Installing solar in Perth gives you the freedom to run the aircon and the pool pump (plus the electric heater, washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, home cinema…) without the fear of being stung by a massive electricity bill at the end of the month, meaning you experience max comfort with zero guilt.

Now, all that’s great, solar makes great sense from a cost saving perspective, we all know that. But before you jump off the deep end and order your new system there are a couple of vital questions everyone should ask themselves so they know they’re making the right choice when they buy solar panels in Perth.

Let’s get into it.

How Much Does Solar Cost in Perth

The cost of solar panels in Perth depends on the size you’re considering, ranging from $3,000 for a 3 kW panel to around $10,000 for 10 kW.

6.6 kW is the most common size for solar panels in Perth, priced at around $5,000 each, although some of the more expensive brands could climb up to $9,000.

The quotes you get from a solar installer will likely already include any subsidies you’re eligible for. While there’s no additional incentive scheme from the Western Australian government, there are Federal subsidies that will already be deducted from the price you’re quoted.

While they’re officially called Small-Scale Technology Certificates (STCs), nobody outside the industry actually calls them that (for good reason), so you may have heard of them as the “solar rebate”. It acts as a discount on the initial, upfront price of installing solar at your home or business.

The amount of money you can save with the solar rebate depends on your system size. You can calculate your solar rebate using the following steps:

Step 1:

Use this formula to calculate the number of STC’s you’re eligible for:

For example, if you wanted to figure out how many STCs you are eligible for when purchasing a 6.6 kWh solar system in Perth (a zone 3 location) in 2022 (deeming period 9), you’d do the following calculation to give you a total of 82 STCs.

STEP 2:

Multiply the number of STCs by the market value of an individual STC to get your dollar discount amount. The going rate of an STC ranges from $34 – $40, with $36 – $38 common at the moment.

STCs are available for any household or small business installing a solar system, of up to 100 kW in size, across Australia. Only solar installers who’re accredited with the Clean Energy Council (CEC) – like the ones you can find via Solar Market – are eligible to offer STC discounts.

Because your solar installer will calculate the STC discount on your behalf, the price they quote you already includes the subsidy, so don’t expect a further discount.

While you shouldn’t be pushed to a decision by an overly salesy solar installer, if they tell you there’s an element of urgency, they’re not entirely wrong. The number of STCs you’re entitled to – i.e. how much of a discount you could get – decreases each year on the 1st of January. If you’re approaching the end of the year, try to get your order in before New Year’s.

The sooner you get your solar system installed, the more money you could save, both in terms of lower upfront costs and an earlier start to slashing your energy bills.

Who Should Get Solar in Perth

We could easily just say that EVERYONE should get Solar Panels in Perth and call it day. Case closed, no need to thank us, enjoy the financial freedom! If only it were that simple.

Don’t believe those dodgy commercials that follow you around the internet, and definitely DON’T believe that pushy salesman who’s hounding you over the phone. Getting solar in Perth is a great idea for most homeowners but it’s definitely NOT for everyone.

Let’s go over the steps you can take to cut through the noise and make an informed decision about whether getting solar in Perth is right for you.

Step 1 – Figure out if you’re allowed!
This one seems obvious, but in order to be able to install solar in Perth you need to own the property that you’re looking to install the system on or have permission from the owner to do so!

If you’re the homeowner:
If you’re a homeowner getting solar is pretty straightforward. So long as your property meets all the requirements to fit a reasonable system, such as adequate roof space, etc, you should be able to get the ball rolling on your solar installation whenever you’re ready.

If you own a home which is part of a strata:
Depending on your strata bylaws you might need to seek permission from the body corporate before installing solar panels in Perth, so check now to avoid a fight with your neighbours in the future!

If you’re renting:
Things are a little trickier when you’re renting.  While you can’t schedule to install solar yourself you can make the case to your landlord for them to agree to having one installed. You’ll be surprised how receptive some landlords are to the idea. It adds value to their property and makes it more desirable to tenants both now and into the future.

Not to mention solar panels installed on Perth rentals are tax deductible. Win win! If you’re renting in Perth and want solar panels  make the case to your landlord and see what happens!

Step 2 – Calculate your payback period

Your payback period is the time it takes for the initial investment costs of installing solar to be matched by the savings you’ll make from a cheaper electricity bill. Once you’re past your payback period you’re making pure profit, baby!

So how long does it take to reach your payback period on your solar panels in Perth? Let’s look at the factors. Your payback period will depend on…

• The cost of the solar system
• The size of your system – how much free  electricity your solar system generates
• The systems orientation to the sun – what times of day it is getting sun and generating free energy
• The amount of electricity you consume
• The amount that you earn from the feed-in tariffs (from Synergy)
•  

Generally speaking, the more energy that you draw during daylight hours the more bang for your buck you’re going to have from installing solar panels in Perth. To get the shortest payback period possible you should try to use as much energy as you can during those daylight hours when your system is productive to minimise how much you are tapping into the grid at night when you need to pay for grid electricity.

Synergy provides a solar feed-in tariff in Perth so you’re able to sell back what you don’t use to the grid for a credit on your Synergy bill. However, the best return comes from maximising self consumption – use what you produce! You can check Synergy’s current Feed-in-Tariff here.

Did you know? As of 1 July 2022, new residential solar systems installed in WA receive the following feed-in tariff:

• 2.5c with Synergy or 3.0c with Horizon Power per kilowatt-hour of solar electricity fed into the grid as standard
• 10 cents per kilowatt-hour of solar electricity exported between 3:00 pm and 9:00 pm

Having trouble working out your payback period? We’ve got you covered. You can use our Solar Repayment Calculator to easily calculate your repayment period. It’s free and easy to use!

When To Install Solar in Perth

As Australia’s sunniest city, any month of the year can be the right time to install solar in Perth. With so much abundant sunshine all across the year, your solar panels will generate electricity in every season, cutting down your power bills.

Keep in mind we’re talking about sunlight, not heat. Even when the temperatures dip down in the middle of the year, Perth still keeps the sun shining. Though many people associate solar power with the summer months, Perth averages 8.8 hours of sunlight across all the days of the year. Winter or summer, either way you can install your solar in Perth and come out laughing.

Want to crank the air conditioner without having to shell out for a massive electricity bill? In this case, make sure you’ve got your solar system installed before summer – so you can max out on the sunshine and the aircon at the same time.