Solar Victoria has confirmed a change to the income test for its Solar Homes Program — the scheme behind the state's solar panel and hot water rebates. It's not a cut to the rebate amount. It's a narrowing of who's allowed to apply for it, and the window to apply under the old rules is closing fast.
What's changing
What's Actually Changing
From 1 July 2026, the maximum combined household taxable income for Solar Homes Program eligibility drops from $210,000 to $150,000 per year. This applies to both the solar panel (PV) rebate and the hot water rebate, and it covers owner-occupiers, people building a new home, and rental properties where the rental provider is applying on the tenant's behalf.
"Combined household income" means the taxable income of everyone named on the property title (or named on the application, for renters), added together for the most recent financial year.
The Timeline That Matters
Right now
Households earning up to $210,000 combined can still apply under the current rules.
30 June 2026, 5pm
Final deadline to have your application fully submitted — not just saved — through the Service Victoria portal.
1 July 2026
Every new application is assessed against the lower $150,000 cap, with no exceptions.
What stays the same
What Isn't Changing
Why Solar Victoria Is Doing This
The stated goal is to keep rebate funding pointed at households feeling the most cost-of-living pressure. Solar Victoria's own figures suggest the impact will be modest for most existing applicants — and the program isn't running out of money.
Before 30 June
What to Have Ready
Application checklist
- Proof of identity for everyone named on the application.
- Proof of property ownership (or rental agreement, for tenants).
- Your most recent ATO notice of assessment, to evidence combined household income.
- A quote from a Solar Victoria authorised retailer — confirm your installer is on the official list.
- Time to actually press "submit." A saved-but-unfinished application does not count, and the portal does not extend for timeouts.
One More Change Worth Knowing About
Alongside the income test, Solar Victoria has also released its 2026–27 Notice to Market, lifting safety and cyber security standards for installers — including stricter supervision rules for apprentice electricians and new security requirements for connected smart energy devices. It doesn't change anything for you as a customer applying for a rebate, but it's a good sign the program is tightening up on quality, not just eligibility. We've covered that update in more detail in our Solar Victoria rules guide for 1 July 2026, if you want the full picture — New Solar Victoria Rules Kick In 1 July 2026 — What Every Customer Needs to Know.
"If you're sitting in that $150,000–$210,000 income band, the most useful thing you can do this month is get your application in — not wait and see."
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as "combined household taxable income"?
It's the total taxable income of everyone on the property title — or everyone named on the application, for rental properties — for the most recent financial year, as shown on each person's ATO notice of assessment.
I'm a renter, not a homeowner — does this apply to me?
Yes. The same income cap applies when a rental provider applies for a rebate on behalf of a tenanted property, based on the household's combined income.
What happens if I miss the 30 June deadline?
Your application will be assessed under the new $150,000 cap rather than the current $210,000 threshold. Saved-but-unsubmitted applications, or ones that time out, aren't counted as submitted.
Does this affect the federal battery rebate?
No. This change is specific to Victoria's Solar Homes Program (PV and hot water rebates). The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which now delivers battery incentives via STCs, has no income test.
I'm already below $150,000 — do I need to rush?
Not because of this particular change. But solar rebate programs are demand-driven, so applying sooner rather than later is generally the safer move regardless of income.
Published June 2026 · xTechs Renewables Pty Ltd · ABN 30 673 983 572 · REC 36065 · CEC Accredited
Serving Melbourne, Geelong, Mornington Peninsula & Regional Victoria
Need to Move Before 30 June?
We can get a quote and rebate application moving quickly so you're not racing the deadline alone. xTechs Renewables is an authorised Solar Victoria retailer, and every installation is carried out by our own in-house, A-Grade licensed electricians — never subcontracted.
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Guide for Melbourne & Victoria homeowners and renters applying for Solar Homes rebates. See our solar rebates hub for STCs, loans, and the full Victorian rebate picture.