The federal discount for an eligible heat pump water heater is the same kind of thing in every town: small-scale technology certificates, created for the deemed lifetime of the system and handed to the installer or trader in exchange for a lower invoice price. What differs by town is the state scheme sitting on top. This page covers Mandurah, Bunbury, Albury-Wodonga, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Rockhampton and Alice Springs.
The federal layer
An eligible heat pump on the Clean Energy Regulator register earns STCs based on its model and the climate zone of the installation postcode. The Clean Energy Regulator uses five hot water zones, so the count can differ between, say, Alice Springs and Wagga Wagga for the same unit. Look up your postcode and the model rather than assuming a headline figure. Our zone explainer shows how, and the hot water STC page covers the claim side.
The STC discount is usually a few hundred dollars up to well over a thousand, depending on the model, so ask for it as a line on the quote. At the time of writing STCs trade around $38 to $40.
The state layer by town
- Wagga Wagga, Dubbo and Albury (NSW). The NSW Energy Savings Scheme has a heat pump water heater activity that creates ESCs. A qualifying unit can earn STCs and ESCs on the same job when it appears on both lists. See STCs and ESCs together.
- Wodonga (Victoria). The Victorian Energy Upgrades program, run by the Essential Services Commission, creates VEECs for heat pump water heaters. The Solar Victoria household income cap fell to $150,000 on 1 July 2026 for its own rebates, so check which applies. See heat pump VEECs in Victoria.
- Rockhampton (Queensland), Mandurah and Bunbury (WA), Alice Springs (NT). There is no widely available dedicated certificate scheme, so the federal discount is the main help. Local government or retailer offers sometimes appear, so ask the installer.
For town-by-town rebates, see Mandurah, Bunbury, Albury-Wodonga, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Rockhampton and Alice Springs.
Does a heat pump suit a regional home?
Heat pumps work best in mild and warm climates and are rated for cooler zones too, though performance drops in frost. In hot places like Rockhampton and Alice Springs they perform well. Check the unit’s minimum operating temperature if you are in a frost-prone town like Dubbo or Albury. Regional installs also need a licensed plumber and an electrician, and in remote areas, wait times for installers can matter more than a few hundred dollars of rebate.
What this means for you
Confirm the model, the zone and which state scheme applies, then ask for the STC discount to be itemised on the invoice. Installers handling regional jobs can check the hot water and heat pump STC checklist before lodging, and lodge a claim once photos and the assignment form are in order. For the bigger picture see the rebates hub.