2015-16 Solar Towns Programme (Round 3)
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have read the 2015-16 Solar Towns Programme (Round 3) Guidelines and the 2015-16 Solar Towns Programme (Round 3) Application Form but still have questions, please consult these frequently asked questions (FAQs). If your question is not answered here, please contact the Department (see ‘Contacting the Department’ at the end of these FAQs).
Eligibility
Who can apply?
To be eligible to apply for a renewable energy system through the 2015-16 Solar Towns Programme (Round 3), you must be a community organisation, operating within:
· Mount Alexander Shire, Victoria;
· The City of Monash, Victoria;
· The Macedon Ranges Shire and the Town of Sunbury, Victoria;
· The electorates of Bonner and Moreton, Queensland.
To be eligible, you must meet all of the following criteria:
· utilise an existing building for community purposes which is located within:
o Mount Alexander Shire, Victoria;
o The City of Monash, Victoria;
o The Macedon Ranges Shire and the Town of Sunbury, Victoria;
o The electorates of Bonner and Moreton, Queensland.
· Be a community organisation which owns the building utilised for community purposes or be a community organisation that substantively utilises a building owned by a not-for-profit organisation.
· Have either:
o voting and/or financial membership of at least five (5) individuals; or
o in the case of a trust, demonstrated community support including information about the level of volunteer involvement (at least five (5) volunteers); and
o been in existence for at least 12 months before the application closing date of
12 February (AEDT) 2016.
Who cannot apply?
You cannot submit an application for a grant through the 2015-16 Solar Towns Programme (Round 3) if:
· you are not a community organisation (as defined in Section 4.1 of the Programme Guidelines); and
· are not located within:
o Mount Alexander Shire, Victoria;
o The City of Monash, Victoria;
o The Macedon Ranges Shire and the Town of Sunbury, Victoria;
o The electorates of Bonner and Moreton, Queensland.
You are not eligible to apply if you:
· are an individual;
· are a school and/or a related entity such as a P&C association;
· are a Local Government department, agency or authority, including groups that are considered ‘Special Committees’ of local government Groups that are controlled by local government;
· are a State or Territory government department, agency or authority;
· are an Australian Government department, agency or authority;
· are a political party, organisation or are of a political nature;
· have an overdue progress report, final report and/or acquittal for a previous Australian Government grant , including through the following programmes:
o National Historic Sites
o Commemorating Eminent Australians
o Your Community Heritage (and its related sub-programmes)
o Community Environment Grants
o Grants to Voluntary Environment, Sustainability and Heritage Organisations, and/or
o any ad hoc Australian Government heritage related grant.
You are not eligible to apply for funding if the building, which is the subject of this application:
· has received previous Australian Government grant funding for the installation of one or more of the systems listed in Section 4.3 of the Guidelines;
· is a private residence;
· is owned by the Federal Government.
How much funding can I apply for?
Individual grants of between $2,500 (GST exclusive) and $20,000 (GST exclusive) will be made available for the purchase and installation of one of the following renewable energy systems only:
· solar photovoltaic panels; or
· a solar hot water system.
Does the system I select have to meet any particular standards?
The Commonwealth does not warrant or represent the suitability of any system. It is the responsibility of the building owner to seek appropriate advice on which system is appropriate for their premises.
Note: All systems, components, and installation standards must meet current Australian Standards. Refer to the Standards Australia website (http://www.standards.org.au/Pages/default.aspx) for further information.
For solar hot water systems, the systems and their components must be accredited with AS/NZS 2712 and listed on the Register of solar water heaters available for download from the Clean Energy Regulator website at: http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/RET/Scheme-participants-and-industry/Agents-and-installers/Small-scale-systems-eligible-for-certificates/Register-of-solar-water-heaters to be eligible under this Programme.
Note: Funding will be paid only for work outlined in the funding agreement. Additional funds will not be made available to meet costs that may have increased after the application has been submitted.
Do installers have to be licensed or accredited to carry out the installation of the particular systems?
Any renewable energy system installation must be carried out by an appropriate qualified installer. If you are seeking to install solar photovoltaic panels the installer must be appropriately qualified and accredited by the Clean Energy Council (CEC).
In order to submit a competitive application, the Department requires that you source at least two quotes from installers who:
· are licensed and / or registered as required by the jurisdiction in which the installation is taking place to perform that installation;
· hold appropriate and current licenses and / or be registered to perform the relevant electrical and/or plumbing work on the specific installation as required by the jurisdiction in which the installation is taking place; and
· hold public liability insurance to the value of $5 million.
You are required to submit a copy of your preferred quote and a copy of your non preferred quote, these must be submitted with your application
In addition to the points listed above, quotes for the design and installation of solar photovoltaic panels must be from installers who:
· are accredited by the CEC to design the type of installation being put in place (see http://www.solaraccreditation.com.au/consumers/find-an-installer.html) for information on the different accreditation types); and
· will comply with the CEC Code of Conduct for installations (http://www.solaraccreditation.com.au/installers/compliance-and-standards/accreditation-guidelines/accreditation-code-of-conduct.html).
Can my community organisation apply if we are not the owner of the building?
Yes, if you are a community organisation which does not own the building in question you can still apply. If this is the case, you must submit a completed building owner’s consent form with your application.
If you are a community organisation who does not own the building in question, you must be a community organisation that utilises a building that is owned by a not-for-profit organisation.
