Solar for Apartments Program

Only apartment complexes where the average unimproved value for an apartment is less than $300,000 from the year 2022 and onwards are eligible for the Program.

You can find out the unimproved value of a property through an unimproved values search from Access Canberra.

You can calculate the average unimproved value of a unit for an apartment complex in 2 ways:

1. Divide the total unimproved value of the land by the number of units within the apartment complex.
2. Divide the total unimproved values for each of the units within the apartment complex by the number of units within the apartment complex.

Only Class A apartment complexes are eligible to participate in the Program.

Class A units are generally apartments in multi-storey developments (the classic ‘tower’ block apartment complex). For more information refer to Unit Titles on the ACT planning website.

If you are unsure, you can find out by checking the certificate of title of your unit which should be included with the documents attached to your sale contract. You can also obtain a title search from the Land Titles Office for a small fee.

A ‘Distinct Premise’ as an individual structure at an apartment complex style dwelling.

If the structure does not include dwellings such as apartments with habitable rooms, it will not be considered a Distinct Premise.

For example, carports or storage units are not eligible to participate in the Program, however their roof space may be used as part of a proposed installation.

The Program requires the installation to share benefits equitably among the residents of the apartment complex. Some examples include:

• Installation and allocation of benefits based on unit entitlements. For example, a three bedroom apartment expects to have access to three times the benefits compared to a single bedroom apartment. If individual installations are being completed, the individual system size is expected to be proportional to the unit entitlements.
• Installations that reduce the unit cost of energy for all residents of an apartment complex.

If an installation helps reduce the unit cost of energy, for example reduction of hot water costs for all residents within the apartment complex, this will be deemed as equitable sharing of benefits by the Program.

Individual installations

This refers to an apartment complex that installs separate solar installations to support each of the units. As an example, an apartment complex building with 10 units will install 10 separate installations that will be connected to each individual unit. These 10 installations will be able to operate independent of each other and will help reduce the energy bills for the residents of the respective apartment units.

This type of solution is more common among low-rise apartment complexes where the ratio between the available roof space to the number of units per building is higher.

Installations with an energy sharing solution

This refers to an apartment complex that opts for a common solar installation which distributes energy through a dedicated metering solution. The apartment complex can configure this metering solution to allocate benefits equitably among each of the units to reduce energy costs.

This type of solution is more common among low and medium-rise apartment complexes. Easy access to a central plant room or switchboard is ideal for the dedicated metering solution to monitor and pass on benefits to each of the units.

Installation or part of an installation that supports an existing hot water asset

This refers to an apartment complex where the energy generated from the solar installation will support the central hot water asset. The reduction in energy costs for the central hot water asset will be passed on to the residents of the apartment complex through reduced hot water costs.

This type of solution is more common among low and medium-rise apartment complexes with a central hot water asset. The solar installation will support the central hot water asset to pass on benefits via the existing hot water meters at each unit.

As part of your application, you will need to submit the roof area of your apartment complex.

ACTmapi is a free ACT Government town mapping website that allows you to measure the roof area of your apartment complex.

An embedded network is when a privately owned energy network is the supplier for multiple premises and residents within an apartment complex. As part of an Embedded Networks Contract an ‘apartment wide’ electricity tariff rate may be negotiated.  Residents of the apartment complex will need to pay as per the negotiated rate for the duration of the contract.

Some contracts have clauses that can limit benefits such as solar from being distributed to the residents.

Contact your electricity retailer if you have questions relating to your contract.

You can refer to the Solar for Apartments Program Embedded Network Contract confirmation template to request a statement to confirm if the existing Embedded Network Contract will limit the benefits shared among the residents of the apartment complex.

Apartment complexes that have or have had a solar system already installed are ineligible to participate in the program.

No. The Program provides a grant and a loan, you must access both to participate. In order to get the grant you need to get the loan of equal value.

The additional costs will need to be funded by the apartment complex.

Battery costs are not be eligible to receive financial support as part of the Program however apartment complexes can install a battery system when they install their solar system.

The costs for the battery system must be separated in the quote submitted.

One of the requirements of the Program is that the benefits are equitably shared among all residents of the apartment complex, which includes tenants of a tenanted unit and owners of an owner-occupied unit.

The equitable sharing of benefits can be achieved through a wide range of solutions.

As part of the Program Registration form, include a short description of the proposed method of how the owners corporation can distribute the benefits equitably among its residents. The proposed method will be assessed by the program on a case-by-case basis and additional information may requested. It is important to the Program that the proposed method will include a level of assurance the benefits will be shared equitably among all residents of the apartment complex with minimal external influence.

Note that a maximum of 40% of the systems benefits may be credited to the owners corporation for common area power (to help offset the loan repayments). The remaining benefits must go towards all of the resident apartments to reduce energy costs.

No. The grant and loan are only to assist with the installation of rooftop solar, of which the benefits must flow to all residents.

Other sustainability upgrades such as replacing centralised gas hot water systems, or the installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargers are outside the scope of this Program. Visit Everyday Climate Choices to find ACT Government programs that can support you with these upgrades.

This will be evaluated by the Program when the quotes are submitted for assessment. If the electrical infrastructure upgrades and civil works fully or partially support the solar installation, these works may be fully or partially supported through Program funds respectively.

Yes, as long as no more than 40% of the savings are attributed to the owners corporation, and remaining benefits are shared equitably among all apartment residents.

No. Installations must be bought and paid for (i.e. owned) by the apartment complex.

A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is where a solar retailer installs a solar system at no cost to yourselves, and you enter an agreement to purchase the power from that retailer. The electricity is generally at a cost that is lower than you would pay a normal electricity retailer.

Please refer to the Brighte Marketplace to access the list of the Accredited Vendors that are taking part in the Solar for Apartments Program.

Only solar installers that are registered can be used. You will need to collect a minimum of two quotes from two different solar installers and share these with the Program for review, however you are encouraged to collect at least three quotes for a competitive price.

Solar installers that are not registered cannot be used for the installation, nor solicited for a quote.

We require a minimum of two quotes to be submitted. If you have more than two quotes, you can submit these quotes for review and feedback through the Program.

Once you have submitted two independent quotes and received feedback, you can proceed to submit a Grant Lock-In Request with the preferred quote attached.

Once your Grant Lock-In Request has been reviewed and approved by the Program, you will be notified of Grant Lock-In Approval. At this point you can start your loan application with the Loans provider (Brighte).

You must have received Grant Lock-In Approval from the Program prior to starting a loan application with the Loans Provider (Brighte).

We recommend you complete the Self-Assessment for Loan Eligibility to ensure you understand the criteria set by the Loans Provider (Brighte). Completing the self-assessment is important to successfully register in the Program.

Once you have been noticed of Grant Lock-In Approval you can submit a loan application with the Loan Provider (Brighte). Contact your preferred vendor to initiate the loan application process. If successful, the loans provider (Brighte) will notify you of loan approval.

The loan provider (Brighte) is the administrator of the loan and who you will liaise with for all loan related matters.

Once you have received approval of Grant Lock-in Request and your loan application, you will get written confirmation of funding approval from the Program. The Program will reserve funds for the proposed installation at this stage.

You must not commit to or sign any contract/quote or commence any works with the accredited vendor prior to receiving written funding approval from the Program.

No. The accredited vendor will be paid once the installation has been completed and a Certificate of Occupancy and Use has been issued, as outlined in section 6.4 of the Terms and Conditions.

The owners corporation takes out the loan for the proposed installation and will be responsible for the loan repayments. Further information regarding the loan can be discussed with the loan provider (Brighte).