Thinking about going solar or upgrading your home’s energy efficiency in Victoria?
You have probably heard of the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program and wondered whether it can be combined with other incentives for greater benefits and cost savings.
The good news?
Yes, in Victoria, many homeowners can actually stack VEU with solar rebates, federal schemes, and feed-in tariffs, maximising their savings while making the switch to clean energy more affordable than ever.
But how does it all work? Are there any specific rules, and how do you make sure you’re not missing out on extra rebates? Don’t worry!
Through this Cyanergy guide, we’ll break down exactly how to combine these incentives, the rules for stacking with other incentives, and strategies to maximise your rebate.
It’s time to supercharge your solar investment, saving money while powering your home sustainably.
In this blog post:
- The VEU Program Explained: What’s Covered and Who Can Apply?
- What Other Rebates Exist in Victoria?
- Stacking Incentives: How to Layer VEU with Solar or Other Rebates?
- Case Examples| Double the Incentives, Double the Savings
- Top 7 Strategies to Maximise Rebates in Victoria
- Need Assistance? Cyanergy is Here to Help!
The VEU Program Explained: What’s Covered and Who Can Apply?
Let’s start by answering a very basic question: What is the VEU program?
In general, the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program is a government initiative designed to help households and businesses in Victoria slash their energy bills while reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.
Under this program, eligible Victorian residents can access discounts or rebates on energy-efficient products and services, including LED lighting, hot water systems, heating and cooling upgrades, and appliances.
Accredited providers carry out the upgrades, ensuring installations meet strict energy-efficiency and safety standards.
What Does the VEU Cover?
The VEU program makes it more affordable and easier for Victorians to switch to cleaner, more efficient technologies while contributing to the state’s broader sustainability goals.
Here’s what the rebate program covers:
- Offer LED lighting upgrades to reduce electricity bills by up to 80%.
- Upgrading energy-efficient hot water systems that can save you up to $ 1,275 per year.
- Provide rebates on home weather-sealing products for sealing doors, windows, chimneys, and vents.
- For efficient Heating and cooling, the program offers discounts on air conditioners and heat pumps.
- Other home appliances also receive discounts, such as clothes dryers and exhaust fan seals.
Who Can Apply for the VEU Rebate: Check Your Eligibility Here!
Upgrading under the VEU program can save you thousands of dollars, but it’s important to know if you’re eligible before you get started.
So, here’s what you need to get qualified for the rebate:
The program is open to both households and C&I businesses located in Victoria. Whether you are a homeowner, renter (with landlord permission) or landlord, all can apply. And the best part is that there is no income threshold.
For households: Your property must be in Victoria, and you’re upgrading from existing equipment to energy-efficient equipment.
However, the upgrade must be completed by an accredited provider, such as Cyanergy, and use products that meet the program’s standards.
For businesses: The business must operate in Victoria and undertake eligible upgrades that create measurable energy savings.
Some specific key conditions you should remember.
- The upgrade must use a product listed on the program’s Register of Products (or meet the criteria for “project-based activities” where different rules may apply).
- If you are upgrading a household, for example, a heating and cooling system, the existing property must be more than two years old.
- The program is voluntary: you choose to participate and must engage an accredited provider to access the discount or rebate.
What Other Rebates Exist in Victoria?
Now let’s explore some of the key programs available to Victorians before diving into the rebate stacking process:
1. Solar Panel (PV) Rebate
The Solar Homes Program offers a rebate of up to $1,400 for installing eligible solar PV systems. This program aims to make solar energy more accessible to homeowners, reduce upfront costs, and promote the adoption of renewable energy.
2. Solar Battery Rebate
To complement solar installations, the Solar Homes Program also provides rebates for solar battery systems, particularly for Victorian residents.
These rebates help homeowners and tenants to store excess solar energy for later use, enhancing energy independence and further reducing electricity bills.
3. Cheaper Home Battery Program
Even though it is a federal initiative, the Cheaper Home Batteries Program is run by the Australian Government and administered by the Clean Energy Regulator under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
It provides rebates for the installation of home battery systems across all states and territories, making energy storage more accessible to Australians.
The program is open to homeowners, small businesses, and community facilities nationwide, with no income or property value limits.
Under this scheme, eligible participants can receive a rebate of approximately $372 per usable kilowatt-hour (kWh) of battery capacity, up to the first 50 kWh, effective from July 1, 2025.
The main goal of this program is to reduce the upfront cost of battery systems and encourage more Australians to integrate their solar power systems with energy storage solutions.
Overall, it’s supporting the clean energy transition, contributing more towards Australia’s renewable energy target.
4. Hot Water System Rebate
Tired of watching your energy bills skyrocket every time you take a hot shower?
The Hot Water System Rebate can help you save big by replacing your old, inefficient water heater with an energy-efficient model.
