How Much Can Solar Panels Actually Save an Australian Household in 2026?
Feed-in tariffs, battery offsets, and the new Victorian rebate — a plain-English breakdown of real savings for average households.
Australian Energy Upgrades was founded in 2017 by brothers Tom and Sam Vandermark. We came from the tools and the work, not a boardroom, and built AEU around advice we would give to our own families.
Before Australian Energy Upgrades had a name, Tom Vandermark was already working as an A-grade electrician. Sam Vandermark had worked with commercial customers on large-scale energy-efficiency projects. They understood what a system needed to do technically and what a customer needed to know before committing.
They also saw what happened when sales came before workmanship: confusing rebate claims, unlicensed labour, unsuitable products and warranties from businesses that disappeared. In 2017, Tom and Sam founded AEU to set a more accountable standard. They built the company from practical experience, and that standard still guides every recommendation.
Tom began his electrical career in 2007. When he entered Victorian Energy Upgrades in 2014, he could recognise the difference between a properly assessed upgrade and a product sold because it suited a rebate.
Sam came from business-to-business LED-lighting sales and energy-efficiency contracts for commercial facilities, including Toll Distribution Centres. His work involved understanding operating requirements, explaining returns and coordinating projects where reliability mattered.
Together, the brothers saw enormous potential but inconsistent standards. Customers made expensive decisions without clear technical advice. Rebate programs could be poorly explained or exploited. Work passed through layers of salespeople and subcontractors, while after-sales responsibility became difficult to trace.
AEU was founded in Geelong to work differently: assess the property first, explain which upgrade made sense and use appropriately qualified trades. That approach now applies to solar panels, battery storage, home EV charging, hot water or reverse-cycle heating and cooling. The job is to work that out honestly.
While technology has changed since 2017, the principle has not: recommend the right upgrade, install it properly and remain accountable.

"We started AEU because the industry was broken. Customers deserved clear advice, qualified trades and a company that would still answer the phone after installation."
Tom began his electrical career in 2007 and entered Victorian Energy Upgrades in 2014 as a licensed A-grade electrician, where he built experience across electrical efficiency, solar and related energy technologies. He holds the technical and electrical contracting responsibility reflected in AEU’s REC 23631 and Solar Accreditation Australia credentials. Tom provides the trade foundation behind AEU’s technical standards, helping ensure recommendations can be installed safely, compliantly and as promised.
Sam came from business-to-business LED-lighting sales and energy-efficiency contracts for commercial facilities, including Toll Distribution Centres. His work involved understanding operating requirements, explaining returns and coordinating projects where reliability mattered. Sam brings that commercial experience to AEU, along with the national industry relationships behind the company’s largest projects.
Licensed electricians, sales specialists, project managers and operations — all working to the same standard, every day.










AEU remains founder-led. Tom and Sam Vandermark are Co-founders; Jon McShane is Head of Sales; Dean Hopkins is Operations Coordinator; and Elaine handles the Accounts. The sales team guides customers through their options. Product-line compliance specialists cover hot water, solar and battery, heating and cooling, and solar pre-approval.
Recommendations begin with the property, existing infrastructure, energy use and electrical requirements — not a product target or sales quota.
AEU considers how solar, batteries, hot water, heating, cooling and EV charging work together, reducing duplication and helping customers prioritise investment.
Eligibility is checked against current program rules and explained in the quote, including relevant exclusions. The government incentives hub provides a starting point.
Customers can return to AEU for support or submit a warranty request. Product warranties and the applicable workmanship coverage stated in the signed proposal remain separate and clearly scoped.
AEU’s six credential sets are Registered Electrical Contractor status (REC 23631), Solar Accreditation Australia, Solar Victoria approved-retailer requirements, CM3 contractor prequalification, the New Energy Tech Consumer Code and NECA membership.
If a product, incentive or design is unsuitable for the property or customer’s priorities, the team explains why rather than forcing an expensive mismatch.
See completed case studies, browse AEU news and guides or read the frequently asked questions before confidentially planning your next substantial home or commercial energy upgrade.
These aren't aspirational posters. They're how we hire, how we operate, and how we hold each other to account — every single day.
We do what's right, especially when no one's watching.
Honesty is our foundation. We are dependable, and people can trust us to do what is right, every time, without exception.
We hold ourselves and each other to account.
We accept responsibility for our actions and decisions, good or bad. Accountability means we take action, not just ownership of the problem.
We think and act like the business depends on us. Because it does.
We don't wait to be told. We step up, take initiative, and treat every customer and every decision as if the outcome depends on us personally.
We are driven by greatness. Our hunger is unrelenting.
Our hunger does not sleep. It does not settle. It pushes us to chase what others call impossible, to disrupt industries, and to change lives.
We show up ready, reliable, and relentless.
Same energy, same standards, same focus every single day. Our team, our clients, and our partners rely on us to deliver — and we do, every time.
We bounce back fast, and we bounce back stronger.
Setbacks don't define us. They refine us. We stay focused under pressure, positive through challenges. We grow through what we go through.
NETCC requires a minimum of 5 years. Most companies won’t be around in 30 years. AEU intends to be. Every residential solar, battery, hot water, heating, cooling and EV installation is backed for three full decades.
Three decades of backing our work is not a marketing line. It is a commitment from founders who were on the tools.
Workmanship defects for the life of the system. If something fails because of how it was installed, we fix it. Product faults are covered by each manufacturer separately.
Most installers offer 5 years — if they're still trading. We offer 30. Because founders who built this from the tools up understand that accountability doesn't expire.
Compliance is part of the job. AEU's six credential sets are Registered Electrical Contractor status (REC 23631), Solar Accreditation Australia, Solar Victoria approved-retailer requirements, CM3 contractor prequalification, the New Energy Tech Consumer Code and NECA membership.

