Which home energy upgrade should you do first?
Solar first if your roof is clear, because the certificates cover about a fifth of a 6.6 kW system and every other upgrade runs on the power it makes. Then hot water, because a heat pump swap has the shortest payback and the state rebate is simple. Battery when your evening use justifies it, and before the 1 January 2027 step-down if you're close. Heating last, and only when the old unit is over 2 years old, because that's the Victorian rule. Checked 23 September 2026.
Which upgrade are you looking at?
Pick one and the 30-second check shows which incentives apply to your address. It runs on Solar Incentives, a partner service, and a vetted installer calls you back. No obligation.
Four upgrades, the order that usually pays.
- Solar. A quality 6.6 kW system runs $5,000 to $8,500 installed in Victoria after the federal certificates, and $3,500 to $7,000 for households that get the full $1,400 Solar Homes rebate. Everything below runs on it.
- Hot water heat pump. Replacing an electric tank is the simplest swap in the house: the Victorian rebate is up to $1,000 ($1,400 locally made) and the federal certificates apply too.
- Battery. A 10 kWh battery runs $7,000 to $11,000 after the federal discount in Victoria. Worth it when you use most of your power after 4 pm; simple payback is around 12 years on a single-rate plan and around 8 with heavy evening load on a time-of-use plan.
- Heating and cooling. Replacing ducted gas with efficient reverse-cycle attracts up to $5,530 through the Victorian Energy Upgrades program at the largest sizes, with a minimum co-payment and a rule that the old heater is over 2 years old and still connected.
The five checks that take five minutes.
The installer on the SAA register. The retailer on the Solar Victoria authorised list. The seller as a NETCC signatory. The electrician on the Energy Safe Victoria register. Every product on the Clean Energy Council lists. A retailer that won't hand over the numbers is the clearest warning there is.
STC values by zone and size for the solar step.
Straight answers.
Is a home battery worth it in Victoria in 2026?
It depends on when you use power. With most of your use after 4 pm on a time-of-use plan, a 10 kWh battery at about $9,000 net pays back in around 8 years. On a single-rate plan with an average household it's closer to 12 years. The federal discount drops from about $2,520 to about $2,110 on a 10 kWh battery on 1 January 2027, which is the only real deadline.
Should I replace ducted gas heating with reverse-cycle air conditioning?
Usually yes if the ducted gas unit is more than 2 years old and you're paying a gas supply charge for heating alone. The Victorian Energy Upgrades program publishes up to $5,530 at 22.4 kW ($2,520 at 10 kW), delivered by an Accredited Provider, with a minimum co-payment. Running-cost savings are published at up to $1,140 a year.
Is this a government website?
No. It's an independent reference published by Timeless Energy Pty Ltd. It doesn't administer any rebate and doesn't decide eligibility. Every figure links to the government body that does.
How current are the figures?
Every figure carries the date it was last checked against the source. The current check date is 23 September 2026. When a program changes, the figure, the date and the note change together.
Why does every amount say 'up to'?
Because that's how the programs work. The published figure is a maximum. What you receive depends on your system size, postcode zone, install date and eligibility, and the installer's paperwork.
How does the site make money?
If you ask a question or request a call, we may refer you to a partner business that can quote the work, and that partner may pay a referral fee. The figures on the site don't change based on who you're referred to.
What this site is, and isn't.
Who publishes it
Timeless Energy Pty Ltd (ABN 22 647 048 520), Suite 101, 68-72 York Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205. Contact hello@rebateindex.com.au.
What it isn't
A government website, a rebate administrator, or an installer. We don't decide eligibility and we can't promise any amount.
How figures are checked
Each figure is read from the body that runs the program (the Clean Energy Regulator, Solar Victoria, the Essential Services Commission and their equivalents) and stamped with the check date. When a source changes, the figure and the date change together.
How we make money
If you ask a question or request a call, we may refer you to a partner business (Tidy Energy and Solar Incentives) that can quote the work, and that partner may pay a referral fee. We tell you before we refer you.