The new VIC hot water rebate eligibility starts on 1 July 2026. From that date, the combined household income cap for Solar Homes hot water rebates drops from $210,000 to $150,000 , so applications need to be fully submitted by 5pm on 30 June 2026 to be assessed under the current settings.

What changes

  • The lower income cap applies to Victoria’s Solar Homes rebates for energy-efficient hot water systems.
  • Rebate amounts stay the same: up to $1,400 for locally made systems, or up to $1,000 for other eligible products.
  • The Victorian Government has also confirmed 27,000 additional hot water rebates will be released in 2026–27.

Timing

If your household income is between $150,000 and $210,000 , the key cutoff is 30 June 2026 at 5pm. After that, the new eligibility settings apply from 1 July 2026.

Simple takeaway

So the short answer is: the new eligibility starts 1 July 2026. For anyone near the income threshold, the practical deadline is 5pm on 30 June 2026.