Heat Pump Hot Water Rebates in Australian Capital Territory (2026)
By PumpSwap. Checked against the official sources on 21 September 2026. How we check
In the ACT, a heat pump installed in 2026 gets the federal STC discount (typically $500 to $800). Home owners can also borrow $2,000 to $20,000 at 3% over up to 10 years through the Sustainable Household Scheme, and home owners with a concession card can get a rebate of 50% of the cost, up to $2,500, through the Home Energy Support Program.
Total rebates and discounts: up to $800, plus a low-interest loan. PumpSwap's modelled installed price after rebates in the Australian Capital Territory: $2,300 - $4,800.
Get free installer quotesAustralian Capital Territory gas rules
Gas connections banned in new buildings since March 2024. ACT was the first jurisdiction in Australia to legislate a gas ban. Full gas phase-out targeted by 2045. Low-interest loans available via the Sustainable Household Scheme.
Australian Capital Territory heat pump rebates at a glance
| Scheme | What you get | How it reaches you | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) | $500 to $800 | Taken off the installer's quote | Official page |
| Sustainable Household Scheme | Loan of $2,000 to $20,000 | A loan you repay, not a rebate | Official page |
| Home Energy Support Program | Rebate of 50% of the cost, up to $2,500 | For people who own and live in their home and hold a Pensioner Concession Card, DVA Gold Card or Health Care Card. A workshop is required. | Official page |
| ActewAGL heat pump offer (check current terms) | $1,250 off plus a $250 bill credit | Listed for ActewAGL electricity customers replacing gas hot water, with up to $2,000 off plus a $400 credit for concession or hardship households. Offered by the retailer under the ACT Energy Efficiency Improvement Scheme; its pages carry no date, so confirm the current terms with ActewAGL. | Official page |
Who qualifies for each scheme is set out on its official page and in the steps below. Loans are listed but not counted as savings.
How to claim in the Australian Capital Territory
- For the Sustainable Household Scheme loan, you must own the property or live with the owner (landlords can apply for a rental), the unimproved land value must be at or below $750,000 for a house or townhouse or $300,000 for a unit, and you must attend a free one-hour workshop. New builds are excluded.
- The Home Energy Support rebate uses the same land value thresholds and also needs the workshop.
- Choose a heat pump on the Clean Energy Regulator's register, because only registered models earn STCs. The installer or their agent takes the STC discount off the quote when you assign the certificates to them.
- Ask for each discount to appear as its own line on the quote, so you can see nothing has been missed.
What has changed in the Australian Capital Territory, and what is coming
Rebates move several times a year. Each entry below links to the official source, and every scheme on this page was last checked against its source on 21 September 2026.
- 1 January 2027FederalComing
Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). The deeming period drops from 5 years to 4, so the same heat pump earns about one fifth fewer certificates than a 2026 install and the upfront discount falls with it. It drops again every 1 January until the scheme ends in 2030. Clean Energy Regulator, calculating STC entitlements
- 1 July 2026ACTIn effect
Sustainable Household Scheme (a loan, not a rebate). The maximum loan rose from $15,000 to $20,000 for new applications. Households that applied or were approved before 1 July 2026 stay at $15,000. The rate is 3% over up to 10 years. ACT Government, Sustainable Household Scheme
- 1 January 2026FederalIn effect
Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). The deeming period dropped from 6 years to 5, reducing the certificates each system earns compared with a 2025 install. Clean Energy Regulator, calculating STC entitlements
Official sources for every scheme
- Federal: Small-scale Technology Certificates, Clean Energy Regulator (checked 21 September 2026)
- ACT: Sustainable Household Scheme, ACT Government (checked 21 September 2026)
What a heat pump costs in the Australian Capital Territory after rebates
PumpSwap's modelled installed price after rebates, for Australian Capital Territory's largest centres. It is a guide, not a quote: the real price depends on the system, your home and the installer.
| Area | Modelled price after rebates |
|---|---|
| Canberra | $2,300 - $4,800 |
| Tuggeranong | $2,300 - $4,700 |
| Gungahlin | $2,300 - $4,800 |
| Belconnen | $2,300 - $4,800 |
| Weston Creek | $2,400 - $4,900 |
| Woden | $2,400 - $4,900 |
| Kambah | $2,300 - $4,800 |
| Ngunnawal | $2,300 - $4,800 |
Australian Capital Territory heat pump rebate questions
Is the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme a rebate?
No, it is a loan you repay: $2,000 to $20,000 at 3% over up to 10 years, with no establishment or account fees. The $20,000 limit applies to applications from 1 July 2026; earlier participants stay capped at $15,000.
Can renters use it for a heat pump?
No. Tenants can only use the scheme for electric vehicles. Landlords can apply for a rental property.
Does it still cover rooftop solar?
Rooftop solar was removed on 1 July 2025, except for loans under the Home Energy Support Program.
What changes on 1 January 2027?
The federal STC discount steps down every 1 January until the scheme ends in 2030. A heat pump installed in 2027 earns about one fifth fewer certificates than the same model installed in 2026, so the upfront discount falls with it.
Sources
- ACT Government, Sustainable Household Scheme (checked 21 September 2026)
- ACT Government, Home Energy Support rebates (checked 21 September 2026)
- ActewAGL, hot water heat pump upgrade (checked 21 September 2026)
- Clean Energy Regulator, calculating STC entitlements (checked 21 September 2026)
Heat pump guides for the Australian Capital Territory
Cost by Suburb
Modelled installed costs after all available rebates. Click a suburb for a detailed breakdown including brand options and installer quotes.
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