Updated October 2026. Written and reviewed by the OPT Energy team, a Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) accredited provider since 2014. Checked against the current VEU program information and our own quote terms.
A good energy upgrade assessment starts before the assessor knocks on your door. Do five things first. Check the current program rules on the Victorian Government’s energy website. Gather 12 months of energy bills and note the details of your existing appliances. Then decide what you actually want to fix and write down your questions. What you get from the visit depends a lot on what you bring to it.
Our team has handled VEU upgrades for Victorian households from our Port Melbourne office since 2014. The biggest lesson from those years is simple. An assessor can only quote on what they can see and confirm on the day. Missing bills, a faded label or unclear owner consent can all hold things up. This checklist walks you through each step, so nothing slips through.
How to prepare for an energy upgrade assessment in short
The quick answer
If you only have a minute, here’s what to do:
- Read the current program rules on the Victorian Government’s energy website before you book.
- Download a full year of electricity and gas bills.
- Photograph your hot water unit, heater, air conditioners and meter box.
- Write down the problems you want solved, in order of priority.
- Prepare a short list of questions for the assessor.
Why preparation matters
The visit decides which upgrades suit your home. Discounts depend on your eligibility and on government certificates, so small details matter. When you give the assessor accurate information, your written quote is more accurate too.
Guesswork on the day tends to cause one of two problems. Either the price changes later, or the product doesn’t suit how your household really lives. A little homework beforehand avoids both.
How a typical visit runs
Every home is different, so no two visits follow exactly the same script. The purpose stays the same, though. The assessor needs to confirm your eligibility and the appliances you want to replace, then recommend options that fit. After that, you receive a formal written quote. The better prepared you are, the more of the visit goes on advice rather than hunting for details.
Step 1: Check the current program rules before you book
Read the official program page first
The Victorian Government describes the program as discounts on energy efficient appliances that help households save on energy bills. The rules change from time to time. The “About Victorian Energy Upgrades” page on energy.vic.gov.au explains what the latest changes mean for your home. Read it before you book, so you know what applies right now.
For background on the scheme itself, our guide on how the VEU program works covers the basics. If you mainly want to know which rebates exist, see our overview of energy rebates in Victoria. This guide sticks to getting ready for the visit.
Eligibility comes before product choice
It’s tempting to pick a shiny new heat pump first, but eligibility has to come first. Your property and your existing appliance both need to qualify before any discount can apply. Confirm this early, so you don’t get attached to a product that won’t attract a discount.
Example: renting in Melbourne
Picture a tenant in a Melbourne apartment with an old electric storage hot water unit. They want to upgrade it, but they don’t own the property. That means they need written approval from the owner before anything is booked. Sorting this out at the start saves a wasted visit and an awkward chat with the landlord later.
Step 2: Gather the paperwork the assessor will ask for
Electricity and gas bills
Recent bills show how much energy your home uses and when. A full year is ideal because it captures winter heating and summer cooling in one picture. Digital copies from your retailer’s app or online account are perfectly fine.
Proof of ownership or owner consent
If you own the home, keep your property records handy so you can show who is able to approve the work. If you rent, have the owner’s written consent ready to show. Missing consent is one of the most common reasons a visit can’t move forward, and it’s also one of the easiest to fix ahead of time.
Past upgrades and warranties
Find any records of earlier upgrades, warranties or past VEU discounts on the same appliance. The assessor uses these to work out what’s still possible for you.
| Item to have ready | Why the assessor needs it | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| 12 months of electricity bills | Shows seasonal usage and peak demand | Retailer app, online account or email inbox |
| 12 months of gas bills | Reveals how much heating and hot water cost you | Gas retailer account or paper statements |
| Proof of ownership | Confirms who can approve the work | Your property records |
| Owner’s written consent (renters) | Work cannot be agreed without it | Your landlord or property manager |
| Past upgrade or discount records | Checks whether the appliance has had a discount before | Old invoices, installer paperwork |
| Warranty documents | Shows age and condition of current equipment | Manuals drawer, manufacturer emails |
Step 3: Note the details of your current appliances
Hot water
Start with the system type. Is it gas storage, electric storage or instantaneous? An instantaneous unit heats water only as you use it, rather than keeping a tank hot. Then note its rough age and where it sits. Look for signs of failure, such as leaks, rust or water that never gets past lukewarm.
Heating and cooling
List everything you use now. That might be a gas ducted heater, a couple of older split systems or a few portable heaters. Note which rooms each one serves and how often it runs. If you’re weighing up replacing a gas ducted heater with an electric system, our guide explains what that change involves.
Take photos on your phone
Snap the compliance plates, model numbers and your meter box. A compliance plate is the small label, usually on the side of the unit, that lists the model, serial number and specifications. On older units these labels often fade or sit in an awkward spot. A hot water unit pushed hard against a wall is a classic example. If you can’t read the label in daylight, try your phone’s torch and zoom. A few clear photos take minutes and save a lot of follow up calls.
Example: a leaking hot water unit
Imagine a family whose gas storage unit has started leaking in the laundry. They need a replacement quickly. Because they already have photos of the compliance plate and a year of gas bills, the assessor can go straight to heat pump hot water options. One example is an Emerald heat pump with DC technology and a Solar Soaker feature. With a clear brief, an urgent problem becomes a fast and informed decision.
