Geelong homes and their hot water
About two in three homes owner-occupied
At the 2021 Census, 34.2% of Greater Geelong's homes were owned outright and 34.6% had a mortgage. Solar Homes is only open to owner-occupiers, so most households here can at least check it.
More than a quarter rented
28.0% of the council area's homes were rented, close to Victoria's 28.5%. Renters' hot water is governed by a separate standard, set out below.
Servicing keeps gas going
Energy Safe Victoria and the BPC recommend gas water heaters are serviced at least every two years by a gasfitter endorsed for Type A appliance work. A looked-after unit is easier to keep repairing.
Gas easements
Council's easement guide names AusNet as the usual holder of gas easements, with Barwon Water for water and sewer. Worth knowing if a new system means changes to a gas line.
When does the 2027 rule apply to you?
Only when your gas system reaches the end of its life on or after 1 March 2027. At that point Solar Victoria says it must be upgraded to an efficient electric alternative, with a heat pump the usual example. A unit that has simply broken down can be repaired: the Government has said so plainly.
Nobody has published a definition of end of life that we could find, and we haven't located the regulation itself. So ask any plumber who calls your unit finished to explain why in writing, and check current rules first. The Victorian rule guide gathers what's been announced.
Who decides, and who can claim
| If the gas unit is beyond repair | Help available | |
|---|---|---|
| You own it and live there | Choose an efficient electric replacement, for instance a heat pump, subject to current rules | Solar Homes if eligible; VEU discount and STCs on eligible models |
| You own it and rent it out | Consumer Affairs Victoria's standard applies: an efficient heat pump water heater, or an electric-boosted solar water heater, with exemptions in some cases | A VEU discount, which CAV says covers every upgrade under the new standards. Landlords can't use Solar Homes |
| You rent it | Your landlord arranges it, within that standard | Nothing for you to claim |
Solar Homes: tick every box
- You're the owner-occupier of an existing home.
- The property is worth under $3 million.
- All owners' combined household taxable income is less than $150,000 a year (down from $210,000 on 1 July 2026).
- The system you're replacing is at least 3 years old from the date of purchase.
- You use an authorised retailer and an eligible heat pump or solar product.
If you qualify, Solar Homes is a rebate of 50% of the purchase price, up to $1,000, or $1,400 for products in its locally made incentive, and it's calculated once other discounts are off. A breakdown or unsafe system can be replaced before Solar Victoria confirms eligibility.
VEU is a discount given by accredited businesses, not a rebate. Its rules make consumers pay a minimum amount for certain upgrades, so be wary of anyone promising a heat pump at no charge, and of anyone knocking on your door about VEU: that's banned. See Victorian hot water rebates.
Cold showers in Geelong: what to do
Leaking? Isolate it
Shut the valve on the cold pipe going into the unit, then turn the unit off: power at the board, or the gas control if you can reach it safely.
Read the label
Photograph the compliance plate. The install date matters for the Solar Homes 3 year condition.
Diagnose before you replace
A thermostat, element or valve can often be swapped. A leaking tank can't.
Ask a Geelong hot water plumber
- Which part has failed, and is a repair worth doing?
- Will you write down why you think it's at end of life?
- Is this heat pump an eligible Solar Homes product, and are you an authorised retailer?
- Does the quote show every discount and the amount I actually pay?
- Is a tempering valve part of this job?
What we would do
Separate the two questions. Is it really finished? A specialist's diagnosis answers that, and repairs are still allowed. If it is finished, what can replace it, and who pays? That depends on whether you own, rent out or rent the home, and for owners on income and the old unit's age. Read Solar Victoria's conditions before signing. Renters: send the landlord a photo of the label and let them organise it.