Rheem 280L (551E280)
Rebates up to
$2,930
STC $680 · VEEC $850 (VIC) · ESC $870 (NSW) · Solar Homes up to $1,400 (VIC)
Replace-electric, medium household, best zone. Federal STCs plus the better of VIC (VEECs and Solar Homes) or NSW (ESCs). Enter your postcode below for exact figures.
VIC Solar Homes rebate
$1,400
50% of installed price up to this cap, point-of-sale, local-content tier. Included in the VIC total above.
VIC only. This model is on Solar Victoria's product list.
AS/NZS 4234 energy savings
74%
vs the standard's reference electric storage water heater, medium load, best zone.
Register data as at CER (STC) 2026-04-30 · VEU 2026-08-05
Specifications
| Type | Integral all-in-one |
| Refrigerant | R290 |
| Tank volume | 280 L |
| COP | 5.2 |
| Hot water delivery | 65 °C |
| Operating ambient | -6 to 43 °C |
| Electric backup | 2.4 kW |
| Warranty | Cylinder 10, cylinder labour 3, sealed system 3, other parts 1 |
Specs from: Rheem AU product page (rheem.com.au); public CER SRES / VEU / ESS registers.
Certificate rebate by postcode
Registered certificate values
Every scheme this model is registered for, by zone. STCs at $40, VEECs at $85, ESCs at $30 (reference prices as at 2026-07-07). Claim year 2026, medium household.
SRES — STCs (national)
| Zone 1 | 13 STCs | $520 |
| Zone 2 | 13 STCs | $520 |
| Sydney (Z3) | 15 STCs | $600 |
| Melbourne (Z4) | 17 STCs | $680 |
| Canberra (Z5) | 17 STCs | $680 |
VEU — VEECs (Victoria)
| Zone | Repl. electric metro / regional | Repl. gas | Energy savings (small load) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne (Z4) | 9 / 10 | 8 | 70.2% |
| Canberra (Z5) | 9 / 9 | 8 | 68.5% |
ESS — ESCs (NSW)
| Zone | Repl. electric metro / regional | Repl. gas metro / regional | Energy savings (medium load) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney (Z3) | 27 / 28 | 13 / 12 | 73.8% |
| Canberra (Z5) | 29 / 29 | 13 / 13 | 71.3% |
Certificate counts are computed from the model's registered performance data using the current regulated equations. A lodged claim depends on the specific installation, household size, and the scheme rules in force at creation. Energy savings % is against the AS/NZS 4234:2021 reference electric storage water heater for that zone and load size, calculated from the model's registered performance data, or taken directly from the register where it publishes a savings figure. VEU registers this data at the small load (the step-down load for a medium-rated system) and ESS at the medium load, so the two schemes' figures differ for the same zone.
The Rheem AmbiPower 280e is an all-in-one heat pump water heater with a 280 L tank and an R290 refrigerant circuit, giving a declared COP of 5.2 and hot water delivery at 65 degrees C. It operates across an ambient range of -6 to 43 degrees C.
The 551E280 is available with a 2.4 kW hardwired electric backup element (a 1.5 kW plug-and-lead variant, 551E280R3P, is also offered but does not appear on the register under a distinct code). Warranty is 10 years on the cylinder, 3 years cylinder labour, 3 years on the sealed system (supply and labour), and 1 year on other parts.
Specification detail beyond this is limited to what Rheem publishes on the product page; rated heating capacity, sound level, and dimensions are not stated there.
Registered model codes
551E280
Homeowners
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