Financial support for residents on a low income

Do you own your home and live on a low income?

We can help you install solar panels or improve your home to make it more comfortable. Council will pay:

• up to $3000 towards solar panels and their installation

Or

• up to $2000 towards upgrading your home through insulation and or seal up the gaps in your home

Scroll down for key information in العربية – Arabic, Ελληνικά – Greek, Italiano – Italian, Türkçe – Turkish or اردو – Urdu.

Improve your home

Is your home cold in winter and too hot in summer? We can help.

If you own your home and live on a low income, we may pay up to $2,000 to install insulation or seal up the gaps in your home. By making your home more energy efficient, you can save on power bills, be more comfortable, and contribute to a bright future for our community.

Dorothy, a Gowanbrae resident, contacted Council because she had a lot of draughts in her home and wanted to save on bills. Through the program, she received draught-proofing around external doors, fully installed roof insulation and new lights in her brick veneer unit – all for free.

“Don’t hesitate to contact Council about the program. It’s free and it’s wonderful!” says Dorothy.

Eligible Merri-bek residents can receive financial support for 1 grant only – either Energy Upgrades or Solar.

If you are a Merri-bek resident and have participated in Energy Savvy Upgrades or earlier rounds of a Merri-bek City Council subsidy program – you are not eligible for this program.

Hear from Maria who had insulation installed.

Save with solar

Putting solar panels on your home can reduce your electricity bills.

Merri-bek has partnered with Solar Savers to help you install quality rooftop solar.

Solar Savers is a council-supported program to help you apply for rebates, interest-free loans and work with a trusted installer.

Eligible residents can access the Victorian Government’s rebates of up to $1400 and interest-free loans. A limited number of $3000 subsidies from Merri-bek are also available. You could save up to $4400 off the cost of a solar system, leaving very small or no payment to you.

Hear from Mercedes who had solar installed.

Contact

Contact Katherine (Merri-bek’s Energy Officer) by email zerocarbon@merri-bek.vic.gov.au to find out more.

Victorian Government Concessions

Victorians from low-income households can receive concessions and benefits to help pay their energy bills.

If you have a relevant concession card, you may be eligible for a range of concessions from annual electricity concessions to one-off $250 payment to help with energy bills.

Visit the Victorian Government website for more information.