Victorian hot water rebate 2026: how to claim up to $1,400 before the July deadline
Available 24/7
5 Stars Ratings on
Available 24/7
5 Stars Ratings on
If you have an ageing gas or electric hot water system, the Victorian Government will put up to $1,400 toward the cost of replacing it — and the majority of Melbourne homeowners who qualify have never claimed it. Not because they're ineligible, but because the process feels complicated and the deadline never felt urgent.
It does now.
On 1 July 2026, the income threshold for the Solar Victoria hot water rebate drops permanently, from a combined household income of $210,000 to $150,000. If your household earns between those two figures, this week is your last chance.
Some households have been meaning to look into this for six months. The system is still working, the house isn't cold, and there's always something more pressing. That's completely understandable — and it's exactly why this deadline catches people off guard. $1,400 of government money you were entitled to, gone because the cutoff landed on a Tuesday in June while you were dealing with everything else. That's the version of this story nobody wants to be telling in July.
In this guide, we walk you through exactly what the rebate covers and whether you qualify. We also cover how to stack it with other available discounts, and the precise steps to claim it — in plain English, without the government jargon.
|
The Victorian hot water rebate provides eligible owner-occupier households with up to $1,000 — or up to $1,400 for locally manufactured products — toward the cost of an approved heat pump or solar hot water system. Solar Victoria administers the rebate under the Solar Homes Program, and it can be combined with Victorian Energy Upgrade (VEU) discounts. |
The rebate works as a point-of-sale discount. You don't pay the full price and wait for a cheque — your licensed installer deducts the rebate directly from the invoice, and you pay the reduced amount on the day. The amount depends on what you install:
|
Product type |
Maximum rebate |
Requirement |
|
Approved heat pump or solar hot water system |
Up to $1,000 |
Must appear on Solar Victoria's current approved product list |
|
Approved locally manufactured product |
Up to $1,400 |
Australian-made product; locally made status verified by Solar Victoria before installation |
Hot water heating accounts for 15–30% of a typical Melbourne household's energy bill. Replacing an ageing gas or electric system with a heat pump or solar alternative earns the upfront rebate. It also cuts what you pay in running costs every quarter for the life of the system.
|
Deadline — 30 June 2026, 5:00pm The Solar Homes Program income threshold drops from $210,000 to $150,000 combined household income at 5pm on 30 June 2026. If your combined income sits between $150,000 and $210,000, you must submit your application before this deadline — not just book installation. The application must be received and approved by Solar Victoria before the cutoff. After 1 July 2026, the $210,000 threshold will be gone permanently. |
If your income is below $150,000, the threshold change doesn't affect your eligibility. The rebate stays available to you after 1 July. But if you're in the $150K–$210K bracket, the window closes at the end of this month.
We're processing applications for Melbourne homeowners right now. If you need to act, contact On Time Plumbing today, and we'll have your application submitted with time to spare.
To access the rebate, tick every box below. If you can, you qualify.
|
Critical — do not skip this step The single most common rebate-voiding mistake we see is homeowners booking installation before receiving their Solar Victoria eligibility letter. Written approval must arrive before your licensed plumber starts work — not after, not during. If work begins before that letter lands in your inbox, the rebate is voided with no exceptions, regardless of whether you would otherwise have qualified. Always wait for the letter. |
We're a Solar Victoria authorised installer and can submit your application before the 30 June deadline. We confirm your eligibility, prepare your application, and organise installation. For households in the $150K–$210K bracket, time is critical this week.
Book a free eligibility assessment or call us directly today at 1300 110 428.
Yes — if the system is manufactured in Australia, the rebate increases from $1,000 to $1,400. The extra $400 is Solar Victoria's incentive for choosing a locally made product over an imported alternative.
In practice, the most commonly installed Australian-made systems that qualify are certain Reclaim Energy and Sanden heat pump models, though the approved list is updated regularly. Your licensed plumber will verify current availability and confirm which models meet the locally made criteria before recommending anything.
The locally made classification applies to the main unit, not every component. Solar Victoria defines the criteria on their product approval page — your registered installer is responsible for confirming eligibility before installation begins.
But there's one more angle most people never hear about — and it can reduce your out-of-pocket cost even further.
The Solar Victoria hot water rebate and the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program are two separate schemes — and they can be combined on the same installation. This is one of the most underused strategies for Melbourne homeowners replacing a hot water system, and most people don't know it's available until after they've already paid full price.
