For businesses with an ABN — not households. Statewide discount schemes, a City of Melbourne growth grant, mid-scale solar and warehouse upgrades, and federal tax incentives for businesses across Victoria.
What the tags below mean
Grants & discount schemes
Direct rebates and discounts your business can claim — as opposed to the tax incentive further down the page.
Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) — commercial
Discounted upgrades to lighting, heating/cooling, or refrigeration for commercial premises, arranged through an accredited provider using VEU certificates to offset part of the cost.
Eligibility
- Active ABN
- No business-size limit for standard upgrades — very large energy users may need to opt in
Statewide — applies to Greater Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and everywhere else in Victoria
City of Melbourne Business Growth & Impact Grants
Funding to support business growth initiatives — expansion, innovation projects, or measurable community and economic impact within the municipality.
Eligibility
- Operating physically within the City of Melbourne council boundary
Municipal only — City of Melbourne local government area, not all of Greater Melbourne
Federal programs for mid-sized businesses & commercial property
Available Australia-wide, including Victoria. One is a certificate discount for mid-scale rooftop solar; the other is a tax deduction — and it has now closed to new purchases.
Expanded SRES (commercial solar up to 1MW)
Upfront certificate discounts for mid-scale rooftop solar on warehouses, factories, farm sheds and strata buildings. Systems between 100 kW and 1 MW can now create small-scale technology certificates instead of large-scale ones.
Eligibility
- Commercial systems up to 1,000 kW (1MW) of total onsite capacity
- Reduces upfront system cost by around 20% via certificate value
- Applies to systems installed from 1 October 2026 — certificate applications open mid to late November
Federal — applies in every state, including Victoria
Small Business Energy Incentive
A bonus 20% tax deduction on eligible depreciating assets that support electrification and energy efficiency, on top of the deduction you’d already claim. Status: it covered assets first used or installed between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024, so new purchases no longer qualify — ask your accountant whether it still applies to a past return.
Eligibility
- Aggregated annual turnover under $50 million
- Bonus deduction capped at $20,000 on up to $100,000 of spend
- Claimed through your tax return, not applied for separately
Mid-scale commercial & warehousing
Victorian Energy Upgrades scaled up for warehouses, factories, office parks and retail complexes. Both are statewide entitlements delivered through an accredited provider.
VEU — larger commercial & industrial sites
The same certificate discounts as small-business VEU — commercial lighting, heating and cooling, and refrigeration upgrades — with customised certificate calculations available for larger industrial loads.
Eligibility
- Active ABN and a Victorian site
- No business-size limit for standard upgrades — very large energy users may need to opt in
- Work done through a VEU accredited provider
Statewide — Greater Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and beyond
VEU — commercial & industrial solar PV
A VEU activity for commercial and industrial rooftop solar, added in September 2025. From 1 October 2026 the federal SRES also covers systems up to 1MW, so ask your provider which route suits your system size, and whether both can apply.
Eligibility
- Victorian commercial or industrial premises with an active ABN
- Installed by a VEU accredited provider
- Check the current activity requirements (VEU Specifications, Part 47) before you quote
Statewide — applies across Victoria
Browse by region
Statewide schemes apply everywhere below. Council-specific grants only apply within that municipality’s exact boundary — not the wider metro area.
Greater Melbourne
Explore MelbourneGeelong
Explore GeelongBallarat
Explore BallaratBendigo
Explore BendigoOn an embedded network? Read this first.
If you’re in a shopping centre, office tower or industrial park, you may not have a direct account with a major energy retailer — you’re buying power through a private network run by your landlord or body corporate instead. That can mean missing out on standard bill relief, because your meter was never logged in the usual state databases. It doesn’t mean you’re ineligible — it usually means there’s a separate, secondary application form. Check with the specific program below rather than assuming you don’t qualify.
What’s the difference between VEU and the City of Melbourne grant?
VEU is a statewide entitlement — any eligible commercial premises anywhere in Victoria can access it. The City of Melbourne grant is municipal, meaning it’s only open to businesses physically operating within that specific council’s boundary, not all of Greater Melbourne.
My business is in Greater Melbourne but not the City of Melbourne council area — can I still apply for the growth grant?
No — “Greater Melbourne” is a broad metro region covering dozens of separate councils, while this grant is specific to the City of Melbourne local government area. Check your own council’s website, since many run similar growth grants just for businesses within their boundary.
What’s the difference between a grant and a tax incentive?
A grant or rebate puts money in your pocket, or offsets a cost, directly. A tax incentive like the Small Business Energy Incentive reduces your taxable income instead — you still spend the money first and claim it back at tax time.
Can I still claim the Small Business Energy Incentive?
Not for new purchases. The 20% bonus deduction applied to assets first used or installed between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024. If you bought and installed something in that window, your accountant can tell you whether it was claimed on your return.
I’m on an embedded network — can I still apply?
Usually yes, but you may need a secondary application form since your meter isn’t in the standard state database. Check the specific program’s application page, or contact them directly if it isn’t obvious.
How is this different from the household rebates page?
This page is specifically for VIC businesses with an ABN. If you’re looking for rebates as a homeowner or renter, see our VIC household page instead.