Updated guidance for installations of refrigerated cabinets (activity 32) under the VEU program

31 March 2022

The commission and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning have received feedback from stakeholders about the refrigerated cabinet activity, with concerns raised that cabinets are being installed at inappropriate business premises and in inappropriate numbers.  

Updated activity guide and VEEC assignment form for refrigerated cabinet activity 

We have released updated guidance for stakeholders in the Appliance Activity Guide to reinforce the requirement that installations of these products must meet the requirements of the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Act 2007, Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Regulations 2018 and Victorian Energy Upgrades Specifications 2018, and be fit-for-purpose.  We have included guidance for stakeholders on what installations are considered to be fit for purpose. 

We have also updated the guide to reinforce Australian Consumer Law requirements for accredited persons to ensure all lead generators, salespeople and installers do not engage in conduct that is liable to mislead the public as to the nature, the characteristics, the suitability for their purpose or the quantity of any goods or services supplied or to be supplied under the VEU program.

To help us verify if installations are fit for purpose, we have also included the following new evidentiary requirement for this activity:

• Geo-tagged photos showing:
  • the installation environment before the product is installed (including existing product replaced if applicable)
  • the installed product after installation

We have also updated the consumer declaration section in the VEEC assignment form template for this activity to reflect our expectation that consumers are assessing and accepting that the installation meets their needs as the energy consumer.

All accredited persons and installers involved in delivery of this activity under the program should review the updated guide and form, and ensure that refrigerated cabinet installations delivered under the VEU program meet these updated requirements.

Accredited persons must ensure they collect geo-tagged photos for any installations of refrigerated cabinets from 11 April 2022.

Installations which do not meet the requirements of the program’s legislation (as listed above), and which are not fit for purpose are unlikely to result in a genuine reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This will harm the reputation and integrity of the program.

We will be monitoring the uptake of the activity under the program closely and where necessary will take the appropriate enforcement action if breaches occur.

Where to get help

If you have any questions or feedback about this program update, please contact VEU Support on (03) 9032 1310 or veu@esc.vic.gov.au.