Federal figures are gross certificate values at the 15 October 2026 price of $39.65 per STC; source: Demand Manager, STC spot market. Installers usually pass through slightly less after certificate fees.
Solar rebates in Melbourne and regional VIC
The federal solar rebate follows your postcode's STC zone, not the state border. Melbourne and Geelong all get the same $1,546 on a 6.6 kW system for a 2026 install. Ballarat (Zone 3, about $1,784), Bendigo (Zone 3, about $1,784), Shepparton (Zone 3, about $1,784) and Mildura (Zone 3, about $1,784) sit in a different zone. State programs apply the same way across Victoria, from Melbourne to Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton and Mildura.
| Town | Postcode | STC zone | STCs (6.6 kW) | Federal solar rebate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | 3000 | Zone 4 | 39 | $1,546 |
| Geelong | 3220 | Zone 4 | 39 | $1,546 |
| Ballarat | 3350 | Zone 3 | 45 | $1,784 |
| Bendigo | 3550 | Zone 3 | 45 | $1,784 |
| Shepparton | 3630 | Zone 3 | 45 | $1,784 |
| Mildura | 3500 | Zone 3 | 45 | $1,784 |
Zones from the Clean Energy Regulator's postcode zone table; 5 deeming years for a 2026 install; at the 15 October 2026 price of $39.65 per STC. Check your own postcode in the STC calculator.
What changed in VIC recently
Checked against the official sources on 10 October 2026.
The Solar Homes income cap was cut from $210,000 to $150,000 on 1 July 2026. Households under it can still claim up to $1,400 off panels plus a matching interest-free loan; above it, the state rebate is off the table.
Victoria has no state battery program (the Solar Homes battery loan closed in May 2025). Battery money in VIC is the federal discount, about $3,608 on a 13.5 kWh unit.
Dated update: Victoria scraps its minimum feed-in tariff (July 2025).
How the VIC solar rebate works in 2026
There is no single "VIC solar rebate". What you claim is a stack. The federal solar STC discount under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme is about $1,546 on a 6.6 kW system in STC Zone 4. VIC adds up to $1,400 for eligible households. If a battery goes in too, the federal Cheaper Home Batteries discount adds about $3,608 on a 13.5 kWh battery (about $270 per usable kWh on the first 14 kWh). Everything is applied at the point of sale by your installer. You never receive cash; you just pay less.
Eligibility checklist for the federal solar rebate
- A new solar system of up to 100 kW, which is the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) limit.
- Panels and inverter on the Clean Energy Council's approved product list.
- Designed and installed by a Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) accredited installer.
- The installation date sets the deeming period: 5 years for a system installed by 31 December 2026, 4 after that.
- No income test and no form for you to lodge: the installer creates the STCs and takes the value off the quote.
Every VIC program, with live status
Solar Homes, Solar Panel (PV) Rebate
LiveSolar Victoria's flagship rebate cuts $1,400 off a new rooftop solar system at point of sale, with an optional matching interest-free loan of $1,400 repaid over 4 years (about $29 a month).
Solar Homes, Hot Water Rebate
LiveRebate on a heat-pump or solar hot-water system to replace a gas or electric storage unit. Stacks with the panel rebate within the household's annual cap.
Closed schemes (don't get caught out)
These still rank in old articles and ads. They are gone; here's what happened, so nobody sells you on them.
Solar Homes, Battery Loan
ClosedClosed May 2025. Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program now the primary battery support.
Why storing beats exporting in Victoria
Victoria scrapped its regulated minimum feed-in tariff from 1 July 2025; the legal floor is $0.00/kWh. Most retailers' generally available flat offers now pay 1 c/kWh or less, a few pay 5-8 c/kWh on the first 8-10 kWh you export each day, and time-varying rates can legally pay nothing for midday exports. Peak grid power still costs 25-45 c/kWh in the evening, which is the gap a battery captures.
The feed-in tariff is what your retailer pays for exported solar. It's not part of the rebate, but it is the reason the battery maths works: every kilowatt-hour you store and use at night is worth what you'd otherwise pay the grid in the evening, several times what a midday export earns.
| Retailer / benchmark | Feed-in rate | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Time-varying midday | can be $0.00/kWh | Uncapped |
| EnergyAustralia | 8c/kWh on the first 10 kWh a day, then 1.5c | Market offer |
| ENGIE | 8c/kWh on the first 8 kWh a day, then 1c | Market offer |
| Origin Energy | 5c/kWh on the first 8 kWh a day, then 1c | Market offer |
| CovaU | 4.9c/kWh with no daily cap | Standing offer |
| OVO Energy | 2.2c/kWh with no daily cap | Market offer |
Retailer rows are each retailer's highest generally available flat rate, retrieved 29 October 2026; offers that need a battery, VPP or other condition are on the full comparison. Feed-in tariff data: Based on AER data, Consumer Data Right Energy Product Reference Data (Energy Made Easy and Victorian Energy Compare), retrieved 2026-10-29. Source: AER © Commonwealth of Australia. Not endorsed by the AER. Rates in c/kWh as published by retailers; no GST added. They change frequently and can vary by network area; use the AER's Energy Made Easy tool for the live picture. Full VIC feed-in tariff comparison →
The cost of waiting in VIC
Both step-downs are published schedules, not marketing deadlines, and the Clean Energy Regulator applies them by installation date. The battery factor keeps falling every January and July until the program ends after 2030, and the solar scheme phases out on 31 December 2030.
