Every Vic rebate you can stack in 2026.
A Victorian household can stack up to four separate government programs on one install. Solar Homes rebate, interest-free loan, federal STC discount, and the new Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Every figure verified against solar.vic.gov.au on 20 July 2026.
- Current 2026 dollar figures
- Sourced from Solar Victoria + CER
- Applied by your accredited install partner
Four programs. One install.
| Program | Amount (2026) | Who runs it | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Homes solar panel rebate | Up to $1,400 | Solar Victoria (state) | Solar PV install |
| Solar Homes interest-free loan | Up to $1,400 over 4 years | Solar Victoria (state) | Solar PV install (matches rebate) |
| Federal STC discount | ~$1,400 for 6.6 kW | Clean Energy Regulator (federal) | Solar PV install |
| Cheaper Home Batteries Program | ~$252 per usable kWh | Federal (from 1 July 2025) | Battery install |
| Solar Homes hot water rebate | Up to $1,000 ($1,400 if locally-made) | Solar Victoria (state) | Heat pump / solar hot water |
| VEU program | Varies by postcode + old unit | Essential Services Commission (state) | HVAC, hot water heat pump |
Fine print, plainly: Actual eligibility depends on income, property value, product model and existing appliance. Your itemised quote confirms the exact amounts for your household.
$1,400 rebate. Matched by a $1,400 interest-free loan.
Solar Homes is the Victorian government's residential solar program. It gives eligible households a rebate of up to $1,400 towards a solar PV install, plus an optional interest-free loan of up to $1,400 over four years to cover the balance.
Who's eligible in 2026
- Combined household taxable income under $150,000 per year (dropped from $210,000 on 1 July 2026)
- Property value under $3 million
- Owner-occupier of an existing home, or the owner of a home under construction
- Address hasn't previously received a Solar Homes rebate
- No solar installed at the property in the last 10 years
- Install by a Solar Victoria Authorised Retailer using approved products
Rental properties are eligible under separate rules. Full detail: solar.vic.gov.au/solar-panel-rebate.
How the interest-free loan works
You opt in when you apply. If approved, the loan amount is paid directly to your solar retailer alongside the rebate. Repayments are automatically debited from your bank account, starting 30 days after your install is approved, over four years. No collateral required.
Discounts on reverse-cycle HVAC and heat pump hot water.
VEU is a separate Victorian government scheme, run by the Essential Services Commission. It creates tradeable certificates for energy-saving activities. When you install eligible HVAC or a heat pump hot water system through a VEU Accredited Provider, the certificate value is applied to your quote as a discount.
What's covered
- Reverse-cycle HVAC (replacing gas or older electric heating)
- Heat pump hot water (replacing gas or old electric storage)
- Insulation, weather-sealing and other efficiency upgrades (via other providers)
How much you get
Value depends on your postcode and the existing appliance being replaced. Typical range for HVAC: $500 to $3,000 off the retail price. Typical range for heat pump hot water: $700 to $1,500 off. Your Accredited Provider confirms the exact figure on your itemised quote.
The battery incentive that replaced the closed Victorian battery loan.
The federal government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program opened on 1 July 2025. It applies a point-of-sale discount of approximately $252 per usable kWh on eligible batteries. For a typical 10 kWh install that's around $2,520 off before any other stacking.
Heads up:Solar Victoria's interest-free battery loan is closed to new applications. Any competitor still advertising an $8,800 battery loan is running stale copy. The current path for battery incentives is federal, not state.
The upfront discount every eligible solar install gets.
STCs (Small-scale Technology Certificates) are federal certificates created when eligible small-scale renewable installs go in. Your installer applies for them on your behalf and passes the value on as a point-of-sale discount. For a 6.6 kW solar system in Victoria, at the current STC spot price of around $36, that's roughly a $1,400 discount before your Solar Homes rebate or loan.
STCs stack cleanly with Solar Homes. They're a separate program, run by the Clean Energy Regulator, and don't have the same eligibility caps.
Straight answers about Victorian rebates in 2026.
How much is the Solar Homes rebate in Victoria in 2026?
Up to $1,400 for eligible Victorian homes as of July 2026, sourced from solar.vic.gov.au. Household income must be under $150,000 combined, the property under $3 million, and the address cannot have received a previous Solar Homes rebate or had solar installed in the last 10 years.
Is the Victorian battery interest-free loan still available?
No. Solar Victoria closed the interest-free battery loan to new applications. The current pathway for battery incentives is the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which opened on 1 July 2025 and applies approximately $252 per usable kWh discount at the point of sale.
How does the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program work?
The VEU program is a Victorian government scheme that provides discounts on efficient upgrades like reverse-cycle HVAC and heat pump hot water. Discounts are applied by an Accredited Provider at the point of sale, not paid to the customer directly. Value varies by postcode and the existing appliance being replaced.
What is the difference between VEU and Solar Homes?
Solar Homes is a Solar Victoria rebate program for solar panels, batteries, and hot water. VEU is a separate scheme run by the Essential Services Commission for efficiency upgrades like HVAC and hot water heat pumps. Both are Victorian, both are government-backed, and both can apply to the same household.
What is the federal STC discount for a 6.6kW solar system in Victoria?
Approximately $1,400 at the current STC spot price of around $36. STCs (Small-scale Technology Certificates) are federal certificates created when eligible solar is installed. Installers apply the discount at the point of sale.
Can I get the Solar Homes rebate if I rent?
Yes, under a separate rental properties stream managed by Solar Victoria. The owner of the property applies, and the tenant contributes a share of the cost. Full eligibility rules are on solar.vic.gov.au/solar-rebates-rental-properties.
How much is the hot water heat pump rebate in Victoria?
Up to $1,000 for eligible heat pump and solar hot water products through the Solar Homes program. If you choose a locally-made product, the rebate can be up to $1,400.
What does SAA-accredited installer mean?
Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) is the body that accredits individual solar designers and installers. SAA took over this role from the Clean Energy Council in 2024. Tidy Energy routes every install to an SAA-accredited installer in our network.
Related pages worth a read.
- Rebate calculator , postcode + bill = your indicative stack in 30 seconds
- Tidy Solar, how the panels bit works
- Tidy Battery, federal battery rebate detail
- Tidy HVAC, VEU program in action
- Tidy Hot Water, Solar Homes + VEU on hot water
- Full FAQ, everything else you might want to ask
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