Knowledge Hub

What is the Victorian Energy Upgrades program?

The Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program plays a pivotal role in helping Victorians lower their energy bills and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. It achieves this by granting access to discounted energy-efficient products and services.

Under this initiative, Accredited Providers such as MAC Trade Services can generate Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs) for each upgrade they facilitate. Each VEEC symbolises the prevention of one tonne of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere.
Accredited providers subsequently sell these certificates to energy retailers.

Energy retailers employ these certificates to fulfill their annual emissions targets, as stipulated by the Victorian Government. Anticipated energy savings resulting from the program is projected to reduce electricity consumption in Victoria by 7% by 2025, resulting in the
avoidance of $3.8 billion in energy system costs.

How does the VEU work?

Targets

The Victorian Government establishes annual emissions objectives for electricity and gas retailers operating within Victoria. These targets are quantified in terms of greenhouse gas emissions prevented, denoted as 1 tCO2e (tonnes of CO2 equivalent), with current targets set
through 2025.

Delivering Activities

Accredited Providers are responsible for executing energy-saving upgrades, encompassing activities such as improving air conditioning, enhancing hot water systems, upgrading lighting (for residential, commercial, and outdoor use), and crafting tailored upgrades for
businesses.

Savings Created

Each upgrade conducted under the VEU generates a specific number of certificates known as VEECs. Each VEEC signifies a reduction of 1 tCO2e resulting from the respective upgrade. The VEU discount, commensurate with the number of VEECs generated, is then applied to the
customer’s invoice. Subsequently, these VEECs are created and officially registered.

Purchased by Retailers

Energy retailers subsequently purchase the registered VEECs. Energy Retailers apply a small levy to the energy bills issued to customers in Victoria, utilising these funds to furnish subsidies and incentives for energy-saving upgrades.

Annual Target Achieved

The VEECs are then used by Energy Retailers to meet their annual VEU targets.

Who is MAC Trade Services?

At MAC Trade Services, our mission is to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels by retrofitting appliances and installing clean energy sources to conserve energy. As a leader in energy efficiency and sustainability solutions, we upgrade more than 5,000 homes and businesses
each year, making us one of the largest energy services companies in South Australia.

Our team provides a range of behind-the-meter energy services, including lighting upgrades, hot water, solar, batteries, refrigeration, heating and cooling, and EV charging stations.

At MAC Trade Services, we are proud to be a part of the energy revolution, helping to power our sustainable future by electrifying everything.

What appliances are eligible for the rebate?

Induction Cooktops and Freestanding Combined Induction Cooking Products (Activity 46)

  • The cooktop must be purchased in Victoria.
  • Eligible for Residential premises:
    • with a gas or liquified petroleum gas (LPG) connection
    • where the construction of the premises was not completed within the 2-year period preceding the day on which the activity is undertaken
  • The appliance must meet the following requirements:
    • Must be an induction cooktop (46A) or freestanding combined induction cooking product (46B) which:
    • has a cooktop surface of at least 550mm wide and 380mm deep
    • has a cooktop surface with a minimum of 3 independently controlled cooking zones.
    • is listed on the VEU Register of Products by the time VEECs are created. For an induction cooktop (46A), the product must be designed to only be permanently mounted in-bench. On-bench or portable plug-in products are not eligible.
    • The induction cooktop or freestanding combined induction cooking product must be covered by a product manufacturer warranty against defects for a period of at least two-years from the date of sale.
  • Maximum of one product per residential premises.
  • The energy consumer must have paid the accredited provider or scheme participant a minimum co-payment amount of $200 (including GST) per product sold. The co-payment must be paid by the energy consumer before VEECs can be created for the activity. The co-payment amount
    cannot be reimbursed, in part or in full, to the energy consumer in any form, including money, goods or services.

High-Efficiency Refrigerators and Freezers (Activity 22)

  • The refrigerator/freezer must be purchased in Victoria.
  • Eligible for both residential and non-residential premises.
  • The appliance must meet the following minimum efficiency requirements:
    • Single door refrigerators: Minimum 5.5-star rating.
    • Two-door refrigerators: Minimum 5.5-star rating.
    • Chest freezers: Minimum 4.0-star rating.
    • Upright freezers: Minimum 4.0-star rating.
  • The product must be listed on the VEU Register of Products.
  • No installation limits apply for both residential and businesses.
  • No minimum co-payment is required.

High-Efficiency Televisions (Activity 24)

  • The television must be purchased in Victoria.
  • Eligible for both residential and non-residential premises.
  • The television must meet the following requirements:
    • Minimum 6-star energy rating.
    • Screen size of at least 4000 cm².
  • The product must be listed on the VEU Register of Products.
  • No minimum co-payment is required.
  • Installation limit: Maximum of two televisions per residential premises.
  • Unlimited installation for businesses.

Energy-Efficient Clothes Dryers (Activity 25)

  • The clothes dryer must be purchased in Victoria.
  • Eligible for both residential and non-residential premises.
  • The dryer must meet the following requirements:
    • Must be an electric clothes dryer (not part of a washer-dryer combo).
    • Minimum 7-star rating.
    • Minimum capacity of 5kg.
  • The product must be listed on the VEU Register of Products.
  • No minimum co-payment is required.
  • Installation limit: Maximum of one dryer per residential premises.
  • Unlimited installation for businesses.

Visit https://mactradeservices.com.au/victoria/appliances to check to see if your chosen appliance is a compliant product.

How much is the rebate?

  • Activity 22 (High Efficiency Refrigerators and Freezers): 1 VEEC ($60)
  • Activity 24 (High Efficiency Televisions): 1 VEEC ($60)
  • Activity 25 (Energy Efficient Clothes Dryers): 1 VEEC ($60)
  • Activity 46 (Induction Cooktops): 2 VEECs ($120)

*This figure is based on a certificate price of $60.

The final purchase price of the appliance, which includes the discount, is up to the accredited provider and will depend on several factors, including:

  • Certificate price (which fluctuates)
  • Location
  • Appliance costs
  • The accredited provider’s administrative costs

For more information on the certificate price under the VEU program, please see Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs).

What is the process to claim the Appliance VEU rebate?

  1. Visit https://mactradeservices.com.au/victoria/induction-cooktop-rebate to take you directly to the correct page to apply.
  2. Apply with all the required information.
  3. Our team will assess your application to make sure your application meets all the VEU requirements.
  4. We will confirm the outcome of the assessment.
  5. If the application is successful, we will then organise for the rebate to be sent to you via bank transfer.

If you have any difficulty completing or submitting the application form, please contact our Customer Service team on 1300 430 917 and they will be happy to assist you.

What information will you need to complete an application?

To submit the form, the following information is required:

  • Customer contact details.
  • Proof of address (for induction cooktop only) – a copy of a gas/LPG bill.
  • Proof of purchase – invoice listing product brand, model, purchase date, and price before and after rebate.
  • Photos of the newly installed appliance.
  • Bank account details for rebate payment.

Why do you need all these photos and documents?

For VEU rebates to be approved, there are several eligibility requirements we need to prove to Retailers and the VIC Government. The easiest and best way to do this is with the photos and documents requested.

When will the customer receive the rebate?

Due to the assessments our team are required to do on each application, payment of the rebate may take up to 60 days from the date the application is approved.

Is the rebate compatible with other promotions?

The rebate can be accessed in conjunction with any other promotion, including any “cash back” type promotion.