ACT has one of the highest numbers of homes with rooftop solar in Australia. The region gets, on average, five peak sun hours a day. That makes it incredibly solar-friendly, maybe even more than sunny areas like Sydney or Melbourne. Apart from nature being on their side, the residents of this area have also been incentivised by the local government with the ACT solar rebate.

If you are a resident in the area, the ACT solar rebate can be an excellent financial help for solar power for your home. The rebate grants you a total upfront discount of up to 5000 AUD, which includes another energy-efficient appliance along with rooftop solar. However, the rebate is not for everyone, like the Federal STCs. It targets specific low- and moderate-income groups who would benefit the most from the money.

Thinking about stacking the ACT solar rebate on top of your Federal discount? Well, there’s a lot of ‘if’ and ‘only then’ going on here. The following discussion clears all confusion and explains everything in detail. We also talk about what changes are happening to the policy in 2026.

What Is the ACT Solar Rebate?

The ACT solar rebate is mostly a common term for the government’s Home Energy Support Program. An eligible candidate receives a 50% refund on what they paid to have the solar installed on their rooftop. This 50% is capped at 2,500 AUD.

You can claim a second rebate, equal in size and with the same rules, for another green tech like reverse-cycle air conditioners or a hot water heat pump. Eligible homeowners can also get a zero-interest Brighte loan of up to 10000$ to cover the remaining cost.

Now the most important part. The HESP or ACT solar rebate is restricted to certain concession card holders. These are: Pensioner Concession Card, Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card, and Health Care Card holders who own and live in the property.

If you don’t have any of those cards, the only solar rebate option for you is the Federal STCs. No retailer or installer can promise you otherwise.

The ACT rebate differs meaningfully from the federal STC scheme. STCs are automatic and apply to every eligible installation nationwide. HESP, by contrast, is a targeted equity measure. It exists specifically to ensure the benefits of the ACT’s clean energy transition reach lower-income and pension-age households who might otherwise be priced out of solar altogether. It does not subsidise the broader market the way STCs do.

Who Backs the ACT Solar Rebate?

The ACT solar rebate is part of the Government’s broader Sustainable Household Scheme (SHS). Climate Choices, which is part of the ACT’s environment and planning directorate, administers the rebate program. You can think of Climate Choices as the government “shopfront” since it runs the workshops, processes rebate-only applications, and publishes the official rules.

Another important entity here is Brighte. This is a private finance company the ACT Government partners with to handle the loan side of things. If you want to pair your rebate with an interest-free or low-interest loan to cover the rest of the installation cost, Brighte is who processes that application and pays the supplier directly.

Brief History of the ACT Solar Rebate

A little recap of ACT’s solar incentives might help you understand why the ACT solar rebate looks the way it does today. This will also clear up confusion regarding programs which are no longer active.

The first incentive from the ACT government was the Feed-in Tariff Scheme. It was established under the Electricity Feed-in (Renewable Energy Premium) Act 2008 and launched on 1 March 2009.

Early participants were locked into rates as high as 50.05c/kWh for systems up to 10kW (connected between March 2009 and June 2010). For them, the FiT was guaranteed for 20 years from their connection date. Later entrants received a still-generous but lower 45.7c/kWh rate once the tariff was revised downward from mid-2010.

In 2011, this FiT scheme for ACT solar owners completely closed to new applicants as the government achieved its targets and shifted its preferences elsewhere. Only existing participants will keep receiving their locked-in rate for up to 20 years from connection. This means the last of these contracts won’t expire until the early-to-mid 2030s.

So don’t be confused if your neighbour or friend in the ACT area is receiving unbelievable FiTs for their solar panels; it’s only because they got into the program before 2011. No such offer available if you are installing solar panels in 2026.

Today, you’re only entitled to a feed-in tariff from your electricity retailer for any excess solar power you export to the grid. This is typically somewhere in the 4–10c/kWh range depending on the retailer.

In 2020, the ACT became the first Australian jurisdiction (and one of the first anywhere) to reach 100% renewable electricity procurement. This happened largely through big-scale wind and solar contracts. However, this presented a new policy problem. Now, the territory’s electricity supply was clean, but individual households’ access to the savings from solar was still uneven.

So, in 2022, the government launched the Home Energy Support Program, or what people call the ACT solar rebate. It began as a $3.1 million first stage of a broader $50 million, four-year commitment. It aimed to improve building efficiency for social and public housing, low-income owner-occupiers, and poorly performing rental properties.

By mid-2022, the program broadened beyond solar to include reverse-cycle heating and cooling, hot water heat pumps, insulation, and other efficiency upgrades. Thus, the “$5,000 across two categories” structure that we see today.

The government tightened the program in 2025. From 1 July 2025, they removed solar panels from the general Sustainable Household Scheme loan product.

As a result, solar financing became exclusive to those who qualify for HESP, not to the general public via an SHS loan alone. New SHS loans also moved from 0% to 3% interest from that date (existing 0% loans retain their original terms).

