Goolwa and Hindmarsh Island will be part of a pilot program that offers a solar system in exchange for concession payments, reducing energy bills by up to $890 per year.

The Switch to Solar pilot program will give 1000 eligible South Australians a free solar system in lieu of receiving annual Energy and Cost of Living concession payments for a period of 10 years.

The state government says its $4.25 million program will also support jobs and boost the economy, funding both the purchase and installation of the new solar panel systems.

Suburbs selected for this pilot include Hope Valley, Banksia Park, Tea Tree Gully, Vista, Modbury, Modbury Heights, Modbury North, Felixstow, Campbelltown, Newton, Paradise, Athelstone, Dernancourt, Holden Hill, Highbury, Redwood Park and Ridgehaven and Goolwa and Hindmarsh Island in regional SA.

Eligible households will be contacted about the offer after the solar provider has been selected.

Minister for Human Services Michelle Lensink urges eligible South Australian concession holders to consider the new deal.

“There is no doubt this is huge bill relief for the households that take part in this program.”

A competitive tender process will be undertaken on the SA Tenders and Contracts website asking solar providers to apply to deliver the program.

Currently eligible Concessions SA customers can receive up to $215.10 per year from the Cost of Living Concession and up to $231.41 per year towards their energy bill.

To qualify for the piiot scheme, eligible households will need to own their own home and not have an existing solar system.

The Department for Energy and Mining selected the suburbs and regions for the pilot based on where the network can best accommodate the volume of solar installations.