Heating and cooling is one of the most popular activities under Victorian Energy Upgrades. When an eligible efficient reverse-cycle split system is installed in a Victorian home or business, VEECs can be created, and the value can show up as a discount for the customer or income for the installer.
What the activity needs
The exact rules sit in the activity specification on the official Victorian Energy Upgrades site, which is the source of truth, and they can be updated. In broad terms, expect:
- An approved product, matched by model on the register for the activity.
- An installation that meets the specified conditions, such as replacing or installing in a qualifying situation.
- A qualified installer, with the right licensing for refrigerant and electrical work.
- Evidence: product details, photos and customer information as specified.
- An accredited provider to create the certificates, usually after the customer assigns their rights.
Where claims go wrong
Common problems are products that are not on the register for the installation date, missing evidence, an installation that does not fit the activity’s conditions and details that do not match across documents. A wrong model number on a form is enough to stall a claim.
The money side
VEECs have traded at roughly $85 to $95 in 2026 at the time of writing, so certificates per job matter. The count depends on the activity rules and the product. We do not quote counts here, because they depend on the specification.
What this means for installers
Choose a trader that knows the activity and checks claims. Energy Merchants buys VEECs with a published daily rate on the pricing page and a compliance desk that pre-checks claims. Read the VEEC trading pillar, VEECs and STCs on the same job and the VEEC payment time guide.
Customers often ask whether a cheaper unit with the same capacity might be better. Under the program the eligible product list and its efficiency rating decide the certificate value, so the most efficient eligible model often produces a bigger discount. Explaining that trade-off on the quote helps customers choose well and reduces later disputes.