The home solar battery rebate is coming soon. Here's what you need to know

The Advertiser

14-05-2025

Bruno Kaser just missed out on the federal government's home battery subsidy, but he's looking forward to seeing the first electricity bill since he had one installed.
From July 1 households will be eligible for up to 30 per cent off the installed cost of a home battery under a Labor election commitment.
Mr Kaser had old rooftop solar panels replaced just before the April 6 announcement and bought a battery at the same time.
But the 72-year-old, who is semi retired and lives in North Warrandyte north east of Melbourne, was philosophical about missing out on the subsidy.
"I think it's silly not to use solar when you can," he said.
"My main reason was it's just better for the environment.
"And the battery was because quite often the grid drops out here. So hopefully I have a bit of battery as a backup."
According to the Clean Energy Regulator, there are 4.1 million small-scale solar installations across the country, making Australia the world's leader in rooftop solar.
Mr Kaser's installer, Solar Battery Group, has been putting in 40 batteries a day since the government's re-election on May 3.
"Since Labor won the election a week ago, we've already seen a 40 per cent increase in our web traffic," the company's chief executive, James Hetherington, said.
"We've seen a 60 per cent increase in sales just in the last five business days."
The discount is not means tested and will apply to any new home battery, but can only be used once, according to the Smart Energy Council.
As long as people don't switch on a new battery before the beginning of July, they will still be eligible for the rebate, but installers will likely charge the full rate up front and provide cash back when it formally kicks in.
The government expects it to drive a surge in home battery installations, taking the roughly 186,000 units now installed across Australia to one million by 2030.
The program is administered by the Clean Energy Regulator under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme and does not require any changes to legislation.
For customers, it functions as a discount at the point of sale, with expected savings of $4000 on a typical 11.5kWh battery.
That means the installer claims the money direct from the government and the household automatically receives the discount.
The $2.3 billion cheaper home batteries program will reduce the cost of a typical installed battery by about 30 per cent.
According to government modelling, a household with existing rooftop solar could save up to $1100 on their power bill each year, while a household putting in new solar combined with a battery system could save up to $2300 annually.
Around 77 batteries were available to consumers in Australia, according to a Smart Energy Council report from 2024.
The 5-6kWh battery would suit the needs of about 90 per cent of households and prices started at $5000 for these.
"The cheaper home battery program will usher in one of the biggest changes in the energy sector since the introduction of solar," council chief executive John Grimes said.
Some small businesses and community facilities will also be able to access the government subsidy.
James Hetherington from Solar Battery Group recommended households check their installer was signed up to the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NET Code).
This is voluntary industry code of conduct designed to protect consumers.
"There are government codes out there that protect the consumer from aggressive selling tactics, overselling and under-delivering," he said.
Solar Citizens, which has been lobbying for a home battery subsidy scheme since 2022, said people should also shop around using a service like Solar Quotes.
"We direct people to an organisation called Solar Quotes who provide three reputable quotes for you," chief executive Heidi Lee Douglas said.
She also said anyone interested in getting a home battery should act soon.
"I'm going to move quite quickly, just in case the NSW government withdraw their rebate," Ms Lee Douglas said.
"We really want to show the government that we want people to adopt this and take advantage of it."
The advocacy group now wanted the government to extend the subsidy to apartment buildings.
"We've done a lot of research on electrifying apartments and apartments can act as great solar sponges in city landscapes," Ms Douglas said.
The federal home battery discount is "stackable", which means it can be claimed in addition to any assistance offered under state-based schemes.
Although it's not yet clear if - or how - these loans, grants and subsidies will change as the federal rebate is rolled out.
Existing programs include:
Bruno Kaser just missed out on the federal government's home battery subsidy, but he's looking forward to seeing the first electricity bill since he had one installed.
From July 1 households will be eligible for up to 30 per cent off the installed cost of a home battery under a Labor election commitment.
Mr Kaser had old rooftop solar panels replaced just before the April 6 announcement and bought a battery at the same time.
But the 72-year-old, who is semi retired and lives in North Warrandyte north east of Melbourne, was philosophical about missing out on the subsidy.
"I think it's silly not to use solar when you can," he said.
"My main reason was it's just better for the environment.
"And the battery was because quite often the grid drops out here. So hopefully I have a bit of battery as a backup."
According to the Clean Energy Regulator, there are 4.1 million small-scale solar installations across the country, making Australia the world's leader in rooftop solar.
Mr Kaser's installer, Solar Battery Group, has been putting in 40 batteries a day since the government's re-election on May 3.
"Since Labor won the election a week ago, we've already seen a 40 per cent increase in our web traffic," the company's chief executive, James Hetherington, said.
"We've seen a 60 per cent increase in sales just in the last five business days."
