Induction cooktops have been one of the more visible Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) products, because they are tied to the shift away from gas in the home. The question people ask now is whether the discount is still there.
What we know
The Essential Services Commission (ESC) lists the sale of induction cooktops as activity 46, residential only. A December 2024 update changed paperwork (GST-inclusive pricing fields, and a requirement to document that the consumer received the VEU Cooktop Consumer Fact Sheet) and noted updated forms from 20 January 2025. At that point, the ESC’s update did not give an end date.
Government consumer information has described the induction cooktop activity as a pilot, extended to 30 June 2026, with updated eligibility criteria taking effect on 1 July 2026. Consumer pages have cited discounts of up to $140. The ESC’s activity overview we reviewed still lists activity 46 without a closure note.
The honest answer
Those sources do not give a clean “yes it continues” or “yes it ended” for new sales today. What is clear is that:
- A pilot has a defined window, and the window was extended once to 30 June 2026.
- Rules changed on 1 July 2026, so a purchase made before and after that date may be treated differently.
- A product must be on the relevant product list for a certificate to be created.
Before you buy or sell on the basis of a discount, check the Victorian Government’s induction cooktop discounts page and the ESC’s appliance activities page for the current position.
How much is the discount?
Where the activity applies, the discount is the value of the certificates created (VEEC price roughly $85 to $95 at the time of writing) less the provider’s costs, and is fixed by the activity method rather than negotiable. Do not rely on a quoted “up to” figure without confirming it.
What this means for homeowners
Ask the retailer for the product’s listing and the discount on the invoice before you pay. If the discount is not shown, do not assume it will arrive later.
What this means for installers and retailers
- Confirm the activity is open for new sales on the date of sale.
- Use the current VEEC assignment form and record the fact sheet handover.
- Do not advertise a discount you cannot yet create certificates for.
- For retrospective claims, check what the ESC has said about product lists and timing.
Other appliance activities
The fridge, TV and dryer activities work on a one-certificate-per-product basis and are still listed. For how certificates are paid for, see how VEECs work, the VEEC trading pillar and /pricing/.
Government programs change quickly, and this page reflects what we could confirm at the time of writing.