Victoria
New South Wales
South Australia
QueenslandAre you leaving money on the table? We break down the 2026 rules for stacking Victorian certificates (VEECs) with Federal certificates (STCs) so you can maximise the rebates available, offer your customers the most competitive pricing and grow your business.
What are STCs and VEECs?
Rebates for energy efficiency upgrades are monetised through government-regulated programs that create energy certificates. There are federal and state-based schemes, and each has its own certificates which are sold to liable entities to reduce their CO2 output.
The value of those certificates are passed onto customers via installers. Federal Small-Scale Technology Certificates (STCs) remain the backbone of solar PV and heat pump rebates, and Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs) are available for upgrades for Victorian households and businesses. As the names suggest, federal STCs are available nation-wide, and VEECs are only available for Victorian upgrades.
STC Deeming.
On January 1 every year the multiplying factor for STCs, which determines the quantity of certificates a project is eligible for, is legislated to reduce. In 2026 we have 5 years remaining before the scheme’s end in 2030, which means the value of each certificate has diminished compared to 2025 due to the STC deeming period decline. VEECs on the other hand have been extended to 2045, giving confidence to installers in the scheme, and the certificate market that underpins its value, and have become the heavy hitter for electrification, energy efficiency and commercial upgrades.
Regulators and Payments.
Federal certificates are regulated by the Clean Energy Regulator, and VEECs are regulated by the Essential Services Commission. When an upgrade is submitted by an installation company to an AP, like Ecovantage, we verify that the installation and its evidence meet the scheme regulations. If the Ecovantage Team determines it meets regulatory requirements, Ecovantage schedules a payment to the installation company, minimising the impact on their cash flow. If the evidence is insufficient or there are questions, there will be delay on certificate creation. If a job appears to be fraudulent or non-compliant, the job is rejected and no certificates will be created.
Ecovantage has launched same week VEEC payments. Receive your invoice on Monday, get paid on Friday! We understand cash flow is the backbone of any small business and yours will never have looked better.
Eligibility.
Savvy installers work with their national AP to capitalise on all projects, ensuring all eligible certificate rebates are submitted. Some activities are only eligible for certificates under one scheme or the other, such as residential solar <100kW which can only generate STCs. Or ceiling insulation and induction cooktops, which can attract VEECs but not STCs. Others may attract both VEECs and STCs, like commercial solar.
|
Activity |
VEEC |
STC |
VEEC + STC |
Installer Note |
|
Residential Solar <100kW |
N | Y | N | Solar Victoria rebate also available |
|
Activity 48 Ceiling Insulation |
Y | N | N | No new builds |
|
Activity 6 Air Conditioning |
Y | N | N | Maximise revenue by replacing gas heaters |
|
Activity 46 Induction Cooktops |
Y | N | N | When replacing gas cooktops |
|
Activity 1D/3C Residential Hot Water Heat Pump |
Y | Y | N | Pair VEECs and STCs with Solar Victoria rebate to maximise revenue |
|
Activity 47 Commercial Solar 30-100kW |
Y | Y | Y | Add 50% on top of STC revenue |
|
Activity 47 Commercial Solar 100-200kW |
Y | N | N | Burnt by LGC pricing? VEECs are a lifesaver |
|
Activity 44 Commercial Hot Water Heat Pumps |
Y | N | N | Minimum tank sizes applicable |
|
Activity 34/35 Commercial Lighting |
Y | N | N | May require a lighting design |
New VEEC Activities in 2026.
Insulation
Activity 48, residential Ceiling Insulation was launched in 2026. The incentive can significantly discount the cost of installation with the Phase 1 Rollout live and targeting Victorian homes with zero insulation, damaged, or a rating of R0.5. Late 2026 will see Phase 2 open for top-up installation in homes with inadequate insulation below R4.0.
C&I Solar PV
Launched late in 2025, this is the first full year of Activity 47. This activity covers 30 – 200kW solar PV systems for businesses, and marks the first time commercial solar has deemed certificates, offering an upfront discount rather than M&V only.
High-Efficiency Motors
Activity 31 was updated late in 2025, with the inclusion of IE3 efficiency levels, and a new $200 mandatory co-payment, now standard for 2026 installs.
Induction Cooktops
Activity 46 was scheduled to end, but has been extended to 30 June 2026. Not a new activity, but it remains in the upgrade suite over the coming months.
Compliance Paperwork.
Integrity in the energy schemes is critical, so ensuring your teams capture the required evidence during a project is essential. As noted earlier, installations that fail to comply with the scheme rules, including providing the required evidence, won’t be eligible to create certificates and rebates. That may sound daunting, but it’s really not.
Ensuring your installers have up-to-date scheme (eg. VEU) and activity training (eg. Activity 47) and taking the required photos and collecting the correct paperwork will become second nature and just a part of the installation process. Using a built-for-purpose software platform that guides this process makes it even easier. There are several platforms used across the energy schemes and your AP will guide you on their platform of choice. Ecovantage is technology-agnostic, giving our clients the flexibility to use the largest selection of platforms in the market: Alitsy, Bridgeselect and Dataforce (Runabout), so switching APs has never been easier. And, if you’re ever stuck, your dedicated Account Manager is only a quick phone call away.
As a full-service energy consulting and auditing specialist, Ecovantage offers a closed-loop system of accountability for energy projects. From Energy Audits to identify energy efficiency opportunities with expected ROI, through to M&V to quantify the outcomes, we partner with you on your evolving energy needs.
If you’re reviewing your existing AP agreement, want to explore stacking certificates, or entering the VEEC certificate program for the first time, pop your details into the form below and I’ll give you a call.
Ben Lumley | Programs & Account Manager VIC
Ben specialises in VEU Activities (Residential Retrofits, Residential & Commercial Heat Pumps, Air Conditioning, Commercial Lighting), and ESS Activities (IHEAB Heat Pumps).
