Solar rebates in Melbourne: what you can claim in 2026

Written and checked by the Energy Merchants desk · Reviewed 2 October 2026

This is the Melbourne guide. For every scheme in the state, see the Victoria rebates guide.

Solar rebate in Melbourne

Melbourne’s solar rebate has two parts. The federal STC discount is calculated from system size, the zone rating and the deeming period: Melbourne sits in zone 4 (1.185), the lowest of the four bands, so a 6.6 kW system with the 5-year deeming period for 2026 installs earns around 39 certificates, roughly $1,480 to $1,560 at the $38 to $40 spot range at the time of writing. The Solar Victoria rebate is the second part, available to households at or under the $150,000 income cap, which fell from $210,000 on 1 July 2026. For state rules and VEECs, see the Victoria page.

Five networks, five rulebooks

Melbourne has more distribution networks than any other Australian city. CitiPower covers the CBD and inner suburbs, Powercor the west and Geelong region, United Energy the south-east and Mornington Peninsula, Jemena the north-west, and AusNet the outer east and north. Export limits, approval times and inverter requirements differ. The same 6.6 kW system might export freely in one suburb and be capped a few kilometres away, so check the network before you quote, not after you install.

Climate, roofs and typical systems

Melbourne’s famously changeable weather has a real effect on design. Winter output is low, summer output is strong, and the gap between them makes self-consumption and battery sizing a bigger question than in Brisbane or Perth. Roofs vary from Victorian terraces with small, shaded planes to large tile roofs in the outer suburbs. North-facing planes are ideal, but east-west splits are common and work well when paired with a battery. Typical residential systems run 6.6 kW to 10 kW, often with a 10 to 13 kWh battery. Heritage overlays in older suburbs can restrict panels on street-facing roofs.

Battery rebate in Melbourne

Victoria no longer runs its own battery rebate: the Solar Victoria battery loan closed once its target was met. Melbourne households use the federal Cheaper Home Batteries discount, roughly 30% off at launch, for CEC-approved, VPP-capable batteries from 5 to 100 kWh usable, up to 50 kWh eligible, one per property. The STC factor is 6.8 per kWh for 2026 installs and steps down to 5.7 on 1 January 2027 and 5.2 on 1 July 2027, with a reduced rate above 14 kWh since 1 May 2026. See the battery STC pillar.

Hot water and VEECs

Where Melbourne differs is hot water. A heat pump can earn federal STCs plus VEECs, and for eligible households a Solar Victoria hot water rebate. VEEC spot has been roughly $85 to $95 in 2026. Read VEECs and STCs on the same job before mixing certificate types on one invoice.

STC trader in Melbourne: what to compare

Searching for an STC trader in Melbourne turns up many names, but location does not matter, because certificates are lodged online. What matters is the published rate, whether it locks on lodgement, fees, settlement time and service. The certificate trader checklist lists the questions, and you can start trading when you have decided. If you are chasing the cheapest quote, remember that the STC trading pillar explains how the discount is calculated. Related pages: Geelong and the Victoria page.

Council and local programs

At the time of writing we found no Melbourne council rebate on rooftop solar or batteries that we could confirm. Some Victorian councils have offered solar bulk-buys or rates-based finance for sustainability upgrades in the past, so ask the customer whether their council currently runs one. The Solar Victoria and VEU programs are the main local support, and Victorian customers sometimes miss the VEEC discount because it is applied by the installer rather than claimed by the customer.

What a good Melbourne quote shows

A clear Melbourne quote separates each layer: the STC count and its value, the Solar Victoria rebate and whether the customer meets the income and property tests, the VEEC discount on hot water, the battery’s federal discount, the network and the export limit. The Solar Victoria rebate depends on the household’s circumstances, so installers should confirm eligibility before the customer signs rather than after. If a customer’s income is near the $150,000 cap, a short conversation early avoids a bad surprise. The photo requirements and installation type guide keep the claim side clean.