Program years in Victorian solar incentives start on 1 July, and the 2026 start came with a tighter income test: the household income cap fell to $150,000. That is the change we can verify with confidence, and it is the one most households need to understand.
The headline change
Fewer households are eligible. If your household income was under the previous, higher cap but above $150,000, you may no longer qualify. The cap applies to the Victorian rebate only, not to the federal STC discount.
What to check beyond the income cap
Solar Victoria sets other conditions, including property and installation requirements, and these can be revised along with the amounts. We do not quote the rebate amount or any other limit here beyond the cap, because they are the sort of figures that change. Use the Solar Victoria website as the source of truth.
How it interacts with the federal scheme
The two sit side by side. The federal small-scale scheme gives an upfront discount through STCs, and Victoria’s rebate is an additional incentive for eligible households. Losing eligibility for the second does not remove the first. The federal discount also changes each January: the deeming period is 5 years for 2026 installs and 4 for 2027, which reduces the number of certificates per system.
Timing your install
If you are near the end of the year, remember that two different clocks run. The Victorian program year turned over on 1 July, and the federal deeming period steps down on 1 January. A December install earns more certificates than a January one, so confirm your installation date with your installer and get the figures in writing.
What this means for you
Check your eligibility, confirm the rebate and the STC discount are clearly itemised and compare quotes on the final price. Our income cap guide covers the cap in more detail, and the STC trading overview explains how certificates work. The deeming period 2027 insight shows what changes in January.