THE Victorian Government is cutting the cost of installing insulation in homes to help families slash their energy bills by around $400 a year. Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio announced on Tuesday, 8 April that Victorians can access discounts on ceiling insulation through the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program from early 2026. The VEU discount will halve the average ceiling insulation install costs of $3000 to $1500, based on current certificate prices. Almost 60 percent of homes in Victoria either have no ceiling insulation or are under-insulated, missing energy bill savings of more than $400 per year on average. The estimated 200,000 households with no insulation will be eligible for the first stage of the discount, with those wanting to top-up becoming eligible later. New safety and quality standards for installation were also announced, which prioritise safety above all by having audits and oversight requirements, allowing only high-quality products and well-trained installers. Solar Victoria will work with industry, unions, training organisations, and safety regulators on the implementation. It will also work with the Energy Efficiency Council to train, certify, and expand the insulation installer workforce. Ms D'Ambrosio said the government was ensuring installations were of the highest standard. “We’ve helped 2.4 million Victorian households save on their energy bills with the VEU," Ms D'Ambrosio said. "They’re now using less energy which drives down everyone’s power bills.” Insulation acts as a barrier to heat flow, making homes more comfortable year-round, reducing energy consumption, and lowering heating and cooling costs. The VEU program has also helped more than 170,000 businesses upgrade their appliances and equipment, bringing the saving across all buildings to over $440 million. The addition of insulation will help reduce emissions, support local manufacturing, and improve the energy efficiency of homes.