The discount is not means tested and will apply to any new home battery, but can only be used once, according to the Smart Energy Council.
As long as people don't switch on a new battery before the beginning of July, they will still be eligible for the rebate, but installers will likely charge the full rate up front and provide cash back when it formally kicks in.
The government expects it to drive a surge in home battery installations, taking the roughly 186,000 units now installed across Australia to one million by 2030.
The program is administered by the Clean Energy Regulator under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme and does not require any changes to legislation.
For customers, it functions as a discount at the point of sale, with expected savings of $4000 on a typical 11.5kWh battery.
That means the installer claims the money direct from the government and the household automatically receives the discount.
The $2.3 billion cheaper home batteries program will reduce the cost of a typical installed battery by about 30 per cent.
According to government modelling, a household with existing rooftop solar could save up to $1100 on their power bill each year, while a household putting in new solar combined with a battery system could save up to $2300 annually.
Around 77 batteries were available to consumers in Australia, according to a Smart Energy Council report from 2024.
The 5-6kWh battery would suit the needs of about 90 per cent of households and prices started at $5000 for these.
"The cheaper home battery program will usher in one of the biggest changes in the energy sector since the introduction of solar," council chief executive John Grimes said.
Some small businesses and community facilities will also be able to access the government subsidy.
James Hetherington from Solar Battery Group recommended households check their installer was signed up to the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NET Code).
This is voluntary industry code of conduct designed to protect consumers.
"There are government codes out there that protect the consumer from aggressive selling tactics, overselling and under-delivering," he said.
Solar Citizens, which has been lobbying for a home battery subsidy scheme since 2022, said people should also shop around using a service like Solar Quotes.
"We direct people to an organisation called Solar Quotes who provide three reputable quotes for you," chief executive Heidi Lee Douglas said.
She also said anyone interested in getting a home battery should act soon.
"I'm going to move quite quickly, just in case the NSW government withdraw their rebate," Ms Lee Douglas said.
"We really want to show the government that we want people to adopt this and take advantage of it."
The advocacy group now wanted the government to extend the subsidy to apartment buildings.
"We've done a lot of research on electrifying apartments and apartments can act as great solar sponges in city landscapes," Ms Douglas said.
The federal home battery discount is "stackable", which means it can be claimed in addition to any assistance offered under state-based schemes.
Although it's not yet clear if - or how - these loans, grants and subsidies will change as the federal rebate is rolled out.
Existing programs include:
Bruno Kaser just missed out on the federal government's home battery subsidy, but he's looking forward to seeing the first electricity bill since he had one installed.
From July 1 households will be eligible for up to 30 per cent off the installed cost of a home battery under a Labor election commitment.
Mr Kaser had old rooftop solar panels replaced just before the April 6 announcement and bought a battery at the same time.
But the 72-year-old, who is semi retired and lives in North Warrandyte north east of Melbourne, was philosophical about missing out on the subsidy.
"I think it's silly not to use solar when you can," he said.
"My main reason was it's just better for the environment.
"And the battery was because quite often the grid drops out here. So hopefully I have a bit of battery as a backup."
According to the Clean Energy Regulator, there are 4.1 million small-scale solar installations across the country, making Australia the world's leader in rooftop solar.
Mr Kaser's installer, Solar Battery Group, has been putting in 40 batteries a day since the government's re-election on May 3.
"Since Labor won the election a week ago, we've already seen a 40 per cent increase in our web traffic," the company's chief executive, James Hetherington, said.
"We've seen a 60 per cent increase in sales just in the last five business days."
The discount is not means tested and will apply to any new home battery, but can only be used once, according to the Smart Energy Council.
As long as people don't switch on a new battery before the beginning of July, they will still be eligible for the rebate, but installers will likely charge the full rate up front and provide cash back when it formally kicks in.
The government expects it to drive a surge in home battery installations, taking the roughly 186,000 units now installed across Australia to one million by 2030.
The program is administered by the Clean Energy Regulator under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme and does not require any changes to legislation.
For customers, it functions as a discount at the point of sale, with expected savings of $4000 on a typical 11.5kWh battery.
That means the installer claims the money direct from the government and the household automatically receives the discount.
The $2.3 billion cheaper home batteries program will reduce the cost of a typical installed battery by about 30 per cent.
According to government modelling, a household with existing rooftop solar could save up to $1100 on their power bill each year, while a household putting in new solar combined with a battery system could save up to $2300 annually.
Around 77 batteries were available to consumers in Australia, according to a Smart Energy Council report from 2024.
The 5-6kWh battery would suit the needs of about 90 per cent of households and prices started at $5000 for these.
"The cheaper home battery program will usher in one of the biggest changes in the energy sector since the introduction of solar," council chief executive John Grimes said.
