fbpx

ACT Sustainable Household Scheme

Everything You Need To Know About The ACT Governments Sustainable Household Scheme

The ACT Governments Sustainable Household Scheme is another example of a state government incentive that rewards people for making the switch to renewable energy. So, when it was announced as you can imagine, we were very happy.

The program has been designed to make green energy products more accessible through discounted funding via a zero-interest loans of between $2,000 to $15,000 to eligible ACT households.

Table of Contents

What Actually Is It?

The ACT Sustainable Household Scheme is an interest free loan from $2,000 to $15,000 to eligible households in the ACT to buy sustainable products.

The ACT government pays the interest so you don’t have to (which is pretty cool) and the actual delivery of the product is done by Brighte Finance.

What Products Can I Buy With It?

There is a vast array of products that can be bought using the Sustainable Household Scheme. They are broken down into three categories which then have different eligibility criteria (we we cover off next). It also includes the installation costs. The current approved products are:

Category A
– Rooftop solar panels
– Household battery storage systems
– Electric vehicle charging infrastructure

Category B
– Electric heating and cooling systems
– Hot Water Heat Pumps (HWHP)
– Electric stove tops

Category C
– Electric vehicles

What Is The Eligibility Criteria?

In standard government form, they have over cooked the eligibility  a little bit. None of it is problematic by any means but it there is a different criteria for each category. We have summarised below however the link to the full program guidelines is at the bottom of the page. 

Firstly, you need to live in the ACT! (Shocking, we know) 

Now breaking down each of the categories. 

Category A + B

– Needs to be a standalone building or unit with it’s own title. 

– Standard Homes and Townhouses etc must have a UV of $750K and under 

– Units must have a UV of $200K and under

– Must be owned by the scheme participant. Meaning, only the owners of the property’s can get the loans (not tenants, family, etc).

New builds are good to go but only for Category A items. 

There are some other little things but you can check those in the full guide details in the attachment below if you like. 

To work out you’re UV (Unimproved Value), it is on your rates notice and then you can check what it is here. 

Category C

– You need to live predominantly live in the ACT

– Hold an ACT drivers licence 

– Must be a zero emission vehicle (E.G. full electric) 

– Vehicle must be less than the luxury car tax threshold 

How Much Is It?

The loan can be from a minimum of $2,000.00 to a maximum of $15,000.00. If you want more than $15,000.0 you may be able to it get based on your own credit criteria and just pay interest on the portion over $15K. 

Best part is, you can bundle products together until you hit the $15k threshold. Meaning, if your solar is say $7K, you can still spend another $8K interest free via the program for another product from the list for your home. 

How Do I Access The Program?

First, it is important to speak to approved supplier. For solar, batteries and EV’s, speak to us. For everything else, go to the Bright website and find a supplier. 

Once you have decided what you want, simply apply via Brighte. Once approved you can get the work done and Bright will pay the supplier directly.

It is that easy! 

Are There Any Up-Front Costs?

No. There are no upfront costs associated with taking up the program. 

How Long Is The Program Around For?

The program is open for new applications for 5 years and you can structure your loan over terms up to 10 years. 

Are There Early Exit Fees If You Pay Out Early?

No! There aren’t any early exit fees if you want to pay the loan out early. 

Scheme Documents

The link to the key scheme document from the ACT Government is here. 

FAQ

Most frequently asked questions and answers

The ACT Sustainable Household Scheme is an interest free loan from $2,000 – $15,000 backed by the ACT Gov and facilitated by Brighte finance to help with the upfront costs of investing in energy efficient home upgrades.

You can buy, rooftop solar panels, household battery storage systems, electric heating and cooling systems, hot water heat, pumps (HWHP), electric stove tops, electric vehicles, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and the installation costs for these products.

Yes, you can borrow more than the loan cap however you will need to satisfy the loan criteria for the additional funds and you will pay interest/fees on the additional borrowing. 

Request A Sustainable Household Scheme Quote Now