Business banned from Victorian Energy Upgrades program over false claims, doctored photos

The Essential Services Commission has cancelled the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) accreditation of Planetwise Solutions Pty Ltd for allegedly using doctored photos as evidence of completion of energy efficiency projects.

The VEU program is an energy efficiency program, designed to help Victorians cut their energy bills by supporting households and businesses to use energy more efficiently. Accredited businesses undertake energy efficiency upgrades that entitle them to create Victorian energy efficiency certificates, which they can then sell.

The commission alleges Planetwise Solutions submitted doctored photos of decommissioned lights as evidence for multiple projects to fraudulently claim certificates. The photos showed lights that appeared to be digitally edited into the image.

The commission no longer views Planetwise Solutions to be a fit and proper, or competent and capable person for the purposes of accreditation under the program.

The commission also refused registration of 662 Victorian energy efficient certificates valued at $52,894*.

This follows an earlier decision of the commission to order the surrender of 773 certificates, valued at $61,763*. The commission immediately suspended Planetwise Solutions’ accreditation in October 2025 after the initial investigation identified concerning conduct. This put an immediate stop to the alleged non-compliance so the commission could further investigate its conduct and consider additional enforcement action.

Due to the serious nature of this conduct the commission is continuing to investigate Planetwise Solutions and will consider additional enforcement action.

*Figure calculated using the certificate value of $79.90, the spot price on 6 February 2026.

Quotes attributable to Essential Services Commission Chairperson and Commissioner Gerard Brody

“Submitting false evidence is a flagrant and serious breach of program rules. This is why we were quick to suspend and now ban Planetwise Solutions, while we consider additional action.”

“We were able to identify Planetwise Solutions’ non-compliance through our rigorous assessment of certificates created for upgrades. The system works – if you break the rules, there are consequences.”

“We’re monitoring the VEU program closer than ever to uncover wrongdoing, including establishing a new Fraud Taskforce and undertaking more site inspections.”

On 31 December 2025, Planetwise applied for a review of the commission's decision to cancel its VEU accreditation and refuse registration of 662 allegedly non-compliant certificates. The review was completed on 9 February 2026 and upheld the commission’s decision.