Victoria splits the work between a safety regulator, Energy Safe Victoria (ESV), and a program administrator, Solar Victoria. Know which one you are dealing with.
Licensing through Energy Safe Victoria
- Licensed Electrician. The individual doing the electrical work.
- Registered Electrical Contractor (REC). The business arranging and responsible for the work. An REC is also responsible for arranging inspection and the Certificate of Electrical Safety (CES), which covers solar PV and battery installs.
- ESV runs a public register you can search to confirm any person or business.
SAA accreditation and STCs
To create STCs on rooftop solar, the installer must be SAA accredited as well as licensed. See SAA accreditation and becoming accredited.
Solar Victoria
Solar Victoria is not a licence. It is the program that runs the Victorian solar rebate, and businesses need approval to deliver it. At the time of writing the household income cap for the rebate is $150,000, which fell on 1 July 2026. See Solar Victoria installer approval and the income limit answer.
Victorian Energy Upgrades
Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU), run by the Essential Services Commission, creates VEECs for certain activities, including heat pump hot water. These sit alongside STCs for some jobs; see VEECs and STCs on the same job and VEEC trading.
Working from interstate
An electrician licensed elsewhere may be able to work in Victoria under mutual recognition, with registration steps through ESV. See interstate recognition.
From the desk: Victorian jobs can carry three layers: the STC, the Solar Victoria rebate and sometimes VEECs. Make sure your contract and quote show which discounts apply and who is claiming them.
What this means for installers
In Victoria: licence, REC status, SAA accreditation and, if you want the rebate, Solar Victoria approval. Check ESV and Solar Victoria for current conditions. When the job is done, the STC claim runs through the usual path; start trading to see how settlement works, and use the STC calculator with a Victorian postcode (zone 4 for Melbourne) for the numbers. The installers hub links to other states.