Frequently Asked Questions

Darebin residents and business owners can arrange for any property in Darebin City Council to have energy upgrades undertaken through the program. Register for free advice and no obligation quotes here.

Yes! If you are the owner of a rental property in Darebin, you may obtain quotes and have any of the Energy Upgrade products supplied and installed by our vetted installers.   

If you are a tenant, you can register and receive quotes through the Darebin Energy Upgrade program. However, you will require the landlord to agree to the upgrades. Darebin City Council can help you contact your landlord by sending a direct letter from Council. Council will also highlight the minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties, detailed below.  

If you are a tenant, you can register and receive quotes through the Darebin Energy Upgrade program. Some upgrades will require the property owner's approval, and some may also require the property owner to cover the cost of the work. Darebin City Council can assist by sending a letter to your property owner outlining the proposed upgrades, the costs involved, and the minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties.

There are also Victorian Government solar rebates for rental properties. 

All rental properties must have an efficient fixed heater (not portable) in good working order in the main living area. For rental agreements entered into from 29 March 2023, that heater must be an energy-efficient fixed heater.   

Further energy efficiency standards for rental properties will come into effect in 2027:

• From 1 March 2027, heating and hot water systems that reach end of life must be replaced with efficient electric systems (hot water heat pumps or reverse cycle air-conditioners RCAC). At the start of a new lease (or conversion to a periodic lease) 4-star showerhead/s and cooling in the main living area must be installed.
• From 1 March 2027, at the start of a new lease (or conversion to a periodic lease), insulation must be installed in ceiling spaces where no insulation is present by an accredited installer.
• From 1 July 2027, insulation must be installed by an accredited installer where no insulation is present at the start of a new lease (or conversion to a periodic lease), external doors, windows and wall vents must have draught proofing installed.
• From 1 July 2030, efficient electric cooling must be installed in the main living area of all rental homes, irrespective of whether a new lease has been entered into.

Read more at Energy efficiency for rental properties in Victoria

We have published the standard prices of all available energy upgrades, including applicable rebates. Our vetted installers will provide quotes specific to your needs, for example, sizing hot water systems, heating and cooling systems and insulation to suit your home. The final quoted cost depends on specific circumstances, such as any switchboard upgrades, additional wiring and rebates applied. Free, no obligation quotes will detail the final cost for your installation.  

There are a range of Australian Government and Victorian Government rebates available to help you create an energy efficient home.   

The rebates available across the energy upgrade products vary, and some have specific eligibility criteria. See further information on the Pricing, products and rebates page. 

In addition to Australian and Victorian Government rebates, Darebin City Council will provide additional rebates for eligible Darebin residents on some Energy Upgrades. See eligibility criteria and rebate amounts here.

YEF and the vetted installers can assist you to access applicable rebates.  

If you don’t know which energy upgrades would be best to save energy and improve home comfort, Yarra Energy Foundation can provide free advice. The YEF team is here to help you understand your options and make informed decisions that suit your needs. You can call YEF on (03) 7037 6040.  

You can also download Darebin City Council’s Go Electric Plan to help plan and prioritise your next upgrade.  

Savings will vary for each household. Speak to the relevant installer(s) or YEF about which upgrades are likely to provide the greatest savings. 

If you decide to proceed with the installer’s quote, that installer will be responsible for the installation, services, products, and warranties, in accordance with the terms and conditions outlined in your quote.   

Yarra Energy Foundation and Darebin City Council are not responsible for the supply and installation of upgrades. YEF is available to respond to any questions you may have about the offer.

If you have registered your interest and received a quote(s), but have changed your mind, you have no obligation to proceed with installation.   

You can choose to proceed with installation by accepting a quote from an installer, along with any terms and conditions provided with the quote, the arrangement will be with the installer(s) and not with Yarra Energy Foundation or Darebin City Council.   

If you change your mind after accepting a quote from an installer, you will need to consider any terms and conditions provided with the quote and liaise with the installer. YEF and Darebin City Council are not responsible for these matters.  

In the first instance, you should discuss your concerns directly with the installer, and they will seek to resolve any issues. While YEF is not party to your accepted quote with an installer, if there are issues that are unresolved, please contact YEF for assistance.  

The information you provide in the registration form is submitted to Yarra Energy Foundation and Darebin City Council, and with your consent, will be shared with the following parties:   

Relevant installer(s) depending on the energy upgrade products you have expressed interest in: All Electric Homes for rooftop solar, heating and cooling, hot water, home batteries, electric vehicle chargers and induction cooktops and Enviroflex for insulation and draught proofing.

All Electric Homes and Enviroflex will only provide you with information about products and services you have selected on the registration form or asked for.   

Your personal information will be managed in accordance with our privacy policy and will not be disclosed to any other third party without your consent, unless required or authorised by law. You can contact Yarra Energy Foundation for access to and/or amendment of the information recorded.   

Darebin City Council may contact you for follow up study cases and see how your upgrades are going if you agree to be contacted in the future. 

Darebin City Council engaged Yarra Energy Foundation as an independent partner to help deliver the Darebin Energy Upgrades program. Through a rigorous evaluation process, YEF has appointed two reputable energy upgrade installers with good quality products at affordable prices. YEF is here to provide independent advice to residents as they embark on their energy upgrades journey. Importantly, YEF does not profit from any installation, ensuring our guidance remains completely impartial. 

To select the preferred installer, YEF considered the following: 

• Capacity and expertise 

• Product quality and warranties 

• Customer service 

• Price and value for money. 

In addition, the following requirements were evaluated: 

• Installer insurances 

• Professional reference checks and customer reviews 

• Industry accreditations and memberships 

• Staff qualifications and training 

• Environmental management and safety. 

Load shifting is about maximising your bill savings by adjusting your energy usage patterns. By having electric appliances like your hot water system, dishwasher, and washing machine running when your solar panels are generating electricity or when grid-supplied energy is cheaper, you can lower your energy bills.   

A Planning Permit is required if your property is subject to a Heritage Overlay, and the panels will be visible from the street or a public park. To find out if your property is subject to a Heritage Overlay, website & phone number for Darebin City Council.