Some small businesses and community facilities will also be able to access the government subsidy.
James Hetherington from Solar Battery Group recommended households check their installer was signed up to the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NET Code).
This is voluntary industry code of conduct designed to protect consumers.
"There are government codes out there that protect the consumer from aggressive selling tactics, overselling and under-delivering," he said.
Solar Citizens, which has been lobbying for a home battery subsidy scheme since 2022, said people should also shop around using a service like Solar Quotes.
"We direct people to an organisation called Solar Quotes who provide three reputable quotes for you," chief executive Heidi Lee Douglas said.
She also said anyone interested in getting a home battery should act soon.
"I'm going to move quite quickly, just in case the NSW government withdraw their rebate," Ms Lee Douglas said.
"We really want to show the government that we want people to adopt this and take advantage of it."
The advocacy group now wanted the government to extend the subsidy to apartment buildings.
"We've done a lot of research on electrifying apartments and apartments can act as great solar sponges in city landscapes," Ms Douglas said.
The federal home battery discount is "stackable", which means it can be claimed in addition to any assistance offered under state-based schemes.
Although it's not yet clear if - or how - these loans, grants and subsidies will change as the federal rebate is rolled out.
Existing programs include:
Bruno Kaser just missed out on the federal government's home battery subsidy, but he's looking forward to seeing the first electricity bill since he had one installed.
From July 1 households will be eligible for up to 30 per cent off the installed cost of a home battery under a Labor election commitment.
Mr Kaser had old rooftop solar panels replaced just before the April 6 announcement and bought a battery at the same time.
But the 72-year-old, who is semi retired and lives in North Warrandyte north east of Melbourne, was philosophical about missing out on the subsidy.
"I think it's silly not to use solar when you can," he said.
"My main reason was it's just better for the environment.
"And the battery was because quite often the grid drops out here. So hopefully I have a bit of battery as a backup."
According to the Clean Energy Regulator, there are 4.1 million small-scale solar installations across the country, making Australia the world's leader in rooftop solar.
Mr Kaser's installer, Solar Battery Group, has been putting in 40 batteries a day since the government's re-election on May 3.
"Since Labor won the election a week ago, we've already seen a 40 per cent increase in our web traffic," the company's chief executive, James Hetherington, said.
"We've seen a 60 per cent increase in sales just in the last five business days."
The discount is not means tested and will apply to any new home battery, but can only be used once, according to the Smart Energy Council.
As long as people don't switch on a new battery before the beginning of July, they will still be eligible for the rebate, but installers will likely charge the full rate up front and provide cash back when it formally kicks in.
The government expects it to drive a surge in home battery installations, taking the roughly 186,000 units now installed across Australia to one million by 2030.
The program is administered by the Clean Energy Regulator under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme and does not require any changes to legislation.
For customers, it functions as a discount at the point of sale, with expected savings of $4000 on a typical 11.5kWh battery.
That means the installer claims the money direct from the government and the household automatically receives the discount.
The $2.3 billion cheaper home batteries program will reduce the cost of a typical installed battery by about 30 per cent.
According to government modelling, a household with existing rooftop solar could save up to $1100 on their power bill each year, while a household putting in new solar combined with a battery system could save up to $2300 annually.
Around 77 batteries were available to consumers in Australia, according to a Smart Energy Council report from 2024.
The 5-6kWh battery would suit the needs of about 90 per cent of households and prices started at $5000 for these.
"The cheaper home battery program will usher in one of the biggest changes in the energy sector since the introduction of solar," council chief executive John Grimes said.
Some small businesses and community facilities will also be able to access the government subsidy.
James Hetherington from Solar Battery Group recommended households check their installer was signed up to the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NET Code).
This is voluntary industry code of conduct designed to protect consumers.
"There are government codes out there that protect the consumer from aggressive selling tactics, overselling and under-delivering," he said.
Solar Citizens, which has been lobbying for a home battery subsidy scheme since 2022, said people should also shop around using a service like Solar Quotes.
"We direct people to an organisation called Solar Quotes who provide three reputable quotes for you," chief executive Heidi Lee Douglas said.
She also said anyone interested in getting a home battery should act soon.
"I'm going to move quite quickly, just in case the NSW government withdraw their rebate," Ms Lee Douglas said.
"We really want to show the government that we want people to adopt this and take advantage of it."
The advocacy group now wanted the government to extend the subsidy to apartment buildings.
"We've done a lot of research on electrifying apartments and apartments can act as great solar sponges in city landscapes," Ms Douglas said.
The federal home battery discount is "stackable", which means it can be claimed in addition to any assistance offered under state-based schemes.
Although it's not yet clear if - or how - these loans, grants and subsidies will change as the federal rebate is rolled out.
Existing programs include: