A Guide to The Air Conditioner Rebate in Victoria

To help people handle the cold winters and warmer summers, the Victorian Government is stepping in to lend a helping hand with a discount to update the heating and cooling in your home. This discount scheme can give you up to $2,520 for ducted heating and cooling, or up to $2800 for full house split systems, for example.

You can have savings between $120 and $1,100 a year on your energy bills, depending on what products and services you upgrade.

We’ll look at the details of this discount closer, tell you what is involved, who is eligible to apply and how Simplyair can provide you with an eligible energy efficient home heating and cooling system.

What is the Air Conditioner Rebate in Victoria?

In Victoria, the Air Conditioner Discount Scheme is not actually a rebate. It is a financial support scheme to replace old and inefficient heating and cooling systems in your home, or at work in a commercial space. “Your home” can be your place of residence, or an investment property you own that houses tenants.

This scheme is a part of the larger Victorian Energy Update (VEU), which has helped over 2 million Victorian homes become more energy efficient, reduce their carbon footprint and save thousands of dollars on heating and cooling bills.

This scheme is designed to help combat rising energy bills which impact the hip pocket. It is here to help people live in comfort, rather than sacrifice basic human needs, like warmth, just to save money.

By helping consumers cut down on emissions through energy efficient products and services, energy suppliers and retailers reduce their emissions, helping hit emission targets set by the Victorian Government.

And the best thing is – you get a brand new air conditioner, or split system, that will last for years and be more effective at heating and cooling your home.

Eligibility for the Air Conditioner Discount

All Victorian households and businesses are eligible for this discount. Yes, this scheme also applies to businesses, to help them save money in this tight economic climate.

Your home or office must be at least 2 years old, and you need to replace an existing inefficient system, not buy a new system ‘off the shelf’. If you’re not sure if your old system is eligible for replacement, ask the Simplyair team and we can investigate for you.

Tenants living in a private rental are eligible for this rebate scheme as well, and the Victorian Government strongly suggests working with your landlord to have upgrades to your heating and cooling completed.

Application Process For The Air Conditioner Discount

The application process for an air conditioner discount is thankfully straightforward. The team at Simplyair can help you choose from the vast range of options approved under the VEU program. Simplyair are accredited providers in this scheme, so we can help you select the right air conditioning and heater, and have it installed in your home or workplace.

All the paperwork and administration work involved in getting the discount can be handled by our team. We will automatically apply the discount to your quote so you save money immediately. No need to wait.

The installation process is standard. Our team will arrange a time and date with you, remove your old, inefficient system, and install the new air conditioner unit.

How Much is the Air Conditioner Discount?

The size of the discount depends on the size and type of air conditioner you have installed.

This table gives you an indication of the discount you may be eligible for:

For installing an efficient ducted reverse cycle air conditioner:

Tables sourced from Energy Victoria.
*This figure is based on a certificate price of $70.

What Type of Air Conditioner is Eligible for the Discount?

Split systems are the most common form of air conditioning that are installed under this discount system. There are currently 387 types of split systems listed that are eligible for this discount. You can find them at the Essential Services Commission website. The variety of split systems can be floor mounted or wall hung, ducted and non-ducted. With so many models available it can be a little overwhelming choosing the right one for you.

For commercial premises, air conditioning systems are also eligible for discounts under the VEU.

To be eligible, the air conditioning being installed needs to meet the required energy performance standards. If you can’t see a system on that list, it is possibly due to failing to meet those requirements.

Benefits of the Air Conditioner Rebate

The savings on purchase costs, and the savings you earn on your bills are the most obvious benefits to this discount system. A more energy efficient system can heat and cool your house using less energy, and hence lower your power bills. But there are more benefits to you for using this discount system.

• Easier to afford upgrades. It makes it easier for people to afford to upgrade their current systems to better, more efficient appliances.
• More Efficient Home Comfort. This scheme helps upgrade your current air conditioner, so you can keep cool in summer, and warm in winter, with more energy efficient appliances.
• Lower Energy Bills. With more efficient appliances, your energy bills will be lower, saving you money in the long run.
• Professional Installation. Part and parcel of the rebate scheme includes the professional installation of your new appliance. Its that extra step of convenience that can convince you to take the Victorian Government up on this scheme.
• Improved air quality. Newer and more efficient air conditioning systems have better filtering and can improve the quality of your indoor air. This has health benefits, particularly for asthmatics.
• Improved working conditions. Better environmental control of your working space can improve your comfort levels at work, and save your business money.

Keeping your energy bills down as much as possible is good for your bottom line. Any way you can find to save in this cost of living crisis can only be a positive. Reducing your energy needs and reducing your carbon footprint is good for the environment. Being able to combine these two things, thanks to a discount scheme from the Victorian Government, is the perfect storm.

If you’ve got some older air conditioning or heating units in your home and you want to upgrade, give our friendly team here a call. We can help you choose the right system for your home or office, arrange the discount, installation and everything in between.