If you’ve ever looked at a solar or battery rebate and thought you’d be knocked back because you earn too much, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common myths we hear at Bluegum, and it’s costing you thousands of dollars.
The truth is, about 90% of the government support available for all-electric home upgrades is not means-tested.
That includes solar, batteries, heat pumps and efficient heating and cooling. Whether you live in a modest home in Sunbury or a larger property in the Macedon Ranges, most of this funding is there for the taking.
In this article, we’ll walk through the three programs that actually exist, which have income rules and which don’t and how homeowners are stacking them to save over $20,000.
Why The 'I Earn Too Much For Rebates' Idea Is Wrong
This one surprises people more than anything else. Homeowners assume that because they have a nice home or a decent income, they’ve been locked out of the incentives. That’s simply not how this works.
These programs exist because Australia and local councils are working towards net-zero targets. It’s not a handout. It’s the government helping the country transition to more efficient, all-electric homes, and it applies regardless of how your home looks or how much you earn.
The Three Programs You Can Actually Access
Every rebate ad, letterbox drop and Facebook promotion you’ve seen falls into one of three programs. Once you understand these three, you can separate real offers from the BS.
- STCs (Small-scale Technology Certificates): A federal Australia-wide scheme covering solar, batteries and hot water. Not means-tested.
- VEECs (Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates): A Victorian state scheme covering hot water plus heating and cooling upgrades. Not means-tested.
- Solar Victoria: The only program that is means-tested. Covers solar and heat pumps.
Two of these three have no income test at all. The third has one, and it’s more generous than most people expect.
How STCs Work For You
Instead of a fixed dollar rebate, with STCs, you earn a number of certificates based on what you install, and each certificate has a dollar value at the time of install.
For a solar system, the number of STCs depends on the system size, your postcode, and the installation date. Batteries and heat pump hot water systems work the same way, with the unit size determining how many certificates you get.
The best part is how little you have to do.
There’s no application, no income paperwork and no waiting for approval. Your installer handles it all, and you sign off once the job is done.
What VEECs Cover In Victoria
VEECs are Victoria’s version of a certificate scheme where you are rewarded for doing good and making sustainable changes. VEECs apply to hot water upgrades and heating and cooling upgrades, such as replacing a gas ducted heater with an all-electric split system.
VEECs work similarly to STCs. You get a number of certificates based on the upgrade, and those certificates have a value at the time you claim them.
For a hot water swap, you can actually stack both STCs and VEECs on the same job, which is where the numbers start to add up fast.
One thing to be aware of is that VEECs move around more than STCs.
The values change regularly, which can catch customers out if they’re working from an old quote. We always base your quote on the live value at the time.
Solar Victoria And The One Income Rule
Solar Victoria is the only program in this space with a true means test, and it’s the one most people think of when they say they earn too much. Before you rule yourself out, have a proper look at the thresholds.
At the time of publishing this post (June 2026), the household income limit is $210,000 in one of the last two financial years, with a property value under $3 million.
This will be reduced from 1st of July to $150,000.
There’s a useful trick with the ‘one of the last two financial years’ which can make the difference for some if they’ve had maternity leave or a recent promotion.
Solar Victoria currently offers a panel rebate for new solar installs and a heat pump rebate for hot water upgrades.
If you go with an Australian-made heat pump like the Reclaim models we install at Bluegum, there’s a higher rebate too. It does not currently cover batteries, and it decreases each financial year.
The Cheaper Home Battery Program Explained
The battery rebate getting most of the media attention lately is the Cheaper Home Battery Program. Despite the name, it runs on the same STC system we’ve used for solar for years. There’s no income test and no property value test.
There is one eligibility rule worth knowing.
People who have taken advantage of Solar Victoria’s loans in the past are still eligible for the Cheaper Home Batteries Program. However, if you have had the Solar Victoria rebate for batteries previously, you don’t qualify.
Unlike solar or heat pumps, you can only claim the battery rebate once per property. The battery you install now should be sized for where you want to end up.
How Homeowners Stack These To Save Over $20,000
Here’s where it gets interesting.
These programs are designed to work together, either on one job or spread out over a few years as you upgrade your home.
A typical example we see at Bluegum looks like this:
A customer installs solar and a battery, earning STCs on both. They swap their gas hot water system for an electric heat pump at the same time, which earns STCs and VEECs. Six months later, they replaced their gas-ducted heater with a reverse-cycle system, which earns VEECs as well. Stack all of it together, and you’re comfortably over $20,000 in combined support, before Solar Victoria is even factored in.
None of that requires special paperwork from you. As long as the installer is accredited, the rebates are built into your quote and processed behind the scenes.
Why Waiting Is The Most Expensive Choice
We’re not in the business of pushing customers into rushed decisions. But there’s one thing you need to know before you sit on a quote:
Every one of these programs decreases each year, by design.
STCs and VEECs decrease each calendar year. Solar Victoria decreases each financial year at its own discretion.
The government’s position is that the technology is getting cheaper, so the support can taper off over time.
We had a customer recently who was quoted for a battery upgrade in late 2025. They came back early in 2026, but life got in the way, and they returned to proceed at the end of April 2026.
The price difference, due solely to changes in rebates between October 2025 and April 2026, was nearly $8,000. Same product, same house, same installer. Less Rebates.
The Simple Rule For Getting The Most Out Of It
Our advice to every customer is the same. Get the right solution for your home first, then move on to it while the current rebates are still in place.
You don’t have to do everything at once. Plenty of customers start with solar, add a battery next year, then replace gas appliances after that. The key is starting somewhere rather than waiting for a ‘perfect’ time that keeps costing you money as rebates shrink.
The Bottom Line
Most government support for all-electric home upgrades is not means-tested, and the means-tested programs are more generous than most people realise.
The biggest mistake we see is waiting too long and watching the rebates shrink.
Want to know which rebates you qualify for on your next electrical upgrade? Book a free consult with our team today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Solar Rebates Means-Tested in Victoria?
Not all solar rebates are means-tested. In Victoria, the main means-tested solar rebate comes from Solar Victoria and is worth much less than STCs. Solar Victoria is means-tested with a household income limit of $210,000 and a property value under $3 million.
Can I Claim The Battery Rebate Twice?
No. The Cheaper Home Battery Program can only be claimed once per property. That’s why it’s important to size your battery correctly the first time rather than starting small and planning to add another one later.
Do I Need To Apply For Rebates Myself?
For STCs and VEECs, no. Your installer handles the paperwork, and the rebate is applied to your quote. For Solar Victoria, the application process is short, and we guide our customers through it.
Will Rebates Still Be Available Next Year?
Yes, but the values step down each year. STCs and VEECs decrease each calendar year, and Solar Victoria steps down each financial year.
If you’d like a straight answer on what you’re actually eligible for, book a free consult with our team, and we’ll walk you through the numbers for your home. Book a free consult