Bunnings will see homeowners access solar systems without paying thousands upfront. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.
Cult retail giant Bunnings has unveiled a new plan to slash homeowner bills by up to 25 per cent.
The hardware giant has expanded its Zelora program into Queensland, Victoria and South Australia after a successful trial in New South Wales, letting households install home upgrades for hundreds rather than thousands upfront.
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Zelora solar systems are now available on a subscription basis over 10 years at Bunnings in major cities in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia after a successful NSW trial period.
Instead, costs are spread over a 10-year subscription designed to ease upfront pressure while giving homeowners a way to upgrade their properties immediately with energy-saving systems.
Bunnings Chief Operating Officer Ryan Baker told News Corp Australia there was clear appetite for the offer.
“What we’ve seen through the trial in New South Wales is strong interest from Aussies for the Zelora offer… but upfront cost can be a barrier,” he said.
“Zelora removes that hurdle by giving customers a simple, supported way to pay monthly and electrify their homes.”
Subscription pricing ranges from $139 to $308 per month depending on system size and household energy needs. The package includes installation, maintenance, monitoring, performance optimisation and ongoing customer support via an app.
At the end of the 10-year term, customers take full ownership of the system, with total costs ranging from about $18,687 for smaller battery systems to as much as $41,408 for larger setups.
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Bunnings chief operating office Ryan Baker.
Bunnings data shows early adopters are already seeing lower bills, with one NSW household reporting around $150 a month in net savings after installing a large system with a 23kWh battery and 10.6kW solar array.
It found users recorded an average 25 per cent reduction in electricity usage charges, rising to as much as 88 per cent when subscription costs were excluded.
The figures are based on a small sample of NSW households over a three-month summer period, when solar output is typically strongest, and exclude fixed daily supply charges that all households must still pay to stay connected to the grid.
Energy technology company Intellihub is backing the program, with chief executive Wes Ballantine pointing to a major shift in how energy is generated and consumed.
“The grid of the future will be powered by homes, not just utility-scale energy generators,” he said.
Intellihub CEO Wes Ballantine in the Southbank offices in Melbourne. Picture: Penny Stephens.
“Zelora represents the practical application of that vision, delivering smart, decentralised energy solutions that give Australian households control over their energy… and unlocks meaningful savings on their energy bill.”
Experts say systems like these can increase home values by around 2 to 4 per cent, or roughly $20,000 to $30,000 depending on market conditions, while also delivering potential savings of $800 to $3,500 a year on electricity bills depending on usage, tariffs and system size.
As borrowing costs edge closer to 6 per cent following rate rises, financing solar systems through loans has become more expensive, narrowing the gap between traditional lending and subscription-style offers.
The Zelora program is now available in Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, as well as major regional centres including the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Geelong and the Illawarra.
It is limited to detached and semi-detached homeowners, with customers required to pay out the remaining balance if they sell during the 10-year term.