Sustainable Household Scheme: a loan
This is a loan, not a rebate. ACT homeowners can borrow from $2,000 to $20,000. The ACT Government describes it as "a low-interest loan, with a 3% interest rate and no upfront costs or fees". You pay it back.
Eligible products include "hot water heat pumps (HWHP) and evacuated tube solar hot water systems".
A lower cap of $15,000 applies to previous participants, and to anyone who applied or was approved before 1 July 2026.
Home Energy Support: a rebate
This one is a rebate: "one rebate of 50% of the total cost of the supply and installation, up to $2,500".
To be eligible you must own and live in the home where the product will be installed and hold an eligible concession card. The home must also meet the unimproved value limits: $750,000 for houses and $300,000 for units.
Wait for pre-approval
The ACT Government's advice for Home Energy Support is plain: don't accept a quote until your application has been pre-approved by the ACT Government. Tell the plumber you're applying, and ask them to hold the quote.
Loan or rebate?
| Sustainable Household Scheme | Home Energy Support | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A loan you repay | A rebate |
| How much | $2,000 to $20,000, at 3% interest | 50% of supply and installation, up to $2,500 |
| Who it's for | ACT homeowners | Owner-occupiers with an eligible concession card, within the value limits |
| Before you sign | Check the product is on the eligible list | Wait for pre-approval |
STCs apply here too
STCs are a federal scheme, so they work the same in Canberra. Eligible air source heat pumps under 425 L and solar water heaters under 700 L on the register can lower the price. See how STCs work.
The gas connection ban
Since 8 December 2023, the ACT has stopped new gas network connections. The ban covers residential, commercial and community facility land-use zones, under the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010. If your home is already connected, that connection stays.
Longer term, the ACT Government's plan is renewable electricity in place of fossil fuel gas by 2045.
There's no rule yet forcing gas appliances to be replaced. A discussion paper looked at standards for rental properties and possible restrictions on installing gas appliances. Consultation ran from 5 August to 16 September 2026, with a draft regulation and Regulatory Impact Analysis to follow.
So a gas hot water system that still works can stay for now. If you're replacing one, check whether new rules have been made since we wrote this.
Check the licence
Access Canberra lets you view detailed licence statuses for tradespeople, including expired, suspended, surrendered and cancelled licences, with any disciplinary action under the Details tab. See how to check a plumber's licence.
Questions to ask the plumber
- Is this model eligible under the Sustainable Household Scheme?
- Is it on the STC register, and is that discount already in the price?
- I'm applying for Home Energy Support: can you hold this quote until I'm pre-approved?
- If I switch from gas, what happens to my gas connection and meter?
What we would do
If you hold a concession card, apply for Home Energy Support first and sign nothing until it's pre-approved. If you don't, weigh the loan's 3% interest against paying outright, and check the product is on the scheme's list. Either way, have a plumber who specialises in hot water confirm the exact model and where it will go before you commit.