Creating VEECs in Victoria is restricted to accredited persons. If you are asking what accreditation costs, here are the numbers and the work behind them.
The fees
Based on the Essential Services Commission (ESC) information at the time of writing:
| Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| New accreditation | $3,000 |
| Renewal | $1,000 |
| Variation of accreditation conditions | $1,500 |
The new-applicant fee is invoiced after you submit the application in the VEU Registry. Fees have been revised before (changes took effect on 1 November 2023), so confirm the current schedule on the ESC site before budgeting.
What you also need
Accreditation is not only a payment. You must open a VEU account, read the Application Guide for Accredited Persons, and complete the online form in the VEU Registry. The ESC then assesses you against a fit and proper person test and a competent and capable test. If approved, accreditation is valid for 12 months and needs renewing each year.
Once accredited, you are bound by the Obligations and Program Guide for Accredited Persons. Records must be kept for six years, and the ESC audits and investigates accredited persons.
Is it worth it?
It depends on volume. $3,000 plus $1,000 each year, plus the time to run the compliance side, only makes sense if you create enough VEECs to cover it. With the VEEC price roughly $85 to $95 at the time of writing, a few hundred certificates a year can cover the fees, but compliance time is the larger cost.
The alternative is to install under another accredited person. They create the certificates; you do the work and are paid under your agreement. Many small businesses choose this route. See who the accredited providers are.
Timing and planning
Allow time between application and approval. The ESC assesses each application, may ask for more information, and invoices the fee as part of the process. Do not promise customers VEEC-funded discounts until you hold approval for the specific activity. Accreditation is activity-specific, so adding activities later means a variation, which is where the $1,500 fee applies.
What this means for installers
- Decide your model before you buy tools: accredited yourself, or partnered.
- If partnered, check the agreement for who owns audit risk and when you are paid.
- If accredited, budget for the registry work, forms and audit file, not just the fee.
- Either way, sell the certificates through a trader that settles quickly. See how to choose a VEEC trader.
Selling the certificates
Accredited or not, you will need a buyer. Energy Merchants charges no fees to settle, and the rate is on /pricing/. Read the VEEC trading pillar, then start trading.
Confirm every figure with the ESC; fees and conditions change.