The Portland Sustainability Group (PSG) has about 55 expressions of interest for its second bulk panel buy-up and is hoping 100 homeowners will seize the offer.

Convener Peter Reefman expected a typical customer to save at least $500 on a 1.5-kilowatt solar system by joining the group deal, with the reduced price around $2500.

"As soon as people actually start seeing energy getting created inside their house, they just become a lot more switched on to energy consumption in their whole life," he said.

"The really exciting thing about that is, that in turn then helps to influence them into buying more efficient appliances for the rest of their lives."

Mr Reefman, a builder, has been negotiating with a number of Melbourne-based solar companies but said panels may ultimately come from a south-west source.

"There's a couple of local companies that are perhaps looking at setting up in Portland; we're taking with them and this might be a really good kick-off," he said.

Last year the PSG lobbied the federal government to change its renewable energy target legislation after it became clear that an abundance of domestic solar systems was making it harder for major clean power developments to succeed.

Amended legislation that created separate schemes for small and large-scale projects will take effect from January 1 next year.

"The more roofs that we get, the better it is. I think that it would be great to get at least 100 - it would be a great project for the town, and it's a reasonable percentage of the town's roofs by doing that as well," Mr Reefman said.

Warrnambool City Council is also in the process of organising its own bulk solar purchase and expects to announce further details on the project next week.

The council's environmental planner Ian Fitzgibbon said systems ranging between one and three kilowatts would be available.

"We've got about 150-odd residents interested, but I think that will grow once we start to advertise and show what's on offer," he said.

"Energy prices are going up, and all residents out there are really quite open to solar electricity as a way of reducing their energy costs and saving carbon emissions too."

Two free and non-committal community workshops will be held in coming weeks for those seeking more information.