Frequently asked questions
Clear answers to help you decide what to do next.
Getting started
What is BooST?
BooST is the City of Boroondara’s Home Energy Upgrade Program, delivered with program manager HP Energy. It combines advice, access to qualified participating installers and a subsidy of up to $2,000 for eligible households. The BooST subsidy reduces the remaining eligible out-of-pocket expense after other government rebates or subsidies have been applied.
Why is the City of Boroondara offering subsidies?
The financial incentives and access to trusted suppliers are designed to help Boroondara residents undertake home energy upgrades at a reduced cost. These upgrades help reduce community emissions while helping residents save money on energy bills and improve comfort in their homes.
This project is strategically aligned to the City of Boroondara’s Climate Action Plan - Implementation Plan 2025/26 and 2026/27 actions:
- 1a. Financial support for community to electrify and improve energy efficiency
- 1b. Community emissions reductions and energy efficiency programs, including access to vetted suppliers
How long will the offerings be available?
The program will be open from October 2026 to July 2027, or until available funding is exhausted, whichever occurs first.
How does it work?
How do the subsidies work?
- Visit the BooST website (www.boroondaraboost.com.au). You must be a resident of Boroondara to be eligible for a subsidy. To find out if you are in the City of Boroondara, visit the Interactive Map.
- Complete the enquiry process and tell us about your home and your priorities. The team will then contact you by phone or email to discuss your options and relevant products.
- The BooST team at HP Energy will discuss your needs, recommend solutions and provide three product quotes for you to compare. Each quote will outline applicable rebates and any provisional BooST subsidy. You may also be eligible for State or Federal Government rebates. Quotes will be provided through the standard process, with the subsidy provisionally applied.
- Before accepting a quote, confirm subsidy eligibility, your contribution and the applicable conditions with the BooST team. If you proceed, tell HP which product quote you prefer and whether you have a preferred participating installer; otherwise HP will assign one.
- Installation is scheduled after subsidy eligibility and required approvals, including heritage approval where applicable, are confirmed.
The Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program requires a minimum resident co-payment for certain upgrades. The following amounts apply from 30 September 2026, include GST and are per installed product. Air-conditioner bands use total rated cooling capacity:
- $200 for domestic heat-pump hot water
- $200 for other non-ducted air conditioners below 10 kW
- $1,000 for other non-ducted air conditioners rated 10 kW or above
- $1,000 for multi-split air conditioners below 10 kW
- $3,000 for multi-split air conditioners rated 10 kW or above
- $3,000 for ducted air conditioners
Council does not cover mandatory co-payments or GST. These are examples, not a complete list of VEU activities with a co-payment. Your provider must confirm the current requirement for each upgrade and show your total contribution without counting the same amount twice.
How long does the process take?
Timing varies depending on your home, the work involved and whether you are considering one or several home energy upgrades. Property assessments, approvals, product availability, installer schedules and your availability can all affect completion.
The team will explain the next steps, discuss expected timing and keep you informed as your installation progresses. See How it works for the contact, quotation and installation timeframes and their conditions.
What happens if funding is exhausted?
BooST subsidies are subject to available program funding. The team can explain the options available at the time of your enquiry. Making an enquiry does not reserve funding or guarantee a subsidy.
Eligibility and support
What if I have received BooST support before?
This subsidy is only available for first-time participation in the BooST Program. A new owner can be eligible even if the previous owner received a subsidy for the same property. Council manually checks participation and ownership history before confirming eligibility. Tell the team if ownership has changed.
How much funding is available?
Eligible BooST households can receive up to $2,000 towards their remaining eligible out-of-pocket expense after other government rebates or subsidies have been applied.
If the remaining expense is less than $2,000, the BooST subsidy will cover only that amount. Any unused balance is automatically forfeited.
For example, if $1,200 of eligible costs remains after all other rebates have been applied, excluding GST and any mandatory co-payment, the BooST subsidy will be $1,200 and the unused $800 will be forfeited. GST and any mandatory co-payment remain payable by the resident.
I am a renter, can I access the $2,000 subsidy?