How Much Do You Get With the ACT Solar Rebate?

You can get a combined $15,000 for your solar+green tech installation if you hold an eligible concession card (HESP). Here’s a breakdown –

• A rebate covering 50% of the supply-and-installation cost of rooftop solar, capped at $2,500.
•  A second, separate rebate covering 50% of one other eligible upgrade (reverse-cycle heating/cooling, hot water heat pump, evacuated tube solar hot water, electric stovetop/oven, or ceiling insulation), also capped at $2,500.
• That’s a maximum of $5,000 in direct rebates.
• On top of that, if you’re approved for HESP, you can access a zero-interest or low-interest loan of up to $10,000 through Brighte to cover whatever the rebate doesn’t. Combined, that’s a total possible support package of $15,000 per eligible household.

A Worked Example-

Here’s roughly how the numbers might look for a typical 6.6kW residential system in Canberra in 2026:

Item	Non-concession homeowner	HESP-eligible homeowner
Typical system cost (before any rebate)	~$7,500–$9,500	~$7,500–$9,500
Federal STC rebate (upfront discount)	~$1,500–$2,000	~$1,500–$2,000
HESP rebate (50% of remaining cost, capped)	Not applicable	Up to $2,500
Net out-of-pocket cost	~$5,500–$7,800	~$3,000–$5,300
Optional interest-free/low-interest loan available	No	Yes, up to $10,000
Ongoing feed-in tariff	Yes (4–10c/kWh, retailer-dependent)	Yes (4–10c/kWh, retailer-dependent)

Payback periods across Canberra typically land somewhere between 4 and 7 years for non-concession households, largely thanks to the STC discount alone. 

For HESP-eligible households stacking the rebate on top, the payback period shortens considerably. That, along with the interest-free loan option, means many participants can move to solar with close to zero upfront cost.

What Does the ACT Rebate Cover in 2026?

HESP rebates apply to the following categories. These are the ‘one other thing’ you can claim alongside your solar panels-

• Rooftop solar PV systems — the panels, inverter, and installation labour for a new residential solar system.
•  Reverse cycle heating and cooling — split systems or ducted reverse-cycle units that replace older, less efficient heating and cooling.
• Hot water heat pumps and evacuated tube solar hot water systems — efficient alternatives to gas or standard electric hot water systems.
• Electric stovetops and ovens — part of the ACT’s broader push to move households off gas appliances.
• Ceiling insulation — a lower-cost upgrade that still qualifies for the 50%/$2,500 rebate structure.

Take note that the home battery storage is not on this list. Batteries are only supported through the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program and through STC-style incentives.

The ACT Solar Rebate for Apartments

The HESP rebate wasn’t designed for shared roof buildings. So, if you own a unit in a multi-storey apartment building, you can’t get the rebate.

However, the ACT runs a dedicated Solar for Apartments Program. This is co-funded with the federal government’s Solar Banks initiative.

For a single apartment complex, it provides eligible owners corporations (body corporates) with up to $100,000 in combined funding- split 50/50 between a grant and a zero-interest Brighte loan. You are to use the money to install a shared rooftop solar system that benefits every resident in the building, including renters.

If an owners corporation manages multiple buildings within the same complex, additional funding is available: up to $300,000 in total, made up of a maximum of $150,000 in grant funds and $150,000 in loan funds, subject to the program’s eligibility criteria.

Eligibility requires each premise to be a completed apartment complex with an average unimproved unit value of $300,000 or less.

Remember, it’s the owners’ corporation that applies, not individual unit owners.

Important Changes To ACT Solar Policies in July 2026

The following changes might confuse ACT residents since SHS and HESP both run simultaneously in the state. Let’s have a look at the changes and whether they affect the ACT solar rebate.

• As of 1 July 2026, new applicants to the general SHS loan can borrow up to $20,000; the previous cap was $15,000. As mentioned before, this is not the HESP pathway and doesn’t cover solar panels.
•  They have added Electric cargo bikes as an eligible product (effective from September 2026) alongside the existing batteries, heating/cooling, hot water systems, stovetops, EVs, EV charging, and insulation. This is also for SHS and not HESP.
• Solar loans remain HESP-only since 1 July 2025, and remain unaffected by the recent changes to the SHS loan.
• Household loans through the general SHS carry 3% interest (up from 0% before 1 July 2025). HESP participants continue to access their loan component at zero interest. So, don’t get worried by the news of the interest rate increasing. It’s for the general scheme, not the HESP.

