The Essential Services Commission has cancelled the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) accreditation of two businesses for allegedly providing false information about their energy efficiency projects and breaching consumer protections.
The VEU program is an energy efficiency program that helps Victorians cut their energy bills by supporting households and businesses to use energy more efficiently. Accredited businesses undertake energy efficiency upgrades that entitle them to create Victorian energy efficiency certificates, which they can then sell.
Solar On Roof
The commission alleges Add On Services Pty Ltd (Solar On Roof) and contractors working on its behalf:
- provided false information about upgrades to claim more certificates, including submitting a doctored photo as evidence of an upgrade
- engaged in banned sales and marketing activity, including unsolicited telemarketing and doorknocking
- failed to permanently decommission and remove old hot water systems during upgrades as claimed
- failed to provide documentation to consumers following upgrades
- provided false and misleading information about the VEU program on its website.
The commission has:
- cancelled Solar On Roof's VEU accreditation
- ordered the surrender of 1,228 Victorian energy efficiency certificates, valued at over $100,000*.
The commission immediately suspended Solar On Roof's accreditation in March 2026 after an initial investigation identified concerning conduct. This put an immediate stop to the alleged non-compliance so the commission could investigate further and consider additional action.
Re-Energi
The commission alleges Renewable Energy Pty Ltd (Re-Energi) and contractors working on its behalf:
- provided false information to support certificate claims for ineligible upgrades
- engaged in banned sales and marketing activity
- failed to collect required payments from consumers for multiple upgrades, including by reimbursing consumers for the payments made for their upgrades.**
The commission has:
- cancelled Re-Energi's accreditation
- ordered the surrender of 279 Victorian energy efficiency certificates, valued at around $23,000.*
The commission immediately suspended Re-Energi's accreditation in March 2026 after an initial investigation identified concerning conduct. This put an immediate stop to the alleged non-compliance so the commission could investigate further and consider additional action.
*Figure calculated using the certificate value of $83.25, the spot price on 27 August 2026.
**VEU rules require consumers to make minimum payments for certain upgrades. These requirements are intended to support genuine consumer engagement with the upgrade and confidence in the program.
Quotes attributable to Essential Services Commission Chairperson and Commissioner Gerard Brody
"Submitting false information and breaching consumer protections are serious breaches of the program rules. We've cancelled Solar on Roof and Re-Energi's VEU accreditation as we no longer consider them to be competent and capable to be accredited under the program."
"Businesses must ensure anyone working on their behalf adheres to VEU rules and standards that protect consumers and support program integrity. If they don't, their accreditation, reputation and income are at stake."
"We're monitoring the VEU program closer than ever to uncover wrongdoing, including establishing a Fraud Taskforce and undertaking more site inspections."
Solar on Roof and Re-Energi each applied for a review of the commission's decision to cancel their accreditations. The reviews were completed on 19 August 2026 and the decisions to cancel their VEU accreditation were upheld.
Solar On Roof and Re-Energi are entitled to apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for review of the decision to cancel their accreditations.
