Mabel making savings with solar

When Mabel moved to Canberra from the Northern Territory to do environmental studies at ANU, she learnt about climate in more ways than one.

At university, Mabel delved into the big picture of global climate change. While at home, she was discovering the difference of living in Canberra compared to Darwin’s tropical climate.

Now a seasoned Canberran and enthusiastic gardener, Mabel has switched to all electric appliances, powered by her rooftop solar system. Now she is spending her energy bill savings on the things she is passionate about – her garden.

The challenge

“I was warned about how cold it gets in Canberra, so coming from Darwin was like moving from one extreme to another. I found the weather very cold,” said Mabel.

“When I moved to this house, it had some kind of cooling and heating system, but it was old and it didn't work very well. I had to buy heaters for almost every room until I decided I need something better than this!’

“That’s why I started looking into having a new electric cooling and heating system installed.

“I was also interested in getting rooftop solar. This was for two main reasons – I care about the environment and I wanted to save money on my bills.

The action

“I contacted the ACT Government about a rebate on solar panels. “I found it simple to find someone to install the solar and to get a rebate. There was good information on the website that helped.”

“That motivated me to go through the process of getting a quote and applying for the rebate.”

The benefit

“Financially, it helps. There were incentives involved with the upfront costs and now, the solar helps me with the power bills that I pay.”

“I feel relaxed about using electricity because I know I’m not going to pay a huge bill for electricity. The money I’m saving is going towards other expenses that come – like for my garden.

“In summer and spring, I'm not paying anything at all for electricity. Actually, I just received a bill and I got $44 in credit which means I don’t have to worry about paying a bill at all this time!

“My neighbour was amazed to see how I was saving money compared to what he was paying, and now there’s solar panels on his roof too!

“My hope for future generations is that if we continue with the changes we are making now, that they be more comfortable with their lives in the future.”

Eligible concession card holders can access a rebate of up to $2,500 through the ACT Government’s Home Energy Support Program to install a rooftop solar system.

You can couple the rebate with an interest-free loan available through the Sustainable Household Scheme.

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