No. The BooST subsidy is only available to homeowners who meet the program eligibility requirements.
However, renters and landlords can still seek advice from the BooST team about home energy upgrades. If you rent your home, you may wish to share information about the program with your landlord.
The Victorian Government has introduced improved minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties that are due to commence on 1 March 2027. This may provide an opportunity for eligible property owners to undertake upgrades before the new standards take effect.
Ownership, landlord consent and any applicable approvals will need to be considered before any installation proceeds.
What if my home has a heritage overlay?
You can still make an enquiry. Select "Yes" or "I'm not sure" when asked about heritage. The team will consider the current planning controls and proposed works before confirming the installation scope.
A heritage overlay does not automatically determine program eligibility or whether a permit is required.
Check if you need any permits before installing solar panels. For further advice, contact Council's Statutory Planning team.
I have more questions. Who should I ask?
Contact the BooST team at HP Energy on 1300 137 760 for advice, quotes, installation, warranty support or a service concern.
For questions about Council’s eligibility decision or its administration of the program, contact Council on 03 9278 4444.
Can I ask for language or accessibility support?
Yes. Tell the BooST team about your preferred language, communication needs or any assistance that would help with a consultation or visit. You can include these in the optional preferences section of the enquiry form. The team will discuss suitable arrangements with you.
Can I apply if a previous owner received a subsidy for this property?
Yes. A new owner can be eligible even if the previous owner of the same property received a BooST subsidy. Tell the team that ownership has changed. Council will manually check the ownership and participation history and confirm the other eligibility requirements.
Upgrades and products
Do I need to know which products I want?
No. Start with a short enquiry and tell us what you know about your home. You can choose to add your priorities and product interests afterwards.
The team can help identify a starting point, compare options or discuss specific requirements you have already researched.
Can I enquire about more than one home energy upgrade?
Yes. Select all of the home energy upgrades that interest you. The team can help assess how they work together, identify which upgrades to discuss first and determine eligible costs.
The subsidy is up to $2,000 in total for an eligible BooST household. Selecting several upgrade categories does not create a separate $2,000 subsidy for each product or installation.
What if I already have solar panels?
You can still discuss your needs. If you are considering a battery or changes to your solar system, your existing equipment, energy generation and electricity usage should be reviewed.
Include the inverter make and model if you know them. If not, you can provide these details later.
Can I ask about a preferred brand or model?
Yes. Select "I know what I want" for the relevant home energy upgrade, record your preference and indicate whether you are open to alternatives.
If you would prefer guidance, HP Energy can recommend a suitable starting option after assessing your requirements. The team will also check product availability and suitability for your home.
Can I purchase a product myself and then ask you to install it?
No. To ensure your warranty remains valid and that you receive appropriate support before and after installation, all products must be purchased and installed through the approved BooST Program processes. This ensures the installation is completed correctly and that any warranty or support requirements are fully covered.
Privacy and your information
How is my enquiry information handled?
HP Energy Pty Ltd manages BooST enquiries. Contact, property, eligibility and relevant upgrade details help the team respond, assess options and arrange quotes. Information sharing must be limited to the program purpose and authorised recipients. Read HP’s BooST privacy statement for information about your choices, saved progress and privacy contacts.
Where is my information stored?
The BooST website uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) hosting. All BooST program data held by HP and its service providers is stored in Australia. Saved progress and downloaded summaries are separate copies on your own device.
Where can I read Council’s privacy policy?
Council’s Privacy Statement links to its Privacy and Data Protection Policy and explains how to raise a privacy concern. HP’s handling of your BooST enquiry is explained separately on this website.
Can I ask about, access or correct my information?
Call BooST on 1300 137 760 and ask for your request or privacy concern to be referred to HP’s Privacy Officer. You can edit answers held on this device before submitting. To remove an optional saved copy, choose “Clear saved answers”. Deleting a saved copy does not delete any separate downloaded copy or information you have provided through another channel.
Still have a question?
Tell the BooST team what you would like to know and how you prefer to be contacted.