Solar rebates in Victoria.

What help might be available?

There is more than one form of government support, and they are not interchangeable. For eligible Victorian households, the state Solar Homes PV rebate can reduce installation cost. An optional interest-free loan can finance an additional amount but must be repaid. The federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme uses certificates to provide a separate upfront solar discount.

The amount you personally qualify for depends on the applicant, property, proposed system, products and installation arrangements. These summaries are not an eligibility assessment.

Victorian solar-panel (PV) rebate

Main owner-occupier eligibility settings

For the standard owner-occupier pathway, Solar Victoria currently lists these key tests:

• combined household taxable income of all property owners must be less than $150,000 per year;
• the completed property value must be under $3 million;
• the property address must not previously have received a Solar Homes solar PV or solar battery rebate; and
• the address must not have had a solar PV system installed in the last 10 years.

The $150,000 income limit took effect from 1 July 2026, replacing the former $210,000 threshold. Older articles quoting $210,000 are no longer current.

Can I get the Victorian rebate if I already have solar?

Potentially. Existing solar at the property does not automatically make the household ineligible. The important questions are when the system was installed, whether the address previously received a Solar Homes PV or battery rebate, and whether the applicant meets the current income, property and other program requirements.

If the original installation date is uncertain, confirm it rather than estimating the age of the panels. Solar Victoria suggests checking available electrical documentation or asking the relevant electricity distributor where appropriate.

Rebate eligibility and whether replacement is technically or financially sensible are separate questions. A working older system should not be removed merely because a rebate pathway exists.

Can I replace or expand a 10-year-old solar system?

Solar Victoria's current published guidance says that if an existing system is 10 years old or more, the household might be eligible to use the program to replace or expand it, subject to the other eligibility rules.

The program also states that the property must not have had PV installed in the last 10 years. A homeowner close to that boundary should verify the exact installation date before relying on the rebate.

For an expansion, check whether the existing inverter is suitable for the additional array and what current distributor connection requirements apply. For an older inverter or array, compare keeping, expanding and replacing the system as complete options rather than assuming more panels are always the best use of the rebate.

See the old-solar upgrade and replacement guide ↗

What if solar was previously installed at the property?

There are two different historical tests that are easy to confuse.

A household can therefore need more than one historical check. Solar Victoria also has separate rules for people who received support at a previous home and have since moved, so do not assume a rebate used at an old address automatically disqualifies the new property.

Can rental providers qualify?

Yes, Solar Victoria has a separate rental-property pathway. It should not be assessed by simply applying the owner-occupier rules to a tenanted home.

Under the current rental settings, requirements include a combined renter household taxable income below $150,000, a property value below $3 million, current program history rules for the address and completion of the required rental-provider and renter agreement. Solar Victoria currently allows eligible rental providers to access the solar-panel rebate for up to two rental properties per financial year.

Because rental-program conditions are more detailed, check the current rental-property page before relying on a quotation or promising a tenant a particular rebate outcome.

What about the interest-free loan?

Eligible applicants can opt into an interest-free loan up to the amount of their approved PV rebate, capped at $1,400 under the current published settings. This is financing, not another rebate; it must be repaid under the program terms.

Do not combine the rebate and loan into a single "government discount" when comparing system prices. A useful quote separates the amount that reduces the purchase price from the amount that remains repayable.

Federal solar STCs

Small-scale technology certificates (STCs) are created under the Australian Government's Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme for eligible rooftop solar systems. Retailers commonly apply their value as an upfront discount if the buyer assigns the certificates.

That discount is distinct from the Victorian Solar Homes rebate. Always check whether an advertised price has already included STCs and whether a Victorian rebate or loan has also been assumed.

When must rebate approval occur?

Before installation starts. Solar Victoria's process requires the authorised retailer's quote and relevant distributor pre-approval, followed by the applicant's eligibility assessment and issuance of the Solar Victoria QR code. The installer scans the QR code onsite before installation work begins.

Solar Victoria recommends that customers do not accept a quote in writing or pay a deposit before eligibility is confirmed. If a deposit is paid earlier, it should be fully refundable.

Battery incentives are separate from the PV rebate. The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program uses tiered support based on usable battery capacity. For the current certificate calculation, see the federal home battery rebate calculator and Victoria guide.