VEU Accredited Provider and Air Conditioning Licences in Victoria
If you are upgrading to reverse cycle heating and cooling in Melbourne under the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program, two things decide whether the job is done properly: who applies your VEU discount, and who actually installs the system. This guide explains what an accredited provider is, why it matters for your discount, and which licences sit behind a safe, compliant installation.
The short version: EZYAIR is an accredited provider under the Victorian Energy Upgrades program (accreditation A2261). Our own licensed refrigeration mechanics and electricians install every system, and we handle the VEU paperwork for you from quote to completion. See how our VEU upgrades work or ask us for a quote.
What is a VEU accredited provider?
An accredited provider is a business that the Essential Services Commission (ESC) has accredited to create Victorian energy efficiency certificates (VEECs) for eligible upgrades. In the program's own rules these businesses are called accredited persons (APs). The value of those certificates is what funds the discount you see on your quote.
Accredited providers are responsible for the upgrades they claim. They must follow the VEU code of conduct, which covers marketing, contracts, installation and follow-up, and they need a complaints process for customers. The ESC sets out these obligations on its consumer rights page.
Why your accredited provider matters for the VEU discount
The Victorian Government is clear that accredited providers are the only organisations that can apply the VEU discount. An accredited provider may install the system itself or work with a partner installer. If you already have an installer in mind, they must be working with an accredited provider and the discount must be arranged before any work starts. Discounts depend on what you are replacing and the system you install, and the current indicative amounts are published on the Victorian Government heating and cooling discounts page.
Product rules matter too. To be eligible, the new system must be an approved high efficiency reverse cycle air conditioner, carry a minimum 5 year warranty for homes, and if you are replacing an existing heating or cooling system, that system must be more than 2 years old. We confirm all of this before we quote, so there are no surprises after installation.
EZYAIR is accredited provider A2261
We are directly accredited with the ESC as an accredited provider under the VEU program, accreditation number A2261. That means we can create the certificates for your upgrade ourselves, without handing your job to a third party. You can check our listing on the ESC VEU Registry or search for any business using the ESC's find an accredited provider tool.
Because the same team quotes, installs, certifies and services your system, there is one business accountable for the whole job.
The licences behind a compliant air conditioning installation
Being an accredited provider covers the VEU side. The installation itself is regulated separately, and a typical split, multi-split or ducted installation in Victoria involves three areas of trade licensing, plus a business authorisation for handling refrigerant. Here is a plain English overview. It is general information, not legal advice, so always check the current rules with the relevant regulator.
1. Refrigerant handling (Australian Refrigeration Council)
Anyone who handles refrigerant, including installing a split system, needs a refrigerant handling licence issued by the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC). Two licence types cover split system air conditioners, and they allow very different work.
| Work | Full RAC licence (RAC01) | Restricted splits licence (RSS03) |
|---|---|---|
| Single head split systems under 18kW (wall hung, cassette or ducted indoor unit) | Yes | Install, commission and decommission only |
| Multi-split (multi head) systems | Yes | No |
| Systems of 18kW cooling capacity or more, including VRF and larger ducted plant | Yes | No |
| Adding refrigerant | Yes | Only on extended pipe runs during installation |
| Service, repair or maintenance involving refrigerant | Yes | No |
Source: ARC Fact Sheet 13, Who can do what with split system air conditioners and the ARC licence types page. The full RAC licence is normally gained through a Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration apprenticeship, while the restricted licence has a narrower training pathway.
Our installations are led by our in-house refrigeration mechanics holding full RAC licences, so we can install, commission, service and repair split, multi-split, ducted and VRF systems, including the systems we install for you under the VEU program.
2. Refrigerant Trading Authorisation (the business)
A Refrigerant Trading Authorisation (RTA) is a business authorisation, not a trade qualification. Under federal regulations, a business that buys, stores or disposes of refrigerant must hold an RTA issued by the ARC, and must make sure the refrigerant it holds is only handled by appropriately licensed technicians. An RTA does not widen what an individual technician's licence allows. We hold Refrigerant Trading Authorisation AU25526.
The ARC and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water run the Environmental Stewardship Excellence Award for RTA holders found fully compliant at their first ARC audit. EZYAIR has received this award and is a partner in the ARC Retail Engagement Program. Read about our ARC partnership.
3. Electrical work (Energy Safe Victoria)
Connecting an air conditioner to your switchboard is electrical work that must be carried out by a licensed electrician working for a registered electrical contractor, under rules administered by Energy Safe Victoria. When the work is finished, the electrician issues a Certificate of Electrical Safety (CoES).
EZYAIR is a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC 20559). Our A grade electricians install the dedicated circuit and safety switch protection your system requires, and we provide a CoES for the electrical work on every installation.
4. Plumbing and drainage (Building and Plumbing Commission)
In Victoria, plumbing work associated with refrigerated air conditioning, including condensate drainage, is regulated by the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC), which replaced the Victorian Building Authority in 2025. Licensed practitioners must issue a compliance certificate for plumbing work where the regulations require one.
EZYAIR holds Building and Plumbing Commission plumbing licence 49852. Our plumbing work is carried out under that licence, and we provide a plumbing compliance certificate where one is required. Good drainage matters more than most people think. Our guide to terminating condensate drains explains why.
