Are both suppliers pricing the same job?
Put the quotes next to a single description of what you asked for. For air conditioning, list the rooms to be covered. For hot water, record the proposed capacity and location. Then check whether both documents actually address that brief.
One proposal might cover the lounge and bedrooms while another covers only the main living space. They may use the same brand without using the same model or configuration. A different rebate figure is difficult to interpret until those differences are visible.
If a model is missing, ask for it. If the supplier has changed the design, ask why. You are not being difficult; you are establishing what you would be buying.
How does the certificate market affect discounts?
VEU is a market-based program. Accredited providers create certificates for eligible activities, and certificate trading helps support the discount. The Victorian Government’s program overview explains that structure.
A certificate’s value is not a permanent, universal dollar entitlement for the homeowner. Ask the provider how the quoted discount has been calculated and how long the offer remains valid. The official heating and cooling guidance describes its published figures as indicative.
You do not need to monitor the certificate market to compare a household quote. You do need a clear statement of your payable amount and the circumstances in which it could change.
Check the description of the old system
Read how each supplier describes the existing appliance. “Gas heating” may be too broad to identify the same activity in both proposals. Check whether both understand that the system is ducted, non-ducted or a different type altogether.
Send the same safely taken photographs and model information to each assessor. Tell them if parts have already been removed, the equipment has stopped working or a previous upgrade has occurred.
Where an assessor has made an assumption, ask for it to be labelled and resolved. A confident-looking total is not more reliable merely because the unknowns have been left off the page.
Build a comparison sheet
| Item | What to record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Old equipment | Type and assessment assumptions | Establishes the same starting point |
| Replacement | Exact models and room coverage | Shows whether the designs match |
| Installed price | GST and complete work scope | Exposes different inclusions |
| Discount | Named scheme and conditions | Separates support from promotions |
| Balance | Final amount and provisional items | Shows what remains to pay |
Add notes for anything the supplier still needs to confirm. A blank box is a question to resolve, not a zero-dollar allowance.
A bigger rebate can still leave a bigger bill
Consider these invented figures solely as a comparison exercise. Quote A lists $10,000 installed, less $4,000 support, leaving $6,000. Quote B lists $8,800 installed, less $3,200 support, leaving $5,600.
Quote A has the larger discount. Quote B has the lower stated balance. Neither is necessarily better until you compare the system and included work. The figures are not current offers or rebate predictions.
Apply the same reasoning to a free product promotion. A low equipment price can sit beside substantial installation costs. Your comparison should follow the total project through to completion.
Which exclusions commonly deserve a question?
Look for electrical work, access equipment, removal, disposal, pipe or duct runs, mounting and finishing work. Their relevance depends on the job, so ask each supplier what is included at your property.
If something is provisional, request an explanation of how it will be assessed and approved. Ask whether you can review the revised total before work proceeds. This is particularly useful where photos have been used for an initial proposal and a site visit is still pending.
Keep revised quotes as separate dated copies. Replacing the original file without a clear version makes it harder to remember which equipment and price you accepted.
What to ask when the numbers still do not match
Send a focused question: “Both proposals are for these rooms and this existing heater. Please confirm the exact replacement models, included work and basis of the discount.” That is more productive than asking a supplier simply to match someone else’s rebate.
Compare warranty and support arrangements too. Ask who attends if something fails and which business handles the VEU component. Melba Energy is not a VEU accredited provider; those arrangements need confirmation before installation.
Read our guide to indicative air conditioning amounts or request an assessment with your current system details and the outcome you want.
Sources and review notes
Checked on 10 October 2026. Program rules and certificate values can change. Use the current official guidance and your written quote before committing to an upgrade.
