Key industry and consumer organisations will help ensure Victoria’s flagship energy savings and emissions reduction program delivers for all Victorians on our path to net zero.
The Victorian Government has met for the first time with the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) Stakeholder Reference Group.
The Stakeholder Reference Group will help inform and guide the VEU Strategic Review, which has commenced following a $5.9 million investment over two years in the 2024-2025 State Budget.
Stakeholder Reference Group
- will provide insights and input on opportunities to ensure the program can best support households and businesses as the shift to electric homes and renewable energy ramps up.
- will examine the changes needed to strengthen the VEU’s capacity to support household and businesses to reduce their energy use through facilitating and accelerating electrification. This includes understanding current barriers households and businesses face, as well as industry challenges, regulation, metrics and activities included.
VEU Strategic Review
- will strengthen the VEU to deliver electrification and energy efficiency at scale.
- will ensure the program will continue to be the key driver helping more Victorians electrify their homes and businesses, slashing energy bills and reducing emissions.
- is led by Solar Victoria, within the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.
Other opportunities to engage will be released in the coming weeks. The VEU Strategic Review Terms of Reference and Stakeholder Reference Group members are available at VEU Strategic Review.
VEU program
Supports Victorian households and businesses to upgrade with discounts on energy efficient appliances such as:
- reverse-cycle air conditioners
- heat pump hot water systems
- from later this year, induction cooktops.
More than 2.4 million Victorians homes and 170,000 businesses have been supported through the VEU since 2009 - reducing emissions by more than 84 tonnes.
It’s the largest energy efficiency program in Australia and a key pillar of the transition, supporting electrification, energy affordability, energy reliability and emissions reduction.
Savings
On average, households that undertake energy efficiency upgrades through the VEU program save $110 and businesses, $3,700, on their annual energy bills.
A household can save about $900 when installing a reverse-cycle air-conditioner to replace an old gas heater, saving about $150-$200 off their annual energy bill
A household can save about $3,600 when replacing a gas ducted system with a reverse-cycle system, saving about $500-$600 off their annual energy bill.
Victoria's nation leading Gas Substitution Roadmap demonstrates the importance of homes and businesses going all electric. It saves money on energy bills, is better for the environment and healthier for families to live and work.
Doorknocking ban
A ban on doorknocking is now in effect for the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program.
This protects Victorians from intrusive sales tactics. It also promotes professional conduct by the industry to deliver the program that consumers can trust.
A ban on telemarketing under both the VEU and Solar Victoria also came into effect on 1 May 2024. Doorknocking for Solar Victoria programs has been banned since September 2021.
The VEU reforms
- Strengthen the 2022 VEU Code of Conduct
- follow extensive consultation over the past year on high-pressure sales tactics and other inappropriate marketing practices under the program.
What VEU accredited providers and participants can still use:
- digital and traditional media advertising
- direct marketing such as social media and email.
Regulation
As the independent regulator, the Essential Services Commission will actively monitor compliance of the ban through an expanded range of tools. It will take strong enforcement action for breaches of the ban.
Victorians should report breaches of the VEU doorknocking and telemarketing bans via 03 9032 1310 or email: veu@esc.vic.gov.au.
For more information on the VEU program, visit Victorian Energy Upgrades.
Page last updated: 19/08/24