If your community organisation is the owner of the building at which the system will be installed, the community organisation must be a legal entity that can enter into a Funding Agreement with the Department, such as:
· an Australian company under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth);
· an incorporated association under State or Territory law;
· a body corporate;
· a trustee of a trust; or
· a partnership where each of the partners are legal entities
Project Activities
Will the Department fund structural/ building works associated with the installation renewable energy systems?
No. The Department will only fund costs associated with the purchase and installation of:
· solar photovoltaic panels; or
· a solar hot water system.
How long do I have to complete my project?
The project must be able to be completed within 12 months from date of execution of the funding agreement. All funding agreements are to be executed in the 2015-16 Financial Year.
Can I apply for funding for projects that have already commenced?
No. Funding will not be provided for any activities that have already incurred expenditure (i.e. retrospective funding).
Application Information
Can I submit more than one application?
No, only one application is allowed per community organisation (applicant). If multiple applications are received from the same organisation, the Department will accept and assess the first submitted application only. Similarly, only one application is allowed per building.
What happens if I cannot submit my application online?
If you are unable to access the electronic Guidelines and/or online Adobe SmartForm, you must contact the Department prior to the closing time to make alternative arrangements. Applications must reach the Department by the closing time, unless prior arrangements have been made with the Department.
Can Departmental staff complete the application form for me?
No. Departmental staff cannot complete an application on your behalf. If you are having difficulty completing an application, or have any queries relating to the Solar Towns Programme, please contact the Department.
Can an Installer or Service Provider complete the application form for me?
No. An Installer or Service Provider cannot provide assistance in completing or submitting the application.
Do I need to provide supporting information with my application?
Yes.
If you are not the building owner, a signed copy of the building owner’s consent form must be submitted with your application. Any applications that are received without a consent form may be deemed ineligible for funding.
· 2015-16 Solar Towns Programme (Round 3) – Building Owner’s Consent Form (RTF)
· 2015-16 Solar Towns Programme (Round 3) – Building Owner’s Consent Form (PDF)
You must source at least two quotes from appropriately licensed and qualified installers. You are required to submit a copy of your preferred quote and a copy of your non preferred quote, these must be submitted with your application.
A completed Installers Declaration must be submitted with your application.
· 2015-16 Solar Towns Programme (Round 3) – Preferred Installer Declaration (RTF)
· 2015-16 Solar Towns Programme (Round 3) – Preferred Installer Declaration (PDF)
If your application is to install Solar Photovoltaic Panels, you must provide a copy of the preferred installer’s CEC Accreditation Installer certification with the application.
What if I can’t obtain quotes within the required application period?
Unless you contact the Department prior to the closing time stating the reasons why you cannot obtain quotes within the application period, the Department may not accept your application or it may be deemed ineligible for funding.
Can I make changes to my application after it has been submitted?
No. Before submitting your application please ensure that all details are correct and the required attachments are provided. It will not be possible to make any changes once the application has been submitted.
Can I submit my application after the closing time?
No. Your application must be submitted to the Department by 2:00PM (AEDT) 12 February 2016 unless you have made prior arrangements with the Department as outlined at Section 5.5 of the Guidelines. When submitting your application you should allow enough time in case you encounter any issues when uploading your application. If you do encounter issues when uploading your application, please contact the Department immediately by phone.
If you have made prior arrangements with the Department to submit a hardcopy of your application, or if you are submitting your application via email, please use the details outlined in Section 5.3 of the Guidelines.
For applications submitted via post, the application must be received at the postal address provided at Section 5.3 of the Guidelines before 2:00PM (AEDT) 12 February 2016. For applications submitted via courier, the application must be delivered to the address provided at Section 5.3 of the Guidelines before 2:00PM (AEDT) 12 February 2016.
How will I be notified that my application has been received?
For applications lodged online, an automatic receipt will be generated once your application has been submitted.
For applications lodged by email, you will be notified by return email to confirm the Department’s receipt of the application.
For applications lodged via a pre-arranged hard-copy, you will be notified in writing to confirm the Department’s receipt of the application.
Information for successful applicants
If my application is successful, what happens next?
Successful applicants will receive a letter advising the outcome of their application. Successful applicants will then be contacted by the Department regarding the funding agreement.
If my application is successful, who will the Parties be in the Funding Agreement?
All Funding Agreements will be between the Commonwealth of Australia (as represented by the Department of the Environment) and the building owner (who may or may not be the Applicant).
The building owner will then bear all rights, responsibilities and obligations for the delivery of the project as detailed within the Funding Agreement.
What Work Health and Safety (WHS) requirements do the grant recipient, building owner or system installer have to adhere to?
Grant recipients must, in carrying out their Project, comply, and use all reasonable endeavours to ensure that its installers comply, with the provisions of all relevant statutes, regulations, by-laws and requirements of any Commonwealth, State, Territory or local authority including those arising under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and any corresponding WHS law within the meaning of section 4 of the WHS Act.
Grant recipients will also need to provide a safe work environment, including safe access to the site where work is being carried out.
Information for unsuccessful applicants
If my application is unsuccessful, what happens next?
All applicants will be advised in writing of the outcome of their application. If your application for funding is unsuccessful, you will be given the opportunity to seek feedback.
Future funding opportunities
Will future funding be available for projects located in other areas?
No. It is not anticipated that future funding will be available under the Solar Towns Programme.
Contacting the Department
Where can I go for further information?
If you have any further questions, please contact the Department
· Telephone: 1800 075 065
· Email:
(Please include ‘Solar Towns Programme’ in the subject line of all emails for a timely response.)
· Website: http://www.environment.gov.au/solar-towns
· Post: Solar Towns Programme
Department of the Environment
GPO Box 787
CANBERRA ACT 2601
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