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 Save Energy 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 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.
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About us:
Gerard Brody – Commissioner and Chairperson
Gerard was appointed commissioner and chairperson in August 2024.
A leading consumer rights lawyer, Gerard has deep consumer policy, regulatory and legal experience, and a longstanding passion for improving the consumer experience.
Gerard is a former CEO of the Consumer Action Law Centre, an independent, not-for-profit consumer organisation.
Prior to taking up this role, Gerard served as Chair of both Community Legal Centres Australia and the Consumers’ Federation of Australia and has also served as a director for the Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman and the Australian Financial Complaints Authority.
Gerard holds degrees in Arts, Law and Public Policy from the University of Melbourne and is a Graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course.
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