AEU is a Registered Electrical Contractor under Energy Safe Victoria. Every installation is performed under a fully licensed electrical contracting business as required by Victorian law. This is the non-negotiable legal requirement for any electrical work — and the first thing to check in any installer.

CM3 certification is required to work with major national corporations including Toll, Adidas, Nike and Wesfarmers. It verifies AEU meets the safety management standards demanded by some of Australia's most rigorous corporate procurement teams.

Tom Vandermark is a licensed A-Grade Electrician under Energy Safe Victoria — the highest class of electrical licence in Victoria, authorising the holder to carry out all classes of electrical work. An A-Grade licence is what separates a certified electrician from a subcontractor.

NETCC approved sellers commit to ethical sales practices and consumer protection across solar, battery, EV charging and more. As a NETCC member, AEU is held to a code of conduct that protects customers from the predatory practices common in the energy industry.

Tom Vandermark holds SAA accreditation as both an Accredited Solar Designer and Accredited Solar Installer (REC 23631). These are the benchmark qualifications required to design, install and sign off on all government-supported solar installations in Australia.

AEU is a Solar Victoria-approved installer for solar PV, battery storage and hot water systems. This accreditation is required to apply Solar Victoria rebates on behalf of customers — and is held only by installers who meet Solar Victoria's strict quality standards.







AEU's commercial client list includes Toll, Mars, Lendlease, CBRE, John Deere and Downer.
Feed-in tariffs, battery offsets, and the new Victorian rebate — a plain-English breakdown of real savings for average households.
Federal and state incentives explained — who qualifies, how to claim, and how to stack multiple rebates for maximum savings.
Running costs, upfront prices, government rebates and installation — everything you need to make the switch with confidence.
If you'd like to get a quote, ask a question, or just want us to reach out — we'd love to hear from you. No sales pressure. Just honest advice from people who know this industry.
Most homeowners save around $2,000 a year on energy, and many of our customers cut their power bills by more than half. Your exact savings depend on your roof, energy use and the rebates you qualify for — our free assessment gives you real numbers for your home.
Depending on your state and situation you could access federal incentives, state solar and battery rebates, and hot water and heating incentives — often worth thousands of dollars. We check every rebate you qualify for and handle the paperwork end to end.
For many eligible upgrades, government rebates are applied up front so you can get started for $0 out of pocket. Finance options are also available, and we confirm exactly what applies to you before anything goes ahead.
Yes. Alongside residential solar, battery, hot water, heating & cooling and EV charging, we design and install commercial systems from 30kW to 500kW+ — including solar car shades, solar farms, commercial HVAC, EV charging and energy monitoring across single and multi-site operations.
Checking your eligibility takes about 60 seconds online. After your free assessment, most residential installations are completed in a single day, while larger commercial projects are staged around your operations.
We provide a 30-year workmanship guarantee on residential solar and battery installations. Conditions apply. Manufacturer product warranties are also included with all equipment we install.
We are a 100% Australian-owned company based in Geelong, Victoria, serving homeowners and businesses Australia-wide.
Yes. AEU is a licensed Registered Electrical Contractor, a New Energy Tech Approved Seller, CM3 certified, and a Solar Victoria-approved installer for solar and hot water.
AEU installs across metropolitan Melbourne, Greater Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, the Latrobe Valley, Colac and the Surf Coast, plus Albury–Wodonga, Wagga Wagga and Deniliquin in southern New South Wales.
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