The federal rebates (they apply in Victoria too)
Whatever Victoria offers sits on top of two national rebates that every Australian home gets.
Solar panels — the STC discount. The federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme knocks money off your panels through Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). Your installer claims them and applies the value as an upfront discount, so you never touch a certificate. It shrinks a little every January and ends in 2030.
Batteries — the Cheaper Home Batteries Program (BSTCs). Since July 2025 a second federal rebate takes roughly 30% off an installed battery, run through the same certificate system. From 1 May 2026 it’s tiered by size: the first 14 kWh of usable capacity earns the full rate, 14–28 kWh earns 60%, and 28–50 kWh earns 15%. It steps down every six months from 2027 and ends in 2030. On-grid batteries must be on the approved list and VPP-capable.
What Victoria adds on top
Solar panel rebate — up to $1,400. Victoria’s Solar Homes program gives eligible owner-occupiers up to $1,400 off rooftop panels, and you can add a matching interest-free loan of up to $1,400 to spread the rest. To qualify, your household income currently needs to be under $210,000 and the property under $3 million, with no panel rebate claimed at that address before. Heads-up: from 1 July 2026 the income cap drops to $150,000, so to be assessed under the higher threshold your full application needs to be in by 5pm on 30 June 2026.
Rentals and apartments. Landlords can claim up to $1,400 per rental (two properties a year), and the separate Solar for Apartments program offers up to $2,800 per household, now extended to mid-2027.
Batteries. Victoria doesn’t run its own battery rebate — for storage you rely on the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program above, which still takes around 30% off an installed battery.
Feed-in tariff
Victoria scrapped its mandatory minimum feed-in tariff from 1 July 2025, so the rate is now whatever your retailer offers (several sit around 8c/kWh). Compare current plans rather than assuming a set figure.
Bottom line
Victoria’s solar-panel support remains among the strongest in the country, but battery help now comes from the federal side. If you’re anywhere near the income cap, the 30 June 2026 deadline is the thing to act on.
