Victorian households can find three different incentives on the same quote. They are easy to confuse because they all appear as “rebates”, but they work differently.
The three side by side
| VEU (VEECs) | Solar Victoria | Federal STCs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run by | Essential Services Commission | Solar Victoria | Clean Energy Regulator |
| How it works | Certificates created by accredited providers | Rebates and loans through an application | Certificates created at install |
| Delivered as | Discount from the provider | Rebate or loan via the program | Discount from the installer |
| Household test | Generally none, but product and activity rules apply | Income cap and other criteria | None for the household |
Victorian Energy Upgrades
VEU pays for energy-saving activities, such as heating and cooling upgrades, efficient hot water, and lighting. The provider claims VEECs and passes the value on as a discount. The household usually does nothing except consent and choose an eligible product. See heat pump VEECs in Victoria.
Solar Victoria
Solar Victoria runs state support for things such as solar, batteries and hot water, with eligibility rules and an application process. The household income cap fell to $150,000 on 1 July 2026. Program details and funding change, so use their official page for the current offer.
Stacking them
Whether you can claim more than one on a job is decided by each program’s rules. The installer should tell you which apply and in what form.
Questions to put to your installer
Ask which incentives are on the quote and who is claiming each. Ask whether you need to apply for anything yourself. Ask what happens if a program’s funding runs out or the rules change before install. Ask for the net price with and without each incentive, so you can see how much each is worth. That makes it easy to judge a quote and keeps expectations realistic.
What this means for you
Compare quotes on the net price after all incentives, and check that the installer is approved where the program requires it. For related guides see solar hot water rebates in Victoria, heat pump rebate eligibility, and whether the solar rebate is paid upfront. Installers can read about the VEEC trading page, and the resources hub has more.