Sustainable Hepburn Association (Renewing the Earth), formerly Hepburn Renewable Energy Association, is urging residents to sign on before the rebate ends on June 30.

SHARE spokeswoman Anneke Deutsch said people needed to register before May 1 to allow time for inspections and quotes.

SHARE said the rebate, combined with hefty discounts achieved through bulk-buying, means that householders can get a 1kw, $14,000 grid-connected, photo voltaic (PV) system on their roofs for less than $2500.

Sally and John van Rooden from Porcupine Ridge had their 1kw system installed through the Neighbourhood Solar scheme in November 2008.

They decided to install the system after first installing a solar hot-water service.

"It's been extremely efficient, more efficient than I thought it would be. So, I thought well, let's get solar panels because it's such a good opportunity and a good deal as well,'' she said.

Ms van Rooden found out about the $8000 rebate through a HREA information session.

"Environmentally, I thought it would be good to reduce our electricity use and also from a cost point of view it looked reasonable,'' she said.

"It feels good to use the sun's energy to power part of your house and reducing your carbon footprint is quite a good thing too. And you can't ignore the financial advantages as well.

"I just see, over time, it's a good investment and if energy prices go up it won't cost as much because you're producing some of your own.''

Ms van Rooden said she encouraged anyone thinking about doing the installation to ``go for it''.

"I believe long term it's the best way to go because you're getting energy from the sun and electricity prices and all prices are just going to go up,'' she said.

Ms Deutsch said the benefits to going solar included reducing CO2 emissions and educating yourself about your energy use.

"When you've got it on your roof and you're selling the electricity back to the grid you've got a motivation to examine your energy use and get to know what power different things use,'' she said.

"With all the gloom about climate change and the way the world's going it gives you a feeling that you are doing something.''

To register, go to rezeko.com

Contact: Anneke Deutsch 0427 482 976.