To manage the cost of the project, Rick chose a $0 upfront Smart Ease Payment Plan. 

“Avoiding the upfront cost meant we could start seeing savings while paying off the system,” said Rick Martino. “And the reduction in our energy bills has already been significant.” 

With the new system in place, MEH is now cutting operational costs, lowering emissions, and setting a strong example for others in the construction sector to follow.

Like the rest of Victoria, we’ve been eagerly awaiting more details on the VEEU’s highly anticipated C&I Solar Activity program.

And while we still can’t point you to the detailed handbook (apparently, it’s still being written), here’s what we learned after attending DEECA’s info session last week – and it didn’t disappoint!

Eligibility

• Victoria-based businesses are eligible, including Not-for-profits. 
• Solar installations must be between 30kW and 200kW, with a 30kVA minimum inverter size.
• Installations can be new or upgrades to existing systems, provided a VEECs rebate has not already been claimed on the existing system.
• Only one project per NMI. A business cannot apply for the rebate multiple times, even if projects are under the 200kW threshold.
• Installations completed after 29 September 2025 may be eligible. No end date has yet been specified.
• Equipment must be Clean Energy Council (CEC) approved and include monitoring/performance tracking capability.
• Installer must have SAA GCPV accreditation and be registered with the VEU.
• Projects must be grid-connected. Fully off-grid systems are ineligible.
• Customers cannot have been acquired via doorknocking or telemarketing.

Rebate specifics

• Unlike the existing VEECs setup, the new C&I Solar Activity program is stackable with federal rebates:
  • 30–100 kW: VEECs + STCs
  • 100–200 kW: VEECs + LGCs
• Another new feature is that the rebate is “deemed,” meaning the rebate amount is released as an upfront payment, not 18 months post-installation.
• Maximum rebate amount: $34,300.
• The program is strictly commercial. Installers must take care when scoping solar for farms with residential dwellings – to qualify for VEECs, the solar system must only service the business operations. Supporting evidence may be required.

What’s next

DEECA will release all final program details and FAQs on 31 October 2025.

In the meantime, installers would be wise to start strategically planning their commercial lead-gen and sales strategies now. As every Victorian solar installer begins to incorporate VEECs rebates into their solar proposals, how will yours stand out?

Here’s one idea: combine the VEECs rebate with a $0 upfront Smart Ease Payment Plan to offer your prospect bigger savings with no capital outlay. It will make it impossible to say no!

David contacted Allume, the company behind SolShare, a world-first solar-sharing technology specifically designed for apartments. SolShare shares energy from a single rooftop solar system  fairly  between all residents of an apartment building.  

According to Allume’s Housing Partnership Manager William Anstee, shared solar using SolShare is far more efficient than having multiple individual systems fighting for roof space. “SolShare provides clean electricity to every single unit and the common areas, and ensures everyone receives the same set amount of solar associated with their ownership. 

“Plus, it delivers higher solar self-consumption, so everyone is really getting the best bang for buck from the rooftop system.” 

On top of providing the most efficient technological solution, Allume was able to point David in the direction of an experienced SolShare installer, One Power Solar & Electricial, and a finance partner, Smart Ease.  

By using a $0 upfront Smart Ease Payment Plan, David and his fellow apartment owners could not only enjoy the SoAR rebate, they could do so without draining their sinking fund or requiring a special levy. Additionally, it meant they could bundle in other decarbonisation technologies, like solar storage, onto their payment plan – further maximising their solar consumption. 

The win 

In August 2025, the One Power Solar & Electrical team completed the installation of a 12.3kW solar PV system and a 25kWh battery storage system, integrated with SolShare technology.  

Through the collaborative efforts of Allume, Smart Ease and One Power Solar & Electrical, the owners corporation successfully applied for the SoAR rebate, resulting in a 50% discount on the solar equipment. The remaining cost of the installation will be paid through manageable monthly instalments, divided up and added as a small additional cost onto regular strata fees. 

For the apartment residents, the outcome is a significant drop in their energy bills – likely far greater than the incremental increase in their strata fees. Plus, according to research by Domain**, they could potentially see a marked increase in the value of their property now that it has been fitted with long-term energy-efficiency infrastructure. Wins across the board!

* https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/solar-for-apartment-residents-soar-grant-program  

** Domain+Insight+-+Sustainability+Report+2025.pdf

In the last two quarters a raft of new clean energy rebates have been launched, each seemingly more attractive than the last. And all with a very short shelf life.  

So which ones do you need to be across to ensure your commercial prospects don’t miss out?  

Here’s our latest list:

1. Round 3 of the Energy Innovation Fund (VIC)

Just announced last week, the highly anticipated third round of Victoria’s Energy Innovation Fund is dedicated to industrial electrification, with a focus on the food and beverage processing and manufacturing sector. 

• Funding amount – 50% of matched funding up to $2 million per project 

• Total Funding pool – $10 million  

• Application period – Monday 29 September – Friday 28 November 2025 

• Project eligibility –  Project must deliver the replacement of fossil fuels with electricity as an input to produce food and beverage products for human or animal consumption. Examples include, but are not limited to electrode boilers, air-to-fluid and fluid-to-fluid heat pumps, electric dryers and electric thermal energy storage. 

