Just recently, after our gas solar hot water system broke down for the third time (purchased as part of a new home in 2012), I learned such systems were very problematic in areas with regular minimum temperatures below zero. While plumbing regulations in Victoria make it mandatory for new homes to come with either a rainwater tank (minimum capacity of 2000 litres) or a solar water heater system, most Victorian builders chose the solar hot water option.  

According to a cost-benefit analysis performed by ACIL Tasman, solar hot water installation had a cost benefit ratio of 1.2-1.8 over 10 years compared to only 0.8-1.2 for water tanks. And, as observed by Ebony Bowden in The Age (July 4), the Victorian state government continues to offer rebates of up to $1600 to households converting to solar hot water systems under its Victorian Energy Efficiency Target scheme. 

Such solar hot water systems are often promoted as beneficial to the consumer on the basis that heating water is the second largest energy guzzler in a typical Australian home. In reality, many consumers in areas with regular overnight temperatures below zero continue to purchase expensive gas solar heater systems that are prone to breaking down, thus wasting considerable personal resources which easily override any potential cost savings. 

Also reported in The Age article, Simon Marchione (All Sorted Plumbing) downplayed the quality issue between products on the basis that even solar panels with frost valves were still being damaged. With regard to Dux Sunpro solar hot water systems, the system we have, the ACT company Solar Hot Water Repairs notes that between 2009 and 2012 a large number of such products were installed in the Canberra Queanbeyan region with frost protection measures which did not prevent many from splitting. While the panels were meant to be protected by an electronic frost protection system, including a pump station to circulate water in the panels and an anti-frost valve opening at 2°C to allow water to escape from the panels to prevent freezing, such a design left an unprotected zone where freezing causes damage to occur in the panels.

So why does the Victorian government persist with a flawed policy that is likely to cost many battling consumers? We refuse to spend one more dollar on a system which already cost us $515 earlier this year to replace just one part. In fact, albeit in hindsight, we would have saved over $4000 if we were given the choice to purchase a much cheaper and reliable instantaneous gas hot water system on the basis that our gas solar system cost around $6000 when including GST and the 20 per cent builder’s margin.

It is time local politicians representing colder climates voiced their concerns to help the many Victorians have greater choice about hot water systems rather the Victorian government merely upholding its visionary crusade at the considerable expense of many ordinary home owners.  

Chris Lewis is a politics and policy analyst who moved to Albury Wodonga in 2011 and has conducted research for a number of universities.