Following up on my NSW ESS guide from last month, let’s talk about Victoria’s equivalent program. The Victorian Energy Efficiency Target (VEET) scheme creates Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs), and the mechanics differ from NSW in some important ways.

I work across both states regularly, and the differences catch people out. Here’s what you need to know.

How VEECs Work (Quick Version)

When you upgrade to energy-efficient equipment—including LED lighting—you generate certificates based on the calculated lifetime energy savings. These certificates are tradeable commodities that can be sold to energy retailers who need them to meet their obligations under the scheme.

For you as a facility manager or electrician, this translates to cash back on your lighting project. The value depends on:

• How much energy you save (based on what you’re replacing)
• The current VEEC spot price
• Your accredited certificate provider’s margin

Key Differences From NSW ESS

If you’re familiar with the NSW scheme, watch out for these variations:

Calculation methodology: Victoria uses different baseline assumptions and deemed savings formulas. The same retrofit might generate a different number of certificates in each state.

Certificate pricing: VEECs and ESCs trade independently. As I write this, VEEC prices are slightly lower than ESCs, but that fluctuates.

Activity definitions: The specific product categories and requirements differ. Victoria has been updating their activity definitions, so always check the current versions.

Accredited providers: Your NSW ACP might not be registered in Victoria, and vice versa. You need a Victorian-accredited provider for VEET claims.

What Qualifies for VEECs in 2025?

For commercial lighting, the main activities are:

High-intensity discharge to LED: Replacing metal halide, mercury vapour, or high-pressure sodium with LED equivalents. This is your warehouse and industrial lighting.

Linear fluorescent to LED: T8 and T12 fluorescents being replaced with LED tubes or panels. Common in offices, retail, and some industrial settings.

Halogen to LED: Downlights and spotlights, though this is more common in residential and hospitality.

Each activity has specific requirements around:

• Minimum efficacy (lumens per watt)
• Product compliance (AS/NZS standards)
• Installation by licensed electricians
• Evidence requirements (photos, electrical certificates)

The Documentation Deep Dive

Victoria is particular about evidence. Here’s what you’ll need:

Before Installation

Site photos: Clear images showing existing fixtures in place. Include enough context to identify the space. Date stamps are helpful but not strictly required if other evidence corroborates timing.

Existing fixture details: Wattage, lamp type, quantity. If you can photograph the fixture labels or lamp markings, even better.

Site details: Address (must match the electrical certificate exactly), building type, operating hours if relevant to the calculation.

After Installation

Completion photos: New fixtures installed, powered on.

Product evidence: Invoices or packing slips showing the LED products installed. These should include model numbers and quantities.

Compliance documentation: Product certificates demonstrating the LEDs meet relevant Australian standards.

Electrical Certificate of Compliance: The COES (Certificate of Electrical Safety) issued by the installing electrician. This is mandatory and non-negotiable.

Common Rejection Reasons

I’ve seen VEEC claims rejected for:

• Address mismatch between site and COES
• Photos that don’t clearly show the fixtures
• Missing or incomplete product compliance certificates
• Calculations using incorrect baseline assumptions
• Products that don’t meet minimum efficacy requirements

Take the documentation seriously. A rejected claim doesn’t just delay payment—sometimes the activity becomes ineligible if too much time passes.

Working With ACPs in Victoria

Accredited Certificate Providers are your interface to the scheme. They handle the calculations, prepare the applications, and manage the relationship with the Essential Services Commission.

Some ACPs specialise in lighting. Others focus on HVAC or hot water. For commercial LED projects, you want someone who does this regularly.

Questions to ask:

• How many commercial lighting VEECs did you create last year?
• What’s your typical timeline from installation completion to certificate creation?
• What’s your fee structure? (Usually a percentage of certificate value or fixed per-certificate fee)
• Do you handle ESC queries, or does that come back to me?

Current VEEC Economics (February 2025)

As of writing, VEEC spot prices are around $68-72 per certificate. This is above the long-term average but below the peaks we saw in 2023.

For a typical commercial project:

Office fitout (500 sqm): Converting 60 T8 fluorescent fittings to LED panels

• Estimated VEECs: 180-220
• Value at current prices: $12,600-$15,800
• This might cover 40-50% of project costs

Warehouse (2,000 sqm): Converting 40 x 400W metal halides to LED highbays

• Estimated VEECs: 350-450
• Value at current prices: $24,500-$32,400
• This might cover 50-65% of project costs

These are indicative only. Your ACP will provide specific calculations based on your actual site conditions.

Strategic Considerations

Timing: VEEC prices are hard to predict. If you’ve got a viable project and current prices are reasonable, don’t wait for a perfect moment that might not come.

Bundling with controls: Adding occupancy sensors, daylight dimming, or scheduling can increase your savings but may not directly increase VEECs. The certificate calculation is often based on the lamp replacement itself, not the controls. However, controls reduce your actual energy consumption further, improving the overall project economics.

Multi-site rollouts: If you manage multiple Victorian facilities, coordinate your projects. Bundling can reduce ACP fees per certificate and streamline documentation.

The Compliance Factor

Every LED product needs to meet AS/NZS standards. For general lighting, that’s AS/NZS 60598.1 for luminaires and AS/NZS 62031 for LED modules.

But for Victoria specifically, products should also meet the minimum efficacy requirements specified in the relevant VEET activity definition. These requirements get updated periodically, so check the current version on the Essential Services Commission website.

Don’t assume your supplier’s products comply. Ask for certificates. Reputable suppliers will have these readily available. If they can’t provide them quickly, that’s a warning sign.

Getting Started

1. Audit your existing lighting (or have someone do it for you)
2. Get quotes from lighting suppliers for LED replacements
3. Contact an ACP for a certificate estimate
4. Calculate net project cost and payback
5. Proceed if the numbers work

The Victorian scheme is legitimate and well-administered. The rebates are real. But the paperwork requirements mean you need to be organised from the start.

Next month, I’ll be looking at the often-overlooked area of external and car park lighting—where the savings can be surprisingly strong.