The ACT solar rebate at a glance-

Category	Detail
Program name	Home Energy Support Program (HESP)
Administered by	Climate Choices (ACT Government), with Brighte for loans
Eligibility	Pensioner Concession Card, DVA Gold Card, or Health Care Card holder
Solar rebate	50% of cost, up to $2,500
Second-category rebate	50% of cost, up to $2,500 (one other eligible product)
Maximum rebate total	$5,000
Optional loan (HESP participants)	Up to $10,000, zero-interest, via Brighte
Maximum combined support (HESP)	$15,000
General Sustainable Household Scheme loan (non-HESP, new applicants from 1 July 2026)	Up to $20,000, 3% interest — does not cover solar panels
Property value limit (freestanding)	UV ≤ $750,000
Property value limit (apartments)	UV ≤ $300,000
Non-concession homeowners	Federal STCs + retailer feed-in tariff
Closed as of July 2026	2009 Feed-in Tariff Scheme, solar via general SHS loan, Solar for Low Income (folded into HESP)

Who Is Eligible For the ACT Solar Rebate and How to Apply?

ACT residents who hold concession cards are eligible for the solar rebate. Here is a more detailed breakdown-

• Must be an ACT resident. This includes Hall, Tharwa, and Oaks Estate, but not Jervis Bay Territory since it’s legally separate.
• Hold one of three specific cards. Those are the Australian Government Pensioner Concession Card, a Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card, or an Australian Government Health Care Card. Having a general low income without one of these cards does not qualify you for HESP.
•  Must own and live in the property. There’s currently no direct HESP solar rebate for landlords. If you’re a landlord looking to add solar to a rental property, the federal STC scheme is what applies to you, the same as any other property owner. The HESP’s rental-provider pathway is not a solar rebate. It only covers 50% (capped at $2,500) of ceiling insulation upgrades, and only for rental providers who qualify for the separate Affordable Community Housing Land Tax Exemption Scheme.
• Must attend a free workshop first. This isn’t optional paperwork. It’s a genuine prerequisite before you can apply. The workshop will walk you through both the program and your options for which upgrades make sense for your home.
• Your property has to fall under a value cap. For freestanding homes, units, and dual occupancies, the Unimproved Value (a specific land-value figure, not your home’s market price) needs to sit at or below $750,000. For unit-titled apartments in multi-storey buildings, the cap drops to $300,000.

How to apply for the ACT solar rebate?

There are two ways you can apply for the rebate. It depends on whether or not you are applying for the HESP loan for solar panels.

Option 1: Rebate only.

• You attend the workshop.
• Get quotes from Brighte’s list of accredited suppliers.
• Submit your application before installation begins (your supplier fills out part of the form)
• Pay for the installation yourself, and then submit a rebate claim form afterwards.
• The rebate lands in your account roughly 10 business days after approval.
• There is no credit check to get approved, which makes it the simpler option if you can cover the upfront cost yourself.

Option 2: Rebate plus interest-free/low-interest loan

• After the same workshop requirement, you apply through Brighte directly,
• Brighte coordinates both the rebate and the loan. They pay your installer on your behalf.
• This route does require a standard credit check, since you’re taking on a loan.

Important note: Do not accept a solar quote until your HESP application is pre-approved. If you sign or agree to a quote too early, you could lose your rebate entirely since they might treat it as a “retrospective application.” The government has to officially sign off before you lock anything in.

Final Words

The ACT solar rebate isn’t one program. It’s a layered system built around who needs the most help affording the transition. If you hold a concession card, HESP can meaningfully cut your upfront cost and pair with an interest-free loan to get you close to solar for free. If you don’t, the federal STC scheme is doing the heavy lifting on your quote already. There is also the FiTs from your retailer, which might be small these days but is still something.

Most importantly, all the solar incentives will naturally phase out as the government fulfills its solar targets. So, you must make your move now. The Aussie Solar Tech team has been responding to the solar needs of the ACT area for quite some time now. So, feel free to contact us if you’re still unclear on something.

FAQs

I don’t have a concession card- is there still an ACT solar rebate for me?

Not through HESP, which is restricted to concession card holders. What does apply to you is the federal STC rebate. It is applied as an upfront discount on your installation quote, plus a retailer feed-in tariff for excess power you export to the grid. There’s no separate “general” ACT cash rebate outside of HESP as of 2026.

Can renters or landlords access the ACT solar rebate?

Not the solar rebate specifically. HESP has a separate rental-provider pathway, but it only covers ceiling insulation upgrades (50% of cost, capped at $2,500) for landlords who qualify for the Affordable Community Housing Land Tax Exemption Scheme. There’s no equivalent HESP solar rebate for rental properties.

Can I get the HESP rebate and the interest-free loan at the same time, or is it one or the other?

You can do both. If you’re approved for HESP. You’re eligible to add a top-up loan of up to $10,000 through Brighte to cover installation costs beyond what the rebate pays for, bringing your total possible support to $15,000. You’re not required to take the loan — the rebate-only pathway works fine on its own if you can cover the remainder yourself.

Is there a deadline before the ACT solar rebate ends?

No official closing date has been announced for HESP or the general Sustainable Household Scheme. Both are ongoing ACT Government programs that get adjusted periodically (most recently in July 2025, December 2025, and July 2026) rather than shut down on a fixed schedule.