Solar Victoria's panel rebate in late 2026: who can still claim

Solar Victoria's solar panel rebate is still open. Eligible owner-occupiers can get up to $1,400 off a new solar system, plus an optional interest-free loan of up to $1,400. The program now has an end date in sight, so it is worth checking where you stand before you ask for quotes.

How much it is worth

The rebate covers up to 50% of the cost of the system, capped at $1,400. It is worked out after other discounts, including the federal small-scale technology certificates (STCs) that usually come off the price of an eligible solar system. It is paid to your solar retailer and comes off your invoice, so you never have to claim it back yourself.

There is no minimum or maximum system size. The cap is on the rebate, not the system.

The interest-free loan

The loan is an optional extra of up to $1,400, the same as the rebate. Since 1 May 2026, you have to choose the loan when you apply. It needs no security, is paid to the retailer along with the rebate, and is repaid monthly over four years by automatic debit. On the full $1,400, that is $29.17 a month, starting 30 days after your installation is approved.

The battery loan is a different story. Solar Victoria is no longer taking applications for interest-free loans for solar batteries. Batteries are still supported nationally through the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which is separate from anything Solar Victoria offers.

Who qualifies

Solar Victoria's current rules for the panel rebate are:

• You own the home and live in it, or you own a home that is being built.
• The combined taxable income of all owners is below $150,000 a year.
• The property is valued under $3 million (for a home under construction, once it is finished).
• The address has not had a Solar Homes solar panel or battery rebate before.
• No solar system has been installed at the address in the last 10 years. If your existing system is 10 or more years old, you may be able to claim to replace or expand the panels. Check that the inverter can take the extra capacity.
• You use an authorised solar retailer and eligible products.

If you claimed a Solar Homes rebate at a previous address, you can still apply at your new home, as long as that property has not had one.

How the process works

This is where your installer does most of the running. In order:

1. Network approval first. Your retailer gets pre-approval from the electricity distributor to connect the system, and tells you about any export limit. This has to happen before your quote is uploaded to Solar Victoria.
2. Your eligibility check. You supply two forms of ID with matching names, proof of ownership, and proof of income for each owner from the same financial year.
3. The QR code. Once you are approved, Solar Victoria emails you a QR code. The installer scans it on site before any work starts.
4. The install window. For an existing home, the system must go in within 120 days of the QR code being sent. For a home under construction, it is 270 days.

Two warnings from Solar Victoria are worth repeating. Do not let anyone install before your eligibility is approved, because an early install means no rebate. And do not sign a quote or pay a deposit until you are confirmed eligible; if you do pay a deposit, it should be fully refundable.

Rebates are released monthly

Solar Victoria releases rebates monthly and publishes how many remain, so availability can change from one month to the next. Solar Victoria's page showed remaining-rebate figures updated on 2 November 2026, so check it close to when you plan to apply.

The end is on the calendar

Solar Victoria says support for households installing solar panels will move into the Victorian Energy Upgrades program from 1 July 2027. Until then, eligible households can keep applying for the remaining rebates, with the interest-free loan option. How the support will look under the new program is a question for closer to the date.

How we help

We handle the rebate application and the paperwork for you, including the distributor approval and the QR code on installation day. Every system we install is inspected by an independent licensed Electrical Inspector, and every panel across our three tiers carries a 25-year warranty.

If you think you qualify, our rebates page sets out how the state and federal support fit together for your home.