Enforcement action against GB Environmental Pty Ltd

22 July 2025

The commission has taken enforcement action against GB Environmental Pty Ltd (GB Environmental) for allegedly breaching the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program rules.

Alleged breach 

The commission alleges GB Environmental and contractors working on its behalf:

• failed to obtain consumer consent for two car park lighting upgrades
• provided false information about the consumer to the commission
• failed to use appropriate lighting designers for 14 car park and other lighting upgrades.

Undertaking upgrades without the knowledge or consent of the energy consumers is a serious breach of the VEU rules, as it removes consumer choice, risks property damage, and undermines program integrity and trust.

GB Environmental, as the accredited business, is responsible for making sure certificates it creates and any installer acting on its behalf, comply with the VEU program rules.

Addressing conduct that compromises market integrity is a compliance and enforcement priority of the commission. This includes a focus on businesses that provide false information to the commission about VEU upgrades. 

Our decision 

We have restricted GB Environmental’s VEU accreditation, preventing the business from undertaking non-building based lighting upgrades for three months, including contractors working on their behalf.

GB Environmental voluntarily withdrew 1,178 certificates which are allegedly non-compliant and has committed to improving its practices to avoid future breaches. The withdrawn certificates are valued at over $100,000 (as 18 July 2025).

Since the investigation, a qualified lighting designer has assessed the 14 car park lighting and other upgrade designs as compliant with the VEU program rules.

Note: the certificate value on this page is based on the spot price of $97 as at 18 July 2025.