State says solar rebate for rental homes should start slashing tenant bills by end of year

The Queensland LNP has confirmed it will deliver on its election promise to subsidise rooftop solar for rental properties by the end of the year, in a move it expects will save tenants up to $700 a year on power bills.

The Supercharged Solar for Renters plan, first announced in March 2024 by then opposition leader David Crisafulli, promised to provide grants of up to $3,500 for landlords to install solar on rental homes.

“Our plan will deliver practical, long-term cost of living relief to Queensland renters, while charging-up our solar power capabilities,” said Crisafulli, who was later elected as premier in October.

“At a time when Queenslanders are struggling to keep a roof over their head and pay the bills, this delivers real relief for one of the big kitchen table bills.”

As One Step Off The Grid reported at the time, a solar-for-renters plan was first trialled in 2019 under the former Labor government. Crisafulli has said that feedback from groups like Solar Citizens had convinced him it was a program worth re-booting, but perhaps with a slightly different design.

The idea is that the landlords are given assistance to increase the capital value and sustainability of their asset, while the energy savings are passed on to the tenants.

In comments this week, state treasurer and energy minister David Janetzki said the government was in the process of consulting with tenancy, property, consumer and conservation groups about the specifics of the scheme, before rolling it out.

“I want to make sure we’re doing everything possible to put downward pressure on rents,” he told ABC Online.

“I think this is an opportunity where landlords can get the capital benefit of solar panels on their roof but allow renters to take the full benefit of any power bill decreases.

“There was a previous program under the former Labor government that did lapse, so we’ll be taking some of the criteria that were adopted in those years but also we need to seek to improve it to make sure its fit for purpose for today.”

One Step Off The Grid has sought comment from the office of the Queensland energy minister.

Sophie Vorrath

Sophie is editor of One Step Off The Grid and deputy editor of its sister site, Renew Economy. Sophie has been writing about clean energy for more than a decade.