🏠 Victoria, Australia Published 2026-05-05 · 10 min read

Victoria Solar Rebate 2025: Solar Homes Program Explained

Q: How much is the Victorian solar panel rebate in 2025?

The Victorian solar panel rebate is up to $1,400 for eligible households. You must have a combined household income of less than $210,000 per year, 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 — you never see the money, it simply reduces your installer's invoice. You can also access an interest-free loan of up to $1,400 repaid through your electricity bill 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 $210,000 per year (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: How does the Solar Homes battery loan work?

The interest-free battery loan allows eligible Victorians to borrow up to $8,800 to purchase and install a home battery. You must already have solar panels installed (either existing or being installed at the same time). The loan is repaid through your electricity bill or directly — repayment terms are set by Solar Victoria. You must also have a combined household income under $180,000. A separate battery rebate of up to $2,950 is also available for eligible applicants.

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 loan of up to $1,400, a $2,950 battery rebate, and an $8,800 interest-free battery loan — on top of the federal STC discount. Here's everything you need to know to claim your full entitlements.

MUK

Written by

Muhammad Umar Khan

Muhammad founded KilowattKit after spending hours trying to decode confusing electricity bills — and realising there were no simple, jargon-free tools to help ordinary homeowners understand their energy costs. He researches electricity rates, EV charging, solar payback, and heat pump economics across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.

Solar Homes Program at a Glance

$1,400

Solar panel rebate

$1,400

Interest-free solar loan

$8,800

Interest-free battery loan

$210k

Max household income

What's in the Solar Homes Program

☀️ Solar Panel Rebate + Loan

🔋 Battery Rebate + Loan

$2,950 battery rebate

✓ Income < $180,000/yr
✓ Must have existing solar
✓ Approved battery models only

$8,800 interest-free loan

✓ Income < $180,000/yr
✓ Must have solar panels (new or existing)
✓ Repaid over set term

A 10kWh battery system typically costs $10,000–$14,000 installed. The $2,950 rebate + $8,800 loan means you could have a battery for as little as $500–$1,500 out-of-pocket upfront.

🚿 Solar Hot Water Rebate

A rebate of up to $1,000 is available for installing a solar hot water system or a heat pump hot water system at an eligible Victorian property. Income threshold applies (same as solar panel rebate). The system must be installed by an approved Solar Victoria retailer.

Rebate: Up to $1,000

System types: Solar HW or heat pump HW

Income: < $210,000/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

Battery rebate −$2,950

Interest-free battery loan (repaid via agreed terms) −$8,800 (loan)

Battery net upfront cost ~−$750

* STC value varies with spot price. Battery net figure reflects rebate + loan offset vs gross cost — loans must be repaid over time. Figures illustrative only.

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 2025? ▼

The Victorian solar panel rebate is up to $1,400 for eligible households. You must have a combined household income of less than $210,000 per year, 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 — you never see the money, it simply reduces your installer's invoice. You can also access an interest-free loan of up to $1,400 repaid through your electricity bill 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 $210,000 per year (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.

How does the Solar Homes battery loan work? ▼

The interest-free battery loan allows eligible Victorians to borrow up to $8,800 to purchase and install a home battery. You must already have solar panels installed (either existing or being installed at the same time). The loan is repaid through your electricity bill or directly — repayment terms are set by Solar Victoria. You must also have a combined household income under $180,000. A separate battery rebate of up to $2,950 is also available for eligible applicants.

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 guidelines (solarvictoria.vic.gov.au, 2025); Solar Victoria Annual Report 2024–25; Essential Services Commission Victoria FiT determination 2025–26; Clean Energy Regulator STC data. Program details, income thresholds, and rebate amounts are subject to change — always verify current terms at solarvictoria.vic.gov.au before applying.