Activity 45 under Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) is the home energy rating assessment, often shortened to HERA. It was designed to give a residential premises an energy rating and a list of upgrades, and to pay a certificate for doing so. The answer to “can I still claim?” has changed in 2026.
What activity 45 is
The activity involves assessing the energy performance of a home and its fixed appliances using the Residential Efficiency Scorecard assessment tool. Only accredited Scorecard assessors can do the work. An assessor can partner with an already accredited person, apply for their own accreditation, or request activity 45 approval if they already hold one.
To create VEECs, the accredited person needs a valid VEEC assignment form signed by the property owner, plus the assessment records.
What changed in June 2026
The Scorecard program closed on 23 June 2026. The Essential Services Commission (ESC) states that, with the closure, HERA activities will not be eligible for VEEC creation until a new assessment method is prescribed. In plain terms: the certificate depended on a tool that no longer exists, and the regulations need to name a replacement before anyone can claim again.
At the time of writing we have not seen a replacement method in force. If you are planning work around this activity, watch the ESC’s activity page and updates list.
How much is the discount?
For homeowners, the earlier question was how much the assessment would cost after the VEU discount. There is no reliable figure to give today. Even when the activity was live, the value was one or more VEECs priced on the market (about $85 to $95 at the time of writing), less the provider’s costs, so any number would be indicative at best. If someone advertises a HERA discount now, ask which assessment method they are using and whether the certificate can actually be created.
What this means for installers and assessors
- Do not book assessments on the assumption that VEECs will fund them. Quote the assessment as a fee-for-service until the ESC confirms a pathway.
- Keep your accreditation and assessor status current so you can resume quickly.
- Records of completed pre-closure assessments still matter. Audits look back, as covered in what the ESC checks in an audit.
Where assessments still help
An assessment can still point a household towards activities that do work today: heat pump hot water, high-efficiency air conditioning, ceiling insulation and window upgrades. Each of those creates VEECs in its own right. Read the VEEC pillar for the overview, and see how VEECs work for the claim path. If you hold VEECs from other activities, today’s rates are on /pricing/ and you can start trading when you are ready.
Always confirm current status with the ESC before relying on this page, as the activity could return at short notice.