Here's how the stacking process works:
Step 1: Apply for the Solar Victoria rebate first.
Submit your application through the Solar Homes portal and wait for your eligibility letter before installation begins. This is the mandatory first step — nothing else moves until this is confirmed.
Step 2: Use a registered installer who participates in both programs.
Not all plumbers are accredited for both the Solar Victoria rebate and the VEU scheme. Confirm dual accreditation with your installer before booking. On Time Plumbing holds both.
Step 3: Your installer applies the VEU discount at the point of sale.
Your licensed plumber generates Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs) from the installation and passes the discount directly to you — there's no separate VEU application for you to submit. For solar hot water systems, Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) may also apply under the federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, giving you an additional reduction your installer accounts for at the same time.
Step 4: Both discounts come off your final invoice.
The Solar Victoria rebate (up to $1,400) and the VEU point-of-sale discount appear as separate line items. You pay the net amount. Your plumber claims both programs on their end.
The VEU discount amount changes quarterly and varies by product. Ask for a written quote showing both discounts applied before you commit.
|
Real-world saving example A quality heat pump hot water system in Melbourne typically costs $2,800–$4,200 supplied and installed. After stacking the Solar Victoria rebate (up to $1,400) with a VEU point-of-sale discount, the out-of-pocket cost drops significantly — in many cases to under $1,500 for a fully installed system. The exact savings depend on the system, current VEU rates, and your eligibility. Ask your installer for a written quote with each discount itemised. |
Now for the part that trips up most homeowners: making sure the system you choose actually appears on the approved list.
Only systems on Solar Victoria's current approved product list qualify for the rebate. The list is updated regularly — a product that was approved six months ago may have been removed, and new products are added without notice. Always verify your chosen system is currently listed at solar.vic.gov.au before signing any installation agreement.
In the past two months alone, we've installed heat pump systems under this rebate for homeowners in Brunswick, Fitzroy North, and Coburg. In each case, we checked the approved product list the same week as the installation — not because we expected surprises, but because it had changed since the customer first looked it up. That's how quickly it moves.
Heat pumps are the most common installation under this rebate. They're energy-efficient, well-suited to Melbourne's climate, and well-represented on the approved list. A heat pump extracts warmth from the surrounding air to heat water — operating efficiently even through Melbourne's cooler winters. Models from Reclaim Energy, Sanden, Rheem, Dux, and Rinnai all have qualifying units, though you should verify the specific model is currently approved before proceeding.
Solar hot water systems use roof-mounted collectors and a storage tank to heat water using sunlight. They perform exceptionally well during Melbourne's spring and summer, with a gas or electric booster managing the cooler months. If you have available north-facing roof space and want to maximise your use of renewable energy, a solar hot water system may be the better long-term fit. Your licensed plumber will assess your roof's orientation and shading before recommending a configuration.
If you're weighing up both options, our full comparison of heat pump vs gas vs electric hot water systems covers running costs, upfront costs, and rebate eligibility side by side.
Once you know which system you want, the application process itself is straightforward — as long as you follow the steps in the right order.
The most common reasons applications fail: starting installation before approval arrives and using an unregistered installer. Both are entirely avoidable. Follow these steps in order, and neither applies to you.
Step 1: Check your eligibility.
Work through the checklist in the eligibility section above. Confirm you're an owner-occupier in Victoria, your combined income is under the current threshold, and you have an existing system to replace.
Step 2: Choose an approved system.
Select a heat pump or solar hot water system from Solar Victoria's approved product list at solar.vic.gov.au. Your licensed plumber can recommend qualifying models suited to your home's size, roof configuration, and budget.
Step 3: Submit your application through the Solar Homes portal.
Apply at solar.vic.gov.au/hot-water-rebate. You'll need proof of property ownership (rates notice or title), income evidence (your ATO Notice of Assessment is the most accepted document), and your chosen system and installer details. Your registered installer can assist with the paperwork.
Step 4: Wait for your eligibility letter. Do not start the installation.
Solar Victoria will review your application and send an eligibility letter to your registered email. This typically takes a few business days.
Do not book or begin installation until this letter arrives. Starting before it does voids the rebate, with no exceptions.
Step 5: Accept the eligibility offer in the portal.
Log back into the Solar Homes portal and formally accept the rebate offer. This locks in your eligibility and starts the clock on the installation timeframe.
