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Showers use the most amount of hot water in a typical Victorian home.

By changing your conventional shower head for a water-saving one, you can make a real difference in your water use and reduce energy costs.

Eligibility

To be eligible to upgrade your water-saving shower heads and get a discount, you must:

  • be a Victorian household or business
  • have up to 2 inefficient showerheads with a flow rate above 9 litres per minute or below 3 stars (in residential premises).

Your participation is voluntary.

Living in a rental property?

If you’re living in a private rental property, you are eligible to receive a discount on shower heads. We recommend that landlords and tenants work together when doing any upgrades to a rental property.

Key steps when organising a shower head installation

To get a discount on the installation of shower heads you must:

  1. 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 Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU). Not all products are of the same quality or suitable for every environment.
  2. 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.
  3. decommission up to 2 inefficient showerheads with a flow rate above 9 litres per minute or below 3 stars.

How to find out the flow rate of your current shower head

If you don't know the flow rate of your current shower head, firstly, you could check whether the shower head has a watermark indicating that the shower head is below 3 stars. If it does not have a watermark, you can check either by:

  1. working out how old your shower head is. Shower heads that are over 10 years old are likely to be more inefficient
  2. measuring how many litres your showerhead uses by undertaking a bucket test. Do this by putting a bucket under the shower head, turning on the tap at your normal temperature and flow for 15 seconds, multiplying the amount by 4 and working out how many litres are used per minute. If it is over 9 litres, then you are eligible.

Working with accredited providers

An accredited provider is:

  • any business that is approved to deliver or facilitate installations in the VEU program
  • responsible for helping you get a discount on an installed appliance through the VEU program.

When doing an installation through the VEU program, accredited providers can either:

  • use their own tradesperson, or
  • work with a tradesperson of your choice.

Accredited providers will be able to explain:

  • the steps to take part in the program
  • the types of products can you install to get a discount
  • the necessary qualifications of the tradesperson who installs the shower head.

Remember: you must work with an accredited provider to get a discount on an installed appliance through the VEU program.

How to check if a person or business is accredited under the VEU program

Go to the Essential Services Commission’s VEU Registry of Accredited Persons and:

  • select the ‘Business Name’ drop-down menu
  • scroll until you see the accredited provider you are searching for.

Note: accredited providers often work with installers who are not listed on the registry.

How much discount you can expect

To be installed Indicative discount*
Shower head $70

*This figure is based on a certificate price of $70.

The final installed price of the appliance, which includes the discount, is up to the accredited provider and will depend on several factors, including:

  • certificate price (which fluctuates)
  • location
  • installation costs
  • the accredited provider’s administrative costs.

For more information on the certificate price under the VEU program, please see Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs).

Find an accredited provider in your area

Can't find an accredited provider in your area?

Please note that as VEU is a market-based program:

  • not all accredited providers listed above will necessarily be offering shower heads at present
  • accredited providers can choose when and where they undertake upgrades.

Page last updated: 22/09/23