Learn more via: https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/grants/energy-innovation-fund 

2. Powering Business Grant (SA)

In August, the SA government unveiled its new Powering Business Grant rebate to incentivise SMEs and NFPs to invest in energy-efficiency upgrades and begin saving on energy bills. 

• Funding amount – Between $2,500 – $75,000 per eligible business  

• Total Funding pool – $20 million  

• Application period – Monday 18 August – Friday 31 October 2025 (or when funding is exhausted) 

• Project eligibility 
• Stream 1: battery OR battery + solar projects. The grant amount will be based on the size and capacity of the system. Solar only projects are ineligible.  
• Stream 2: energy-efficiency upgrades. Grants of up to 50% can be used for upgrades like the installation of new refrigeration equipment, building insulation and lighting upgrades. 

Learn more via: https://business.sa.gov.au/programs/powering-business-grants  

3. Solar for Apartment Residents (NSW)

With only 2% of apartments buildings in NSW currently fitted with solar, the state government identified a real gap in solar accessibility for apartment residents. The Solar for Apartment Residents (SoAR) rebate was rolled out in February 2025 to try and fill this gap and is available to NSW strata companies and owner’s corporations.  

• Funding amount – 50% of matched funding up to $150,000 per project 

• Total Funding pool – $25 million  

• Application period – Friday 28 February – Monday 30 March 2026 (or when funding is exhausted) 

• Project eligibility – Equipment and installation costs associated with solar system installations on apartment buildings.  

Learn more via: https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/households/rebates-grants-and-schemes/solar-apartment-residents  

4. Cheaper Home Batteries Program (Federal)

You would have to be living under a rock if you hadn’t heard of this one yet. But what you might not have properly considered is that:  

• It applies to businesses too. Why target business owners over households? Businesses stand to gain bigger bill savings my investing in solar storage, plus commercial solar deals are bigger. Bigger deal = bigger margin.  

• Industry experts are already warning that funding will run out ahead of the 2030 expiration date. In fact, according to research by SolarQuotes, even when factoring in the gradual decline of the funding amount, the scheme could run out of money by early 2028. Stress this urgency with your prospects! 

• It’s stackable with state rebates like the ones above. So, if you are selling the federal battery rebate in silo, you could be missing out on additional savings for your prospect.  

Need a hand navigating these rebates – or structuring a $0 upfront plan to maximise them? Get in touch.

The results quickly spoke for themselves. A year later, Brodie expanded the system with three additional PV units and three more battery inverters — again via a Smart Ease Payment Plan.

Then, in 2024, he went even bigger: a 193kW solar car park array, also funded through Smart Ease.

The win

Over the past five years, Brodie has used three Smart Ease Payment Plans to transform BP Shinju into a near self-sufficient business.

Today, 95% of the station’s energy comes from solar, with the remaining 5% provided by backup generation. The result is energy independence, lower costs, and long-term resilience – future-proofing the business against rising prices and unreliable grid supply.

The solution

Bill turned to Ausmore Energy’s Jeylan Atkin, who visited the warehouse in Altona North to recommend an energy-saving solution.

The warehouse’s large, flat roof provided the perfect site for a solar array. To maximise savings, Jeylan proposed a 330kW solar system comprising 600 Risen solar panels and three Sungrow inverters.

To manage the cost of the investment, Jeylan recommended a $0 upfront Smart Ease Payment Plan. This meant the business could install the system with no upfront capital, paying instead in manageable monthly instalments. The arrangement effectively reallocated existing energy expenditure, while allowing the company to preserve capital for other priorities.

The system was installed in February 2025.

 The win

Tim and Terry’s Oyster Supply is now powered by clean energy. For a seafood wholesaler, this is not only a major sustainability win but also a powerful PR story: the fishermen who supply them and the restaurants who buy from them all benefit from reduced emissions in their supply chain.

The biggest win, however, is financial. The business has slashed its reliance on the grid, protecting itself from volatile energy prices and reducing exposure to blackout risks – securing both long-term savings and resilience.

For Tim and Terry’s, “if it’s not good enough for us, it’s not good enough for our customers” now extends beyond seafood to the way they power their business for a cleaner future.

Earlier this year we announced that Smart Ease funding solutions are now available to strata companies, effectively helping apartment residents across Australia to access solar savings.  

While one in three Australian houses have solar, only 2.5% of apartment buildings do. That represents a hugely underserved market, and a considerable opportunity for solar installers.  

With Payment Plans now available to offer strata companies, Smart Ease-accredited installers will be well-positioned to capitalise on this emerging demand. 

How Smart Ease makes solar financing easy for strata companies 

One of the reasons solar uptake has been slow for apartments is the tricky issue of funding: where exactly will the money come from?  

Strata companies traditionally have a few options when it comes to paying for a solar installation: 

• Capital Works Fund (commonly known as a sinking fund) 
• Special Levy, where new funds are raised specifically for the solar install – usually proportionally to lot entitlement 

Now, with Smart Ease funding, they have a new option: a zero upfront Payment Plan that allows the project to be funded through monthly repayments. These payments can be incorporated as small additional fees on top of monthly strata rates. This eliminates the barrier of upfront costs and makes the proposition far more attractive.