Step 6: Book installation with your registered plumber.
Contact your On Time Plumbing installer to schedule the work. They'll deduct the rebate from your final invoice — you pay the net amount. Your plumber submits the completion paperwork to Solar Victoria on your behalf.
Renters cannot apply for the Solar Victoria hot water rebate in their own name. The program requires the applicant to be the property's owner-occupier.
Landlords are generally not eligible through standard channels because the Solar Homes Program is designed for owner-occupiers. There is an exception: landlords who live in the property as their own primary residence may qualify. If you're a landlord unsure about your situation, contact Solar Victoria directly for a definitive eligibility answer before spending time on an application.
For rental properties more broadly, landlords do carry obligations under Victoria's Residential Tenancies Act — including requirements around providing functioning hot water that came into effect in 2021. Our guide on landlord plumbing compliance in Victoria covers those obligations in full, including what the 2027 gas hot water mandate means for investment properties.
One question we receive regularly: What if my hot water system just broke? A failed system doesn't disqualify you — but it does add time pressure. You'll still need to go through the application and approval process before installation, which takes a few business days. If you're without hot water now and need to move quickly, call us: we'll advise on the fastest compliant path that preserves your rebate eligibility wherever possible.
The rebate is a genuine government subsidy, not a marketing device. Solar Victoria deducts the amount (up to $1,400) directly from your installation cost — no repayment required, no ongoing obligation, no product subscription. The only condition is that the system must appear on the approved product list and be installed by a registered retailer. On Time Plumbing handles both.
Only if a Solar Victoria authorised retailer carried out the installation and you had received eligibility approval before work began. If you paid full price through a standard plumber without going through the Solar Homes portal, you can't claim retrospectively. For any future installation, the program is available to you provided you meet eligibility requirements at that time.
Proof of property ownership (a rates notice, title document, or mortgage statement), income evidence (your ATO Notice of Assessment is the most widely accepted), and the details of your chosen approved system and registered installer. On Time Plumbing will walk you through exactly what's needed during your free eligibility assessment.
The approved product list changes regularly, and Solar Victoria's locally made classification can shift with it. As of June 2026, certain Reclaim Energy models meet the locally made criteria — but verify this against the current list before committing to a product. Your registered installer is responsible for confirming local product eligibility before installation begins.
The online application takes 20–30 minutes to complete. Eligibility letters are typically issued within a few business days of a complete application being submitted. If you're in the income bracket affected by the 1 July threshold change, submit no later than 27–28 June 2026 to allow processing time before the 5pm 30 June deadline.
From 1 March 2027, when a gas hot water system in an existing Victorian home reaches end-of-life, it must be replaced with an electric alternative. The Victorian Government is phasing out gas hot water systems across existing residential buildings as part of broader electrification. Acting now is the smart move on two levels: you access the current rebate while your system is still functioning, and you avoid being pushed into an emergency replacement in 2027 when demand for electric systems and licensed installers will be significantly higher. Read our full guide on what the 2027 gas hot water ban means for Melbourne homeowners for more detail.
You now know exactly what the rebate covers, whether you're eligible, how to combine it with a VEU discount, and the six steps to claim it. That's more than most Melbourne homeowners understand about one of the most valuable government incentives available to them right now.
What comes next is straightforward. Either you qualify, and we handle the application — or you don't, and we'll tell you that honestly during your free assessment. Either way, you're not navigating the Solar Victoria portal alone.
For households in the $150,000–$210,000 income bracket, the window closes permanently at 5pm on 30 June 2026. For everyone else, the rebate continues after 1 July — but the 2027 gas hot water mandate is a second reason not to defer this indefinitely. A proactive replacement now means you choose the system on your terms, access the rebate at full value, and have it sorted before the 2027 electrification changes create urgency you didn't plan for.
READY TO CLAIM YOUR REBATE?
We confirm your eligibility, recommend an approved system, and handle the Solar Victoria application from start to finish. No portal confusion. No paperwork to figure out alone.
Book a free assessment or Call us today on 1300 110 428.
Important: Rebate amounts, income thresholds, eligible products, and program terms are subject to change by Solar Victoria at any time. The information in this guide is verified against solar.vic.gov.au as at 24 June 2026. Always confirm current eligibility criteria and rebate amounts directly at solar.vic.gov.au before submitting an application or proceeding with installation. On Time Plumbing Melbourne is not responsible for changes to the program made after this article's publication date.
