If you think the Liberals are struggling with a clean-energy future, meet me. I’m nearly as confused as they are. Nearly.

About a year ago, I volunteered to project-manage a renovation. The most insane decision I’ve ever made, littered with unimaginable hurdles.

The worst of all those challenges? Making an energy-efficient home for two of my darling grandchildren and their less interesting parents. I thought it would be a cinch, a snip, nothing I couldn’t manage. I like reading, I embrace stress. I love multitasking. I take advice from reliable sources. What could possibly go wrong?

Australians will get three free hours of power under the government’s Solar Sharer scheme … but there are a few catches to consider.Credit: Louise Kennerley

I only wish I’d spoken to Rewiring Australia chief executive Francis Vierboom for a vibe check before the big decisions. “There are things that can end up being quite expensive and they really do take a huge chunk of cash,” he says.

Understatement.

But here’s what I know now. Good batteries are few and far between because of the federal government’s battery rebate. So many of us had pent-up battery desire that the supply can’t cope with the demand. And yes, I can see the government’s full rebate disappear over the Christmas horizon. Sad face.

If you’ve bought an old house, it’s quite likely you won’t just be paying for the panels, inverter and battery. You’ll also be replacing fuses and switchboards. Want to take advantage of the government’s three free hours of solar from next year? Vierboom tells me about one in five Australian homes might need a switchboard upgrade and one in three........

© The Sydney Morning Herald