VIC rebates

Energy rebates

A number of Victorian businesses are participating in the Victorian Government’s Energy Saver Incentive program. For more information on the discounted energy-saving products and appliances, click here.

Renewable electricity rebates

Scheme Type Victorian Feed-in Tariff Scheme – Transitional
Eligible Renewable Technology/Item Solar photovoltaic
Applicable Sector Households, community organisations and small businesses with energy consumption less than 100 MWh a year
Rebate Amount 25 cents per kilowatt hour for energy feed back into the grid. Net-based scheme.
Additional Information Systems must be less than 5.0kW in size.
Paid as a credit off consumption only, although some retailers have indicated willingness to pay outstanding credit after 12 months.
Contact Information For further information please see the Department of Primary Industry website:http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/energy/sustainable-energy-in-victoria/solar-energy/premium-feed-in-tariff

Scheme Type Victorian Feed-in Tariff Scheme – Standard
Eligible Renewable Technology/Item Solar, wind, hydro and biomass systems
Applicable Sector Households, community organisations and small businesses with energy consumption less than 100 MWh a year
Rebate Amount The standard feed-in tariff allows eligible customers to sign up and receive a “ one-for-one” payment rate for any excess electricity they feed back into the state’s electricity grid.
Additional Information Unlike the premium solar feed-in tariff scheme which will run for 15 years, the standard feed-in tariff scheme has no end date.
Contact Information For further information please see the Department of Primary Industry website:http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/energy/sustainable-energy/solar-energy/solar-energy-for-consumers/feed-in-tariffs/standard-feed-in-tariff

Click here to see federal renewable electricity rebates.

Solar hot water rebates

Rebate type Solar hot water rebate
Eligible renewable technology/item Solar hot water systems.
Applicable sector Households
Rebate amount
  • Metropolitan Melbourne: $300 – $1,500
  • Regional Victoria: $400 – $1,600.
Additional information Rebates vary for solar hot water systems depending on their size and performance, as well as relative cost of installation. This rebate is provided to householders as a point-of-sale discount off the supply and installation costs.
Contact information Please visit Sustainability Victoria’s Resource Smart rebates site: http://www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au/for_households/rebates_3096.html to find a participating solar hot water manufacturer and a listing of eligible systems.

Rebate type Victorian Government – Bushfire Affected Homes
Eligible renewable technology/item Solar hot water systems.
Applicable sector Residence was destroyed as a result of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires and their eligibility to receive a Destroyed Homes Payment is confirmed by the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund (VBAF)
Rebate amount A rebate of up to $1600 will be available.
Additional information Eligibility:

  • their residence was destroyed as a result of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires and their eligibility to receive a Destroyed Homes Payment is confirmed by the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund (VBAF) and
  • they have rebuilt their home in Victoria, and
  • the destroyed water heater was not an electric or electric boosted solar unit and
  • an eligible gas boosted solar hot water system has been installed at the new residence.

An additional rebate of $200 is available for a rebuilt home that is in reticulated (mains) gas area and natural gas was not previously connected to the destroyed home. This additional rebate is only available if you are eligible to receive the Victorian Government Solar Hot Water Rebate and cannot be claimed separately.
Contact information Please visit Sustainability Victoria’s Resource Smart rebates site: http://www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au/for_households/rebates_4569.html

Federal solar hot water rebate and RECs

Federal solar hot water rebates and RECs are also available. Click here for more information.

Rebate type Federal Government-Bushfire Affected Homes-Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme
Eligible renewable technology/item Solar hot water systems.
Applicable sector Residence was destroyed as a result of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires and their eligibility to receive a Destroyed Homes Payment is confirmed by the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund (VBAF)
Rebate amount $1000 for solar hot water systems and $600 for heat pump hot water
Additional information The Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme – solar hot water rebate has been opened up to people who lost their homes in the February 2009 Victorian bushfires and have rebuilt. The rebate is not usually available for people building new homes, but the Government is making an exception for homes destroyed or left uninhabitable following the February 2009 bushfires.
Eligible homes:

  • The dwelling must be rebuilt on the same site of a dwelling that was destroyed or left uninhabitable following the February 2009 Victorian bushfires
  • The dwelling must also include a 2000 litre rainwater tank (compliant with Victorian 5-star building standards) which is connected to the dwelling for toilet flushing
  • The dwelling must have been a principal place of residence and must be rebuilt as a principal place of residence.
Contact information Please visit the Dept of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency website: http://www.climatechange.gov.au/en/government/programs-and-rebates/solar-hot-water/victorian-bushfires.aspx

Water rebates

Rebate type Living Victoria Water Rebate Program
Eligible renewable technology/item Water saving devices and technologies, water saving audits.
Applicable sector Home residencies on an urban reticulated water supply and who have an account with a Victorian urban water supplier.
Rebate amount Connecting an existing tank to toilet or laundry $200
Rainwater tanks
  • $500 for tank 2000-3999 litres connected to toilet and/or laundry
  • $900 for a tank 4000+ litres connected to toilet or laundry
  • $1000 for a tank 4000+ litres connected to toilet and laundry

Rainwater tanks must be designed and manufactured to the relevant Australian Standards to be eligible for a rebate under this scheme. Rainwater tanks must be certified to the relevant Australian Standards before 1 July 2012 to be eligible for a rebate after this date.

Greywater systems $500.
Dual flush toilet 6/3 L or 4.5/3 L (or better) $100.
Water efficient showerhead 3-star WELS rated
  • $10 per showerhead costing between $30 and $100
  • $20 per showerhead costing more than $100
Permanent greywater system Treatment type permanent greywater systems must be approved by the EPA and listed on the EPA website and non-treatment systems must be assessed by DSE and listed on the Greywater Systems Rebates page: $500
Home water conservation audits By accredited professional auditor (i.e. plumber or other qualified professional): $50
Hot water recirculator. Model must return water to system, not to tank $150
Basket of goods. Only one rebate allowed per property per calendar year. $30 when you spend $100 or more on a range of water saving products including flow control valve/tap flow reduction devices, mulch, rainwater diverters, waterless carwash products, flow interrupter for toilets, shower timers, compost/mulch bin, wetting/moisture agent, moisture/rain sensors, trigger nozzles, drip water system/weep hose, garden tap timers, temporary greywater diverters
Washing Machine 5 star water (WELS) and 4 star energy rated washing machines. To be reviewed after 12 months: $150
Pool covers Available for pool covers with a roller or device to assist with the covering/uncovering of the pool. Pool covers must be a Smart Approved WaterMark product and also be a minimum of 400 microns thick and be UV stabilised: $200
Additional information To be eligible to claim a rebate under the Living Victoria Water Rebate Program, the product needs to be purchased and installed between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2013. All claims for products purchased in this period must have claims lodged by 30 September 2013.

Rebates on goods purchased prior to 30 June 2011 can continue to be claimed up until September until 30 September 2011 on the Water Smart Gardens and Homes Rebate Scheme claim form.
Contact information Refer to the Victorian Government Office of Water website for more detailed information about rebates and other water saving advice: www.water.vic.gov.au/saving/home/rebates

Rebate type Victorian Government – Bushfire Affected Homes
Eligible renewable technology/item Water tanks
Applicable sector Residence was destroyed as a result of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires and their eligibility to receive a Destroyed Homes Payment is confirmed by the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund (VBAF)
Rebate amount
  • $1000 for a tank 4000+ litres connected to all toilets and laundry
  • $900 for a tank 4000+ litres connected to all toilets
  • $500 for tank 2000-3999 litres connected to all toilets (connection to laundry optional)
    • Additional information The grants will be available for installations until 30 June 2011 with claims to be lodged by 30 September 2011. Current building standards must be met, and tanks must be plumbed into all toilets in the house. To be eligible for the grant, residents must provide a Plumbing Industry Certificate of Compliance and tax invoices/receipts for supply and installation of the rainwater tank(s).
    Contact information Please visit Sustainability Victoria’s Resource Smart rebates site: http://www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au/for_households/rebates_4569.html

    Federal water rebates

    Federal rainwater tank and greywater system rebates are also available. Click here for more information.