🏠 Victoria, Australia Updated 23 Aug 2026 · 10 min read

Victoria Solar Rebate 2026: Solar Homes Program Explained

Q: How much is the Victorian solar panel rebate in 2026?

The Victorian solar panel rebate is up to $1,400 for eligible households. From 1 July 2026 the combined household income cap is $150,000 per year (reduced from $210,000). You must own the property (or be installing for a rental), and use a Solar Victoria approved retailer. The rebate is applied as a point-of-sale discount — it simply reduces your installer's invoice. You can also access an interest-free loan of up to $1,400, repaid over approximately two years.

Q: Who is eligible for the Victorian solar rebate?

To be eligible for the solar panel rebate, you must: own or be purchasing the property; have a combined household income under $150,000 per year (the cap dropped from $210,000 on 1 July 2026, assessed via ATO income data); not have previously received a Solar Homes solar panel rebate at this property; live in Victoria; and use a Solar Victoria approved solar retailer. Renters are not eligible for this rebate, but there is a separate Solar for Rentals program for landlords. The property must not already have solar panels installed.

Q: Is there still a Victorian battery rebate or loan?

No. Solar Victoria's interest-free Solar Homes battery loan has closed and there is no current Victorian battery rebate. Home-battery support now comes from the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which takes around 30% off an installed battery and is not income-tested — see our full guide to the federal battery rebate for the current amounts and how to claim.

Q: When do rebate rounds open?

Solar Homes rebates open in quarterly rounds. When a round opens, you must register on the Solar Victoria portal (solarvictoria.vic.gov.au) and request a rebate. Demand is high and rounds often fill within hours of opening — set up a Solar Victoria account and enable notifications before a round opens. Once you receive a rebate approval, you typically have a set window (often 3–6 months) to complete your installation.

Q: Can landlords access the Solar Homes Program?

Yes — there is a separate Solar for Rentals component of the Solar Homes Program for eligible rental properties. Landlords can access a rebate and interest-free loan for solar panels on their rental property, subject to income and property eligibility criteria. The property must have an active tenant, and the tenant must receive a proportional reduction in rent or electricity costs. Check the Solar Victoria website for current program availability, as the rental component has had its own separate rounds.

Q: Is the Solar Homes rebate taxable income?

Generally, the Solar Homes rebate is not taxable income for private residential homeowners, as it's a discount on the purchase of a private asset. For investment properties, the treatment may differ — the rebate may reduce the asset's cost base for capital gains purposes. Consult your accountant for advice specific to your situation, particularly if the installation is on a rental property.

Q: Can I combine the Solar Homes rebate with the federal STC rebate?

Yes — and you should. The federal STC rebate is completely separate from the state Solar Homes Program and stacks directly. A typical 6.6kW system in Melbourne might receive $960 in STC discount (federal) plus $1,400 Solar Homes rebate (state) plus a $1,400 interest-free loan, bringing the effective upfront cost down significantly. Your Solar Victoria approved installer will handle both rebates simultaneously.

Victoria's Solar Homes Program offers a $1,400 solar rebate, an interest-free solar loan of up to $1,400, and a hot water rebate — on top of the federal STC discount. Two important 2026 changes: from 1 July 2026 the household income cap dropped to $150,000, and Solar Victoria's battery loan has closed (home batteries are now covered by the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program). Here's exactly what you can still claim.

Written by

Muhammad Umar Khan

Muhammad founded KilowattKit after spending hours trying to decode confusing electricity bills and realising there were no clear, jargon-free tools for ordinary homeowners. He researches energy rates, solar payback, EV charging, and heat pump economics across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia — sourcing every figure directly from official government and regulatory data.

Solar Homes Program at a Glance

$1,400

Solar panel rebate

$1,400

Interest-free solar loan

$1,400

Hot water rebate

$150k

Max income (from Jul 2026)

What's in the Solar Homes Program

☀️ Solar Panel Rebate + Loan

🔋 Home Batteries — Now a Federal Scheme

Important 2026 change: Solar Victoria's interest-free battery loan (previously up to $8,800) has closed, and there is no current Victorian battery rebate. If you're adding a home battery, your support now comes from the federal government instead.

The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program (live since 1 July 2025) takes roughly 30% off the installed cost of an eligible home battery and, unlike the old Victorian schemes, is not income-tested. It stacks with your Victorian solar rebate — see our full guide for the current per-kWh amount and how to claim.

Full guide to the federal battery rebate →

🚿 Solar Hot Water Rebate

A rebate of up to $1,400 for a locally made system (or up to $1,000 for other eligible products) is available for installing a solar hot water or heat pump hot water system at an eligible Victorian property. The same $150,000 income cap applies, and the system must be installed by an approved Solar Victoria retailer.

Rebate: Up to $1,400

System types: Solar HW or heat pump HW

Income: < $150,000/yr

🏘️ Solar for Rentals (Landlords)

Victorian landlords with eligible rental properties can access rebates and interest-free loans for solar installations, subject to program availability. The tenant must benefit from reduced energy costs (either via a rent reduction or a direct electricity cost reduction). This component has run as separate rounds — check Solar Victoria for current availability.