See your exact VIC solar and battery rebate
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How we get you the full stack without the legwork
We're a free service for VIC homeowners. You give us your postcode and bill range, we match you with one SAA-accredited installer who works in your area, and they apply every rebate you're eligible for at the point of sale. One specialist, one number.
- 30-second eligibility check on this page: postcode, ownership, bill, roof.
- A friendly follow-up from your specialist within 24 to 48 hours.
- Matched with a single SAA-accredited installer in VIC.
- Installer applies the full stack at invoice. You pay the discounted price, that's it.
More on how it works → · Run your own numbers in the calculator →
Common questions about VIC solar rebates
How much is the solar rebate in Victoria in 2026?
About $1,546 on a 6.6 kW system in Melbourne: 39 federal STCs at the 15 October 2026 price of $39.65 per STC, for a system installed by 31 December 2026. The figure moves with your postcode's STC zone and the system size. Victoria adds Solar Homes: up to $1,400 off the panels plus a matching interest-free loan, for households earning under $150,000.
How much is the battery rebate in Victoria?
About $3,608 on a 13.5 kWh battery from the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program (6.8 STCs per usable kWh for batteries installed by 31 December 2026, at the 15 October 2026 price of $39.65 per STC). Victoria adds nothing for batteries (its battery loan closed in May 2025).
Does Victoria have a battery rebate in 2026?
No. Victoria's battery loan closed in May 2025 and there is no VIC battery rebate. Battery support in Victoria is the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program only, worth about $3,608 on a 13.5 kWh battery. The state's Solar Homes panel rebate (up to $1,400) still applies if you install panels at the same time and your household earns under $150,000.
Are solar rebates reducing in 2026?
Yes, on a fixed schedule rather than by surprise. The federal solar STC rebate loses a year of deeming every 1 January: 5 deeming years for 2026 installs, dropping to 4 from January 2027, on the way to zero in 2031. On a 6.6 kW VIC system that is about $1,546 now versus $1,229 from next year. The federal battery discount steps down too, next on 1 January 2027 when the factor falls from 6.8 to 5.7 STCs per usable kWh.
Who is eligible for the solar rebate in Victoria?
The federal solar STC rebate has no income test: any VIC home or business installing panels and inverters on the Clean Energy Council's approved list, through a Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) accredited installer, qualifies under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme for systems up to 100 kW. On top of that, VIC runs its own eligibility rules: Solar Homes, Solar Panel (PV) Rebate: Owner-occupier; Solar Homes, Hot Water Rebate: Owner-occupier or rental property.
How much is a 6.6 kW solar system in Victoria after the rebate?
A 6.6 kW system typically costs $6,900 to $9,200 installed before any discount. In Victoria the federal STC rebate plus, if your household qualifies, the VIC solar rebate takes about $2,946 off that at the point of sale, so you land around $3,954 to $6,254 after the rebate.
What is the VIC feed-in tariff for 2026-27?
Typical VIC feed-in rates run 0 to 8 c/kWh for 2026-27. Victoria scrapped its regulated minimum feed-in tariff from 1 July 2025; the legal floor is $0.00/kWh. Most retailers' generally available flat offers now pay 1 c/kWh or less, a few pay 5-8 c/kWh on the first 8-10 kWh you export each day, and time-varying rates can legally pay nothing for midday exports. Peak grid power still costs 25-45 c/kWh in the evening, which is the gap a battery captures.
When does the battery rebate drop?
The federal battery discount runs to 2030, but it steps down before then. On 1 January 2027 the factor falls from 6.8 to 5.7 STCs per usable kWh, trimming about $595 off a 13.5 kWh battery ($3,608 now versus $3,013 after). The solar STC rebate also drops on 1 January 2027, worth about $317 less on a typical 6.6 kW VIC system. The Clean Energy Regulator sets both by the installation date.
What government rebates are available in Victoria for 2026?
Two layers. Victoria's own Solar Homes program takes up to $1,400 off rooftop solar, with an optional matching interest-free loan repaid over four years, for owner-occupiers with a combined household income under $150,000. Federally, a 6.6 kW system in Melbourne gets about $1,546 in STCs, and a 13.5 kWh battery about $3,608 off through the Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Victoria has no state battery rebate.
When does the solar rebate end in Victoria?
Two different clocks, and the federal one is the urgent one. Victoria's Solar Homes panel rebate has no announced end date, but it got harder to qualify for on 1 July 2026 when the household income cap dropped to $150,000. The federal rebates are on a published countdown: the solar STC deeming period drops a year every 1 January until the scheme finishes after 2030, and the battery discount drops from 6.8 to 5.7 STCs per usable kWh on 1 January 2027. Waiting until 2027 costs a Victorian household about $912 on a typical solar plus battery install.
How do I apply for the solar rebate in Victoria?
For the federal money, you don't. There is no form to lodge and no waiting for a cheque. Your accredited installer creates the certificates, claims them, and takes the value off your quote before you pay, so a 6.6 kW system in Victoria is quoted about $1,546 cheaper and a 13.5 kWh battery about $3,608 cheaper. What you have to do is check the discount is itemised on the quote, and that the installer is SAA-accredited. The Victorian Solar Homes rebate is the exception: that one you do apply for through Solar Victoria, and you need your eligibility confirmed before the system is installed.
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