Space heating and cooling is one of the most used residential activities under Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU). Queries about “space heating and cooling” and “high efficiency air conditioner” point at the same thing: efficient reverse-cycle units that replace or supplement an older system.
How it works
The Essential Services Commission (ESC) publishes the activity requirements. An accredited provider carries out, or arranges, a qualifying installation and records the evidence. If the installation meets the rules, VEECs are created, each representing one tonne of CO2-e. For the installer-level detail see the VEU split system activity.
What typically matters:
- The model. It must be on the product register for the activity, with the efficiency data the method relies on.
- The situation. New installs and replacements can be treated differently, as can the type of system being replaced. Confirm the current rules.
- The sizing. Capacity relative to the space matters for the calculation and for the evidence.
- The paperwork. Customer consent, product details and installation evidence that match.
What the discount looks like
The customer sees a lower price. The provider has priced in the VEECs it expects to create. A rule of thumb is count x price x the share passed on. VEECs have been roughly $85 to $95 in 2026, so each certificate is worth about that much before costs. It is indicative only, because the count depends on the product and the property. Compare quotes on total price. See the VEU air conditioning rebate.
A more efficient model often creates more VEECs, which means a cheaper unit is not always the cheaper outcome. Ask for the quote with and without the discount.
Where claims go wrong
Model numbers that differ between the quote, the product label and the form; photos without the compliance plate; replaced units not recorded; and customers who did not sign.
What this means for installers
Know the counts for your three most-installed models and show the discount as a line the customer can see. When it comes to selling the VEECs, see VEEC trading, pricing and VEEC payment times. The wider picture is in how VEECs work.