Who applies: Landlords (not tenants)

Requirement: Tenant must benefit from savings

Worked Example: Melbourne Solar + Battery

Owner-occupier in Melbourne. Combined household income $120,000. Installing 6.6kW solar + 10kWh battery.

6.6kW solar system (gross cost) $7,500

Federal STC discount (Zone 4, 4 deeming years) −$960

Solar Homes rebate −$1,400

Interest-free solar loan (repaid over 2 years via bill) −$1,400 (loan)

Solar net upfront cost ~$3,740

10kWh battery (gross cost) $11,000

Federal Cheaper Home Batteries discount (~30%) −$3,300

Battery net upfront cost ~$7,700

* STC value varies with spot price. Home-battery support is now the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program (~30% off) — Solar Victoria's battery loan has closed. Figures illustrative only; see the federal battery guide for exact amounts.

How to Apply

Create a Solar Victoria account

Register at solarvictoria.vic.gov.au before a round opens. You'll need your myGov credentials to verify your identity and income via ATO data.

Wait for a round to open and request your rebate

Rebate rounds open quarterly and fill fast — sometimes within hours. Enable email notifications on the Solar Victoria portal to be alerted when a new round opens.

Choose an approved Solar Victoria retailer

You must use a retailer listed on the Solar Victoria approved retailer register. Get at least 3 quotes — prices vary. Your rebate approval is linked to a specific retailer, so confirm this before signing any contract.

Installation and rebate applied at point of sale

Once your rebate is approved and your retailer is confirmed, you proceed with installation. The rebate is applied directly to your invoice — you pay the reduced amount. The installer claims the rebate from Solar Victoria.

🇦🇺 Don't forget the federal STC rebate

The Solar Homes rebate stacks directly with the federal STC scheme. Your approved installer will apply both simultaneously — no extra steps needed. The STC discount alone is worth $960–$1,600 for a 6.6kW Melbourne system.

STC rebate guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Victorian solar panel rebate in 2026? ▼

The Victorian solar panel rebate is up to $1,400 for eligible households. From 1 July 2026 the combined household income cap is $150,000 per year (reduced from $210,000). You must own the property (or be installing for a rental), and use a Solar Victoria approved retailer. The rebate is applied as a point-of-sale discount — it simply reduces your installer's invoice. You can also access an interest-free loan of up to $1,400, repaid over approximately two years.

Who is eligible for the Victorian solar rebate? ▼

To be eligible for the solar panel rebate, you must: own or be purchasing the property; have a combined household income under $150,000 per year (the cap dropped from $210,000 on 1 July 2026, assessed via ATO income data); not have previously received a Solar Homes solar panel rebate at this property; live in Victoria; and use a Solar Victoria approved solar retailer. Renters are not eligible for this rebate, but there is a separate Solar for Rentals program for landlords. The property must not already have solar panels installed.

Is there still a Victorian battery rebate or loan? ▼

No. Solar Victoria's interest-free Solar Homes battery loan has closed and there is no current Victorian battery rebate. Home-battery support now comes from the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which takes around 30% off an installed battery and is not income-tested — see our full guide to the federal battery rebate for the current amounts and how to claim.

When do rebate rounds open? ▼

Solar Homes rebates open in quarterly rounds. When a round opens, you must register on the Solar Victoria portal (solarvictoria.vic.gov.au) and request a rebate. Demand is high and rounds often fill within hours of opening — set up a Solar Victoria account and enable notifications before a round opens. Once you receive a rebate approval, you typically have a set window (often 3–6 months) to complete your installation.

Can landlords access the Solar Homes Program? ▼

Yes — there is a separate Solar for Rentals component of the Solar Homes Program for eligible rental properties. Landlords can access a rebate and interest-free loan for solar panels on their rental property, subject to income and property eligibility criteria. The property must have an active tenant, and the tenant must receive a proportional reduction in rent or electricity costs. Check the Solar Victoria website for current program availability, as the rental component has had its own separate rounds.

Is the Solar Homes rebate taxable income? ▼

Generally, the Solar Homes rebate is not taxable income for private residential homeowners, as it's a discount on the purchase of a private asset. For investment properties, the treatment may differ — the rebate may reduce the asset's cost base for capital gains purposes. Consult your accountant for advice specific to your situation, particularly if the installation is on a rental property.

Can I combine the Solar Homes rebate with the federal STC rebate? ▼

Yes — and you should. The federal STC rebate is completely separate from the state Solar Homes Program and stacks directly. A typical 6.6kW system in Melbourne might receive $960 in STC discount (federal) plus $1,400 Solar Homes rebate (state) plus a $1,400 interest-free loan, bringing the effective upfront cost down significantly. Your Solar Victoria approved installer will handle both rebates simultaneously.

Sources: Solar Victoria — Solar Homes Program (solar.vic.gov.au/solar-homes-program), including the 1 July 2026 income-cap change to $150,000 and the closure of the interest-free battery loan; Australian Government — Cheaper Home Batteries Program; Clean Energy Regulator STC data. Verified 17 August 2026. Program details, income thresholds and rebate amounts change frequently — always confirm current terms at solar.vic.gov.au before applying.