With this, you not only cut down on wasted energy but can also save thousands of dollars over the system’s lifetime while enjoying consistent, eco-friendly hot water at home.
Stacking Incentives: How to Layer VEU with Solar or Other Rebates?
As you already know about all the available rebates, you might now be wondering how VEU and Solar Rebates can be stacked for maximum cost savings.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for both VEU and solar rebates, the upgrades must meet the specific eligibility criteria for each program.
For instance, the VEU program requires accredited providers to install energy-efficient products and achieve measurable energy savings from the upgrades. Also, don’t forget to check for any new changes in the VEU rebate program.
Program-Specific Rules
Each program has its own set of rules regarding stacking. For Example:
- VEU Program: Allows stacking with other incentives, provided the upgrades are eligible and comply with the program’s requirements.
- Solar Homes Program: Although this program permits stacking with other rebates, the combined incentives cannot exceed the total cost of the installation.
Documentation and Compliance
One of the crucial tasks of combining different rebates is proper documentation. However, choose an experienced installer who can handle all the paperwork, making your job easy.
Also, ensure that all receipts, installation reports, and compliance certificates are in order. Invalid certificates, lack of documentation or any common mistakes can disqualify your VEU rebates.
Case Examples| Double the Incentives, Double the Savings
According to recent data, a homeowner in Victoria has decided to upgrade the energy efficiency of her home.
She installed a 5kW solar PV system under the Solar Homes Program, receiving a $1,400 rebate. Simultaneously, she replaced her old gas heating system with an energy-efficient electric heater through the VEU program, qualifying for a $1,000 refund.
By stacking these rebates, the resident significantly reduced her upfront costs.
Her combined savings amounted to $2,400, making the upgrades more affordable and accelerating her return on investment.
However, you can also reduce your upfront installation costs. Wondering how? Check our exclusive solar packages and start saving from today!
Top 7 Strategies to Maximise Rebates in Victoria
Here we’ve shared some tips that will help you to maximise your savings when layering VEU rebates with solar or other incentives:
- Map out all relevant rebates or incentives at first
- For the battery, combine the federal battery rebate with any available state support.
- For heating, cooling, or hot water system use VEU with Solar Homes hot-water or other heat-pump and air conditioning rebates.
- Check eligibility and how rebates “stack”
- Some rebates allow stacking, so you can claim multiple. For example: Solar Homes PV rebate and STC discount.
- Check whether the product lists overlap, as some programs may allow only one rebate per product. Also, note that specific programs might no longer be active.
- Verify that your installer is accredited, the product is on an approved list, and all paperwork is completed so you don’t lose eligibility.
- Plan your Upgrades Strategically
- Because many rebate schemes reduce value over time, like STCs decreasing year by year, you’ll gain more by acting earlier.
- Make sure the rebate funding hasn’t run out and apply before it closes.
- Try bundling complementary upgrades for greater savings.
- For any household, it’s better to add solar panels first, then a battery, and lastly a heat pump hot water system. Each has its own rebate.
- Also consider energy-efficiency upgrades, such as insulation and smart controls, to increase energy savings and further enhance the value of rebates.
- Focus on self-consumption and cost savings, along with the rebate value.
- Even after rebates, what matters is how much you reduce your energy bill or avoid purchase costs.
- Work with accredited installers with proper documentation.
- Use installers who know the rebate programs; ask them to show you the rebate split and your final cost.
- Make sure you keep invoices, proof of installation, accreditation, product eligibility list, references, and other necessary documents.
- Remember, some rebate eligibility also depends on both product and installer accreditation.
- Watch for changes and future planning.
- Rebate programs can change with time. Some close or change eligibility, so always check the current status.
- Plan for your future needs, so your upgrades serve long-term, and your rebate decision makes sense.
List the upgrade you’re considering (solar PV, battery, hot water, heating, appliance), then check which rebates apply in Victoria.
As with solar PV, you may combine the Solar Homes PV rebate with STCs from SRES.
Example: Victoria’s state battery loan program is closed to new applications in 2025.
By combining, you maximise savings and energy efficiency. Installing a solar PV system, followed by a battery, and then a hot water system, boosts self-consumption.
For instance, in Victoria, feed-in tariffs for exporting solar back to the grid are very low. So, capturing your solar for use or storing it in a battery adds more value and greater energy freedom.
However, do you know that the VEU Rebate program extended to 2045? This extension could help more people to participate in accelerating the 100% renewable transition.
Need Assistance? Cyanergy is Here to Help!
In the end, the journey to a more energy-efficient and sustainable future begins with informed decisions and proactive steps.
We believe that understanding the full range of rebates and incentives can elevate your energy upgrade to a whole new level.
So, what are you waiting for?
Embrace the opportunities available and start your energy upgrade with a free quote from Cyanergy today. For more information, consult our professional, who will help you navigate the entire application process and ensure the best possible outcomes.
