VEU rebates explained: how Victorians save up to $8,000 on heating and cooling

Split system air conditioning units installed on a wall

If your home still runs on an old gas ducted system, a wall furnace or slab heating, you're likely paying more than you need to - both to run it and to replace it. The Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program exists to change that, and it's one of the most generous energy schemes in the country.

Here's the plain-English version of how it works, and how we handle the whole process for you.

What is the VEU program?

Victorian Energy Upgrades is a state government program that rewards households and businesses for switching to energy-efficient appliances. Accredited providers earn certificates for every tonne of greenhouse gas an upgrade saves, and those certificates translate into a discount on your installation - often thousands of dollars off the up-front cost.

What upgrades qualify?

The rebates we install under the program cover replacing old gas or electric-resistance heating with efficient reverse-cycle systems:

Split system air conditioners - ideal for single rooms and smaller homes
Ducted reverse-cycle heating and cooling - whole-home comfort from one system
Replacing gas ducted heaters, gas wall heaters or slab heating all qualify

How much can you actually save?

The rebate depends on your property type, its size and the system being installed. As a guide, replacing a gas ducted or slab heater can attract up to $8,000, and replacing a gas wall heater up to $3,000. On many jobs the rebate covers a large share of the total cost - you simply pay the difference.

The other saving is ongoing: a modern reverse-cycle system typically costs a fraction of old gas heating to run, so the bills keep shrinking long after the install.