After helping thousands of eligible Victorians increase their thermal comfort and quality of life by reducing the upfront cost of purchasing energy-efficient reverse-cycle air conditioners, the Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades (HHCU) program will cease accepting applications from 30 December 2022.

This program was designed as a stimulus measure to benefit low-income households during Victoria’s initial economic response to the pandemic and originally earmarked to conclude in June, 2023. Since launching in 2021 the program has supported 40,000 Victorians to take up energy-efficient and cheaper-to-run reverse cycle air conditioning systems and decommissioned older inefficient heating sources.

The program has supported residents in public housing, community-owned social housing, owner occupier and private rental households. Unfortunately, take-up under the program has been slower than expected with a number of external impacts from Covid and supply chain constraints.

We are working closely with our supplier network, HVAC industry bodies and community services agencies on the transition of the program.

All applications received by the cut-off will be processed. There is currently a large volume of customers with approved rebate tokens who are yet to engage a supplier to upgrade their existing heating systems. Solar Victoria will work with suppliers to bring forward applications and encourage the use of remaining tokens.

Customers will have until 30 April 2023 to accept a quote and arrange installation through an approved supplier. All installations will need to be completed and payment requests finalised by 30 June 2023.

Solar Victoria’s programs supporting the installation of solar PV, batteries and energy-efficient hot water continue.