and rental residential properties. Participating properties had ~2kW solar PV energy system installed on their property and Council is recovering the costs from participating property owners through a separate rate charge.

Installations on Stage 1 properties were completed in early 2018. This page has been retained as an archive of the program design, consultation process, and technical information.

Do you own or live in a Solar Savers Adelaide property?

Please go to Solar Savers Properties page for information about the energy monitoring system and living with solar.

Note: you will need to register (for free) to see this page.

Consultation has concluded
  • Public Consultation on the Declaration of the Separate Rate - Closed

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    Public Consultation on the Declaration of the Separate Rate - Closed

    Solar Savers Adelaide is a Program of the City of Adelaide that is designed to remove the upfront cost of installing solar PV energy systems for eligible low-income residents or rental properties in the City of Adelaide. During Stage 1 of the Program, Council will fund the supply and installation of ~2kW solar PV energy systems. Costs will be recovered through a separate rate charged to the property and paid off in quarterly installments over a 10 year period by the property owner.

    In order to declare a Separate Rate Charge, the South Australian Local Government Act 1999 require that a public consultation process is undertaken. Members of the public were invited to engage with Council and provide feedback on the declaration of the separate rate by either:

    For further information please read the FAQs which cover Project Information; Overview of the Program; Eligibility for Stage 1 Solar Savers; Pre-installation site visits; Technical and Costing Information; Installation Information and Next Steps.

    Contact Staff for further inquiries

    If you would like to keep updated please click the STAY INFORMED button (right)


  • Previous Solar Savers Information

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    Solar Savers Adelaide is a Program of the City of Adelaide that is designed to remove the upfront cost of installing solar PV energy systems for eligible low-income residents or rental properties in the City of Adelaide.

    What has happened?

    April-May 2016, Council sought registrations of interest and feedback from residents and landlords for Solar Savers Adelaide. We received 279 responses, with 147 residents and 132 landlords registering their interest in participating in the Program should it go ahead.

    • On 11 October 2016, Council endorsed the Solar Savers Adelaide Program (Council Report available here).

    What is happening now?

    • Council is contacting each of the respondents who registered interest in participating in Solar Savers Adelaide, to determine their eligibility for Stage 1 of the Program.

    • Council released a tender for the supply and installation of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems for the Solar Savers Adelaide Program on Tuesday 24 January 2017. The request for tender can be accessed from the Tenders SA Website

  • Solar Savers Eligibility

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    Stage 1 Eligibility

    Solar Savers Adelaide has been designed to reduce the barriers to access solar systems for low income households and rental properties. In order to identify where we can best address these barriers, we developed eligibility criteria to help us assess each household.

    Stage 1 involves the installation of up to 100 solar systems for residential properties with the City of Adelaide.

    Please note: Properties that are part of a Body Corporate (i.e. Strata Corporation, Community Corporation or Housing Cooperative) will not be included in Stage 1 of Solar Savers Adelaide. We will communicate with those who are part of a Body Corporate separately.


  • Solar Savers Adelaide Endorsed by Council on 11 October 2016

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    Decision on 11th October 2016: Council endorsed the proceeding of the Solar Savers Adelaide initiative (Council Report available here). This scheme aims to reduce barriers faced by tenants and low-income residents in accessing solar panels on their roofs. Feedback from the community was used to inform the design of the scheme - please see the infographic for more details.

    Solar Savers Adelaide is a voluntary program designed to ensure that energy savings achieved for the household will be greater than the repayments on the solar panel systems. Through this initiative, Council will fund the installation of solar panels on eligible residential properties through a quality assured, bulk purchased procurement process, and payments would be made over a 10 year period through a separate rates charge.

    Currently we are working on the repayment design, determining eligibility and property suitability, and will be commencing with the procurement process before the end of the year.

    Registration for this program has now closed.


  • Project Background

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    supporting image

    In April and May this year, Council sought registrations of interest and feedback from residential occupants and landlords in a long-term payback solar panel scheme through a separate rates charge.

    Under this Scheme, Council will fund the installation of solar panels on eligible residential properties through a quality assured, bulk purchased procurement process, and payments would be made over a long-term period through a separate rates charge.

    Save money on energy bills with affordable solar!

    We investigated a Solar Savers Scheme (Solar Savers) for tenant and low-income households that removes the up-front cost of solar panels. Under this proposed Scheme, Council would fund the installation of solar panel systems on eligible residential properties, and payments would be made over a long-term pay-back period through a separate rates charge. Solar Savers will be designed so that energy savings achieved will be greater than the repayments on the solar panel systems.

    The information collected in the survey and registration of interest helped determine whether Solar Savers goes ahead; indicates the level of community interest in offering Solar Savers; informs eligibility criteria; and informs other initiatives to assist the community to save energy.

      We were also interested in better understanding our residential community’s views on rising electricity costs; concerns around use; energy use and health impacts associated with extreme heat; and barriers to accessing affordable renewable energy.

      View the Resident and Landlord Consultation Packs and FAQs (see below) before completing the Feedback and Registration of Interest Form below.

        Click here to read the Resident Consultation Pack Click here to read Landlord Consultation Pack Browse FAQ's Click here to contact

        Read the Resident Consultation Pack

        for project information

        Read the Landlord Consultation Pack

        for project information

        Browse the FAQs for frequently

        asked questions

        Contact staff for further inquiries.

        Online Live Q&A Session was held on the 27 April - please see the responses here: Online Q&A