Federal certificates stop at solar, batteries, hot water and heat pumps. Induction cooktops belong to the NSW world, where there are two separate pieces of support. We could not confirm the exact current activity code, product requirements or certificate values from public sources while writing this, so use the NSW Energy Sustainability Schemes site for the numbers and treat what follows as the mechanism.
The PDRS route
The Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS) is the NSW scheme that creates Peak Reduction Certificates (PRCs) for activities that reduce demand during peak periods. NSW added a residential activity for replacing gas cooking with an induction cooktop. As with other PDRS activities, an Accredited Certificate Provider (ACP) registers the job, holds the evidence and creates the certificates, and the value is passed to the customer as a discount. Product eligibility, the baseline appliance and the evidence list are set in the Rule and Reference Table, which were updated on 1 July 2026 along with other ESS and PDRS changes. See what is an ACP.
The loan route
Separately, the NSW Home Energy Saver program was launched on 17 June 2026 with interest-free loans reported at up to $15,000 over 10 years for households with combined taxable income of $210,000 or less. Replacing gas with an induction cooktop is reported as an eligible upgrade. Where an ESS, PDRS or federal certificate incentive is available it must reportedly be applied to the quote first, and the loan covers the remainder. See the NSW zero interest loan.
A worked way to think about it
Take a quote of, say, a few thousand dollars for an induction cooktop, electrical work and a gas capping. The sequence is: first, the PRC discount, if the product and job are eligible; second, the loan for the balance, if the household qualifies. You cannot claim the same activity twice, so be clear which scheme is taking the certificate.
What this means for installers
If you are an electrician or appliance installer in NSW, this is a way to add value to a switch-from-gas job. Four things to settle:
- Whether you are accredited or working with an ACP, and who pays whom.
- The product is on the eligible list and installed as specified.
- The evidence: photos of the old appliance removed and the new one installed, model and serial, and customer consent.
- How the discount appears on the invoice.
What this means for homeowners
Ask the installer whether the quote includes the PRC discount and which ACP is involved. A cheap quote that cannot show where the discount comes from is a warning sign. Ask for the paperwork.
Energy Merchants does not trade PRCs, so for NSW certificates ask your ACP; for federal STCs and VEECs, see STC trading and VEEC trading. A comparison of the certificate types is in STC vs VEEC vs ESC.