Victorian Government Warmer Winter Discount
Gas Heater Discount for Concession Card Holders - started Monday 4 July 2011
Heating accounts for approximately 50% of total energy used in Victorian homes. By replacing your electric heater with a high efficiency gas space heater, your household can reduce your power bills by up to $280 per year. Your household can also save up to 2 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year. The Victorian Government is making it more affordable for eligible Victorian households to make the switch to high efficiency gas space heaters, reduce household electricity bills and live more comfortably in winter.
*Note: Savings based on the replacement of a portable heater with a 5 star natural gas heater in a room (25m²) in Melbourne (mild climate) at current energy tariffs and with an existing gas connection. Savings when switching to LPG will be significantly less.
About the discount
This discount is a $700 point-of-sale discount off the full supply and installation costs of a gas space heater.
Ducted gas heating systems and unfllued (flueless) heaters are not eligible products for the discount.
The discount started on Monday 4 July 2011.
It is available to eligible concession card holders in Victoria who switch from an electric heater to an eligible high efficiency gas heater which has an energy star rating of 4 or above. For more information download the Warmer Winter Discount Information for Households at the bottom of the page or refer to the Frequently Asked Questions.
The discount is not available for the replacement of existing gas heating. The program is targeted at assisting eligible households switch from electric to gas heating.
The Government may vary availability of the rebate, and the amount of the rebate, from time to time.
Discount availability
The discount is only available through participating suppliers, including retailers and heating specialists. Participating suppliers are responsible for both the supply and installation of the high efficiency gas space heater. When contacting a participating supplier you should have the following documents with you so that the supplier can immediately check your eligibility for the discount:
- eligible Concession Card (refer table below and link at bottom of page).
- an electricity bill(s) for the dwelling to verify you as the concession card holder and person named on the electricity account.
- a gas bill(s) for the dwelling which shows 12 months consumption history if gas is already connected to the dwelling. (typically shown as a bar graph on the bill for natural gas areas). This to check that replacement of an existing gas heater is not occurring.
A participating supplier will:
- check your eligibility
- pre-approve you for a discount
- provide a quotation for supply and installation of an eligible gas space heater.
Installation cannot occur unless there is a valid 30-day pre-approval in place. The discount will only be paid if a valid 30-day pre-approval is obtained from Sustainability Victoria by the participating supplier prior to installation.
A list of Participating suppliers will be available from Friday 1 July 2011. Refer to the link at the bottom of the page.
This listing will be updated regularly as new retailers join the program.
For more information also download the Warmer Winter Discount Information for Households at the bottom of the page or refer to the Frequently Asked Questions.
Discount eligibility
The discount is available across Victoria for:
- owner-occupiers with an eligible concession card
- landlords and tenants where the permanent tenant is an eligible concession card holder.
In each instance the concession card holder must be the person responsible for, and named on, the electricity account and the gas account (where applicable).
| Eligible concession cards | Ineligible concession cards |
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Cards which entitle the householder to the Victorian Winter Energy Concession:
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Discounts are only available to individuals. Discounts are not available to government, companies, businesses or other entities (whether commercial or non-commercial).
Only one discount per dwelling is allowed.
Households which currently or in the past 2 years had gas heating are not eligible. New dwellings or those less than one year old are also not eligible households.
For more information download the Warmer Winter Discount Information for Households at the bottom of the page or refer to the Frequently Asked Questions.
Other gas heater incentives
In addition to the Warmer Winter Discount the Victorian Energy Saver Incentive provides additional support to Victorians installing a high efficiency gas space heater through the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target (VEET) scheme.
Talk to a participating gas heater supplier for details on the available incentive through the VEET scheme or visit the Essential Services Commission online.
Retailers and heating professionals
Retailers, heating professionals and other suppliers who wish to join the Warmer Winter Discount / Victorian Gas Heater Discount for Concession Card Holders program, should email Sustainability Victoria at rebates@sustainability.vic.gov.au.
Suppliers need to enter into an Agreement with Sustainability Victoria before they can offer the discount. Supplier Guidelines are detailed at the below link.
After an Agreement is in place participating suppliers can access the Online Rebates Management System which enables processing of applications. Installations that occur prior to the Agreement being in place are not eligible for the discount. Guidelines for Suppliers are detailed below.
For more information
- Call 1300 366 195
- Email rebates@sustainability.vic.gov.au
| Before contacting a participating supplier, please read our Disclaimer. |
Downloads
- Warmer Winter Discount FAQ's (63.74KB)
- Warmer Winter Discount Information for Households (54.81KB)
- Warmer Winter Discount Guidelines for Suppliers (61.04KB)
- Eligible Concession Cards (90.93KB)