Step 4: Work out what you actually want to fix
List your problems in plain words
Skip the jargon and write down what bothers you. It might be cold bedrooms in July or winter gas bills that make you wince. Maybe you run out of hot water after two showers, or your home office bakes every afternoon.
Rank your priorities
Sort that list by budget and urgency. A ranked list lets the assessor tailor advice to you, rather than offering everything at once. A failing hot water unit usually comes ahead of a comfort upgrade in the spare room.
Compare savings estimates with your bills
The Victorian Government’s VEU hub lists discounted appliances, estimated energy savings and guidance on how to upgrade. Put those estimates beside your own bills. You’ll soon see which upgrade is likely to give your household the best value.
Step 5: Get your home ready for the visit
Clear access
Make sure the assessor can easily reach the hot water unit, the meter box, outdoor walls and the roof space if needed. Move bikes, bins and storage boxes out of the way the day before. A meter box behind a locked side gate or a stack of garden pots is easy to sort out ahead of time. If the roof space hatch is inside a wardrobe, clear the shelf below it too.
Think about unit placement
Think about where indoor and outdoor units could go. Noise is the big one, especially near bedrooms or a neighbour’s window. Raise it early, and you avoid surprises later.
Plan around family routines
Tell the team about nap times, work calls or pets. We installed five split systems in one customer’s home, and the crew worked all day, even in the rain. They worked around the family so the baby could nap. When they finished, they cleaned up and took all the boxes away. That customer later shared the experience in a review. It’s a good reminder that telling us your routine upfront is what makes a day like that run smoothly.
Questions to ask during your assessment
Take these questions along and jot down the answers:
- Are you an accredited VEU provider?
- How is the discount calculated, and how do certificates and the VEEC market price affect it?
- What happens if I am found ineligible?
- What brand and model are you recommending, and why?
- What is included in the written quote?
- Are there any cancellation fees?
The Essential Services Commission runs the program. It notes that accredited providers use the VEEC calculator to work out how many certificates an upgrade can create. A VEEC is a Victorian energy efficiency certificate. Put simply, discounts are tied to certificates, and only accredited providers can create them. You can read our latest compliance update to see how we approach this.
One point deserves to be stated plainly. No provider can guarantee the availability or amount of a government incentive or VEU discount. If you’re found ineligible, any indicative price won’t be achievable and the actual price will be higher.
What happens after the assessment
You receive a formal written quote
With OPT Energy, no installation goes ahead until you’ve received and accepted a formal written quote. You’re under no obligation before that point. The formal quote is what sets the actual price.
Read the terms
Take a moment to read the cancellation terms. A $200 cancellation fee applies if you accept a formal quote and then cancel before installation.
If something changes on the day
If unforeseen extra costs come up on installation day, you’re told straight away. You’re under no obligation to proceed. If the job can’t be completed as quoted, your property is restored to how it was before work began.
Common preparation mistakes to avoid
- Booking before checking the rules. Read the current information on the government page first.
- Guessing appliance details. Photos beat memory every time.
- Signing on the spot. Compare the written quote with your ranked priorities before you accept it.
- Treating the indicative price as final. Only the formal quote sets the actual price.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an energy upgrade assessment take?
That depends on how many appliances are being looked at and how easy they are to reach. Having your bills, photos and appliance details ready will shorten the visit.
Do I need my energy bills for a VEU assessment?
Yes. Recent bills help the assessor understand how you use energy. A full year shows the seasonal pattern, which matters for heating and hot water decisions. Digital copies from your retailer’s app are fine.
Can renters book a Victorian Energy Upgrades assessment?
Renters should get written approval from the owner before any work is agreed. Eligibility rules can change, so check the current program information on the Victorian Government site.
Is the discount guaranteed once the assessment is done?
No. Discounts depend on eligibility and the VEEC market price. If you’re found ineligible, the indicative price won’t be achievable and the actual price will be higher. The formal written quote sets the actual price.
Am I committed to an upgrade after the assessment?
No installation goes ahead until you’ve received and accepted a formal written quote. Once you accept a quote, a $200 cancellation fee applies if you cancel before installation.
Which appliances are usually looked at during an assessment?
Hot water systems come up often, for example replacing a gas or electric storage unit with a heat pump. Heating and cooling is another common one, such as swapping older systems for efficient split systems that use R32 refrigerant. We also supply weather seals, LED lighting and an Energy Advisor display.
Ready for your assessment?
Good preparation comes down to five steps. Check the current rules, gather your paperwork, record your appliance details, rank what you want to fix and get your home ready. Bring your questions too, and you’ll come away with a quote that reflects your home and your priorities.
OPT Energy has been VEU accredited since 2014. We work with Victorian households and businesses from our office at 16/36 Sabre Drive, Port Melbourne. If you’d like to hear from people who have already been through the process, we currently hold 304 Google reviews with an average rating of 4.0. Reading a few before you book is a sensible way to know what to expect. Get in touch to arrange your visit. You’ll receive a formal written quote, and nothing goes ahead until you accept it.
