Victorian Energy Upgrades for households

Eligibility

Every Victorian household can participate in the program and be eligible for incentives for energy-efficient products and services.

Your participation is voluntary.

How much can I save?

The average household can save between $120 and $1,100 a year on energy costs depending on the upgrade.

Key steps when organising VEU installation

To get a discount on the installation of a heating and cooling system you must:

install an approved product
Hint: research these products for their suitability and quality. There are a lot of products approved for installation as part of VEU. Not all products are of the same quality or suitable for every environment.
work with an accredited provider
Hint: get quotes from several providers. Accredited providers offer different types of products, services, expertise and costs. Make sure to get a quote from several accredited providers on the final installed price of the appliance, which includes the discount.

For more information, visit about the VEU program.

Common questions we get asked about the VEU program

Under the VEU program there are currently no discounts available to directly replace/upgrade the following products:

gas ovens and cook tops
switch boards
rangehoods
dishwashers
hydronic heating.

The primary purpose of the VEU program is to help Victoria reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by providing incentives to upgrade inefficient appliances. Whether a product is eligible to be upgraded under the VEU program will depend on the amount of greenhouse gas savings that will be achieved by upgrading that appliance.

These products do not currently qualify for the program, because the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from their upgrade is minimal.

The VEU program regularly reviews the range of energy efficiency upgrades available to receive incentives to make sure they continue to reduce emissions and save consumers money.

We recommend keeping an eye out for updates on the program and other incentives via the VEU industry latest news page.

To find out how the Victorian Government is helping our state navigate the path to net zero emissions while providing greater choice and cutting energy bills, see the Gas Substitution Roadmap.

Private rental properties are eligible to receive upgrades under the VEU program. However, we recommend that landlords and tenants work together when undertaking any upgrades to a property.

There are rules about the changes renters (tenants) can make to a property. They will often need permission from the rental provider (landlord). The rules depend on the:

type of changes the renter wants to make
type of rental property
length of the rental agreement (lease).

A rental provider may require that any changes are completed by a suitably qualified person. Consumer Affairs Victoria list types of changes that can be made with and without a landlord’s permission. This information can be found at the Consumer Affairs Victoria renters making changing to the property page.

The below list shows all VEU household upgrades and:
*if discounts are available for new builds
*how many upgrades you can do and still qualify for a discount
*any additional requirements you must meet to get a discount.

Activity/part	New Builds	How many upgrades you can do
Double glazed windows	No	*
Energy efficient clothes dryers	Yes	1
Gas heating ductwork	No	2
High efficiency refrigerators and freezers	Yes	2
High efficiency pool pumps	Yes	1
High efficiency televisions	Yes	*
Home energy rating assessment	Yes Retirement villages are not eligible. Class 1a (rooming houses) are not eligible. Apartments must not share heating, ventilation or air conditioning with the building. A home energy rating assessment could be done once a new build is completed as there is no eligibility requirement for premises to have been inhabited for a minimum period of time.	1
In-home display unit	Yes	1
Low flow shower rose	No	3
Space heating and cooling, installing a high efficiency air conditioner	Yes New builds are eligible under the ‘no decommissioning scenario’. For all other scenarios: decommissioning of an existing appliance is required the premises must be more than 2 years old. Installing a ducted reverse cycle air conditioner: 1 Installing other heating and cooling products: 3 (if no existing system was decommissioned), 5 (if existing systems were decommissioned).
Thermally efficient window products	Yes For new builds, you can install thermally efficient window products on single glazed windows once the project is complete.	*
Water heaters, replacing electric resistance water heater	No Premises must be more than 2 years old. An existing appliance must be decommissioned.	2
Water heaters, replacing gas/LPG	No Premises must be more than 2 years old. An existing appliance must be decommissioned.	2
Weather sealing	No	*

*No limit on number of upgrades you can do and still qualify for a discount.

VEU products

Clothes dryers for households

Fridges and freezers

Heating and cooling for households

Home energy rating assessments

Hot water systems for households

In-home displays

Insulation

Lighting for households

Pool pumps for households

Shower heads for households

Televisions for households

Weather sealing

Window glazing for households

Your rights under the VEU program

The VEU program has a code of conduct that sets out minimum standards of behaviour. It is aimed at protecting consumers. The code applies to everyone involved in delivering or marketing upgrades.

Find out what an accredited provider or third party operating on their behalf must do if they contact you about the VEU program.

VEU for property managers

By installing energy-efficient products, your landlord/building owner’s asset will be energy efficient and:

more attractive to prospective tenants as they are more comfortable and cheaper to live in
increase the property’s long-term value
require less maintenance and are less costly to run.

Note: In most instances, because of the VEU program, energy-efficient products are cheaper to install.

When you can use the program?

Your landlord/building owner can take up energy efficiency opportunities anytime. This includes emergencies where a critical appliance has failed. For example, a hot water system or ventilation system.

Instead of replacing like-for-like:

replace it with an energy-efficient product
take advantage of rebates through the Victorian Energy Upgrades program.

VEU for local councils

You can:

make energy-efficiency upgrades to your council premises or assets
save on your upgrade costs
help your community to save on their energy costs.

Another option is replacing your old inefficient street lighting with LEDs.

Become a Victorian Energy Upgrades champion

We can train your council to become a Victorian Energy Upgrades champion, so your community can benefit. Training would include:

how the program works
what upgrades are available
how to receive rebates for upgrades under the program.

Members of your community can benefit from the program by receiving discounts on eligible upgrades for their homes or businesses. This would save them money on energy bills and help save the environment.

Victorian Energy Upgrades uptake rates

Do you want statistics on uptake rates by postcode or local government area (LGA)? These statistics may help your council identify energy efficiency opportunities for your community.

Email us at energy.upgrades@delwp.vic.gov.au for the latest data.

How the VEU program works

Victorian Energy Upgrades is a government energy efficiency program. Households and businesses can receive rebates or discounts on energy-saving products. This helps cut power bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Visit About the VEU program

Victorian Energy Upgrades newsletter for households

Page last updated: 11/10/23