Community members across Yarra Ranges are saving money on their electricity and living lighter on the earth, with the 100th solar system installed through Solar Savers.
Solar Savers is a Council-run program that helps homeowners in the Yarra Ranges – and 12 other Local Government Areas – install quality solar systems at an affordable price.
Healesville resident, Anne Pichler, said that solar was one of the first things she wanted to invest in when purchasing a house.
“What had been daunting at the time was there is so much bad stuff out there, so many bad providers, and I know a little bit, but not a lot,” she said.
“The fact that the Council had investigated an installer and they were trusted was good – that’s why I decided to go with them.
“I had an initial virtual meeting with the provider, and they had a look at my roof and said what they thought was possible, with recommendations. They also told me a bit about the technology, explaining it at a level I could understand.”
After having a system installed in January, Anne said she started seeing results.
“In summer, my electricity bill was only $25 a month,” she said.
“Because I work from home now, it’s easier to run things during the day, like a dishwasher or a washing machine.
“I have an app to track my power usage, and it’s excited to see it at zero when the sun is shining.”
Community members interested in the program can find out more at solarsavers.org.au, or by calling 1300 548 598.
After expressing interest, Solar Savers checks eligibility and whether Government rebates might apply. If a system is right for the applicants property, an accredited installer will get in touch to discuss suitability and arrange a quote.
Yarra Ranges Council has been part of Solar Savers since 2019. The 100 systems in place are saving approximately 836.10 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Three Bridges resident, Roy Williams, had a solar system installed in March, after attending a talk at the Yarra Junction library.
“We’d been thinking about it for quite a while,” he said.
“We have a lot of power outages out here, so they took the time to ensure the solar system would work with the generator we have.
“I think we have received over $100 in credits on our energy bills since it was installed. I was surprised that on some of the bad weather days, the solar is still collecting.
“I’ve actually spoken to a few people about it, saying we were quite happy with it all.”
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Jim Child, encouraged community members to consider if solar would help reduce their energy bills.
“Solar panels are more accessible than ever – they have a long life, and they can help community members dramatically reduce their energy bills through the day,” he said.
“I’m proud that we now have 100 systems installed on private homes in Yarra Ranges through Solar Savers – 100 households that will live a bit lighter on the earth and, hopefully, see the difference in their electricity bills.
“While we know that systems may not suit every household, I encourage every community member to think about whether they might benefit from this, and to give Solar Savers a call.”