How we handle your VEU paperwork
When you choose EZYAIR for a VEU upgrade, you deal with one team from first call to final certificate:
- Site assessment and eligibility check. We look at your home and your existing heater or air conditioner, and confirm which approved models and VEU activities apply.
- A clear quote with the discount included. Your quote shows the VEU discount already taken off, so you only pay the balance.
- Contract and statement of rights. We give you clear terms, including fees, payment terms and any cooling-off period, plus the ESC statement of consumer rights, as the code of conduct requires.
- Installation by our licensed team. Our refrigeration mechanics and electricians complete the installation, and we arrange any required decommissioning of the old system in line with program rules.
- Certificates and handover. You receive your Certificate of Electrical Safety, a plumbing compliance certificate where required, the manufacturer's instructions and warranty, and our contact and complaints details.
- VEEC creation and audits. We create the VEECs for your upgrade as accredited provider A2261 and complete the pre-installation checks and post installation audits that are part of our VEU process, so the compliance trail is in order.
Want to know more about how certificates work? Read what VEECs are and how they save you money, or see whether you can reuse gas ductwork when upgrading to reverse cycle.
Notes for builders and renovators
If you are managing a renovation, extension or knockdown rebuild, licensing and paperwork affect your handover as much as the homeowner's comfort:
- Match the licence to the system. Multi-split, VRF and larger ducted systems need a full RAC licence holder. A restricted splits licence will not cover them.
- Fewer trades to coordinate. Our refrigeration and electrical work is done in-house, which makes rough-in, fit-off and certification simpler to schedule.
- Certificates for handover. We supply the electrical and plumbing certificates for our work so your compliance documentation is complete.
- Check VEU eligibility early. Eligibility depends on the activity, the existing system and the product, so talk to us before equipment is ordered or work starts. If you are replacing a system, it must be more than 2 years old.
See our ducted reverse cycle and multi-split options, or contact us about your project.
Questions to ask any VEU installer
- Are you an accredited provider, and what is your accreditation number? If not, which accredited provider are you working with?
- Will the discount be shown on my quote before any work starts?
- Does the technician hold a full RAC licence or a restricted splits licence, and does that suit my system?
- Who will do the electrical work, and will I receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety?
- Will I receive a plumbing compliance certificate if one is required?
- Who do I contact for service, warranty or a complaint after installation?
You can see our licences and registrations on our qualifications page.
Frequently asked questions
What is a VEU accredited provider?
A VEU accredited provider is a business accredited by the Essential Services Commission (ESC) to create Victorian energy efficiency certificates (VEECs) for eligible upgrades. Accredited providers are the only organisations that can apply the Victorian Energy Upgrades discount to your quote, and they must follow the VEU code of conduct.
Is EZYAIR a VEU accredited provider?
Yes. EZYAIR is an accredited provider under the Victorian Energy Upgrades program, accreditation number A2261. You can check our listing on the ESC VEU Registry.
Can I use my own installer and still get the VEU discount?
According to the Victorian Government, your own installer must be partnered with an accredited provider, and the discount has to be arranged with that accredited provider before any work starts. If an installer is not working with an accredited provider, the discount cannot be applied.
What licences does an air conditioning installer need in Victoria?
A compliant split or ducted installation usually involves three areas: an ARC refrigerant handling licence for the technician, a licensed electrician working for a registered electrical contractor for the electrical connection, and Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) plumbing licence 49852 for the plumbing side, such as condensate drainage. The business also needs a Refrigerant Trading Authorisation if it buys, stores or disposes of refrigerant.
Can an RSS03 licence holder install a multi-split or VRF system?
No. Under the ARC restricted split systems licence (RSS03), the holder can install single head split systems under 18kW cooling capacity, including single head ducted units, but cannot work on multi head systems or systems of 18kW or more, and cannot carry out service or repairs that involve handling refrigerant. Multi-split, VRF and larger systems need a full RAC licence holder.
What paperwork should I receive after a VEU air conditioning upgrade?
Under the VEU code of conduct you should receive the contact details of the accredited provider creating the certificates, the installer's contact details, information on the provider's dispute resolution process, and the manufacturer's instructions and warranty. Expect a Certificate of Electrical Safety for the electrical work and a plumbing compliance certificate where the plumbing work requires one.
Related guides
Keep reading with these related EZYAIR guides:
- Replacing a Split System: What to Check First
- Split System Refrigerants: R-32, R-410A and R-22 Explained
- What Is a Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner?
- Correct Termination of Air Conditioner Condensate Drains
- What Are the Best Air Conditioner Brands in Australia?
Get a compliant VEU quote from EZYAIR
Whether you are replacing a gas heater, upgrading an old split system or planning a new ducted or multi-split system, our team can confirm your VEU eligibility and give you a clear quote with the discount included.
- Contact us for a quote
- Learn more about our Victorian Energy Upgrades service
- Call 1300 EZYAIR (1300 399 247), Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Ezy Air Conditioning & Heating Pty Ltd, 49 Huntingdale Rd, Burwood VIC 3125. Installing and servicing air conditioning in Melbourne since 2007.
This article is a general overview of VEU and licensing requirements in Victoria and is not legal advice. Program rules, discounts and licensing requirements can change, so check the ESC, ARC, Energy Safe Victoria and BPC for the latest information. Last reviewed October 2026.
