What battery schemes can you use in the Australian Capital Territory?
| Scheme | Status | What it pays |
|---|---|---|
| Cheaper Home Batteries Program (federal) | Open to 31 December 2030 | The first 14 kWh earn $272 each; above that the rate falls to 60%, then 15% |
| ACT Sustainable Household Scheme | Open | Low-interest loan, not a discount |
Source: ACT Sustainable Household Scheme.
Federal battery discount in Canberra
The federal discount works through certificates. Think of a certificate as a credit your battery creates. Your installer sells it and reduces your price by what it's worth. Each certificate pays up to $40 via the Clean Energy Regulator's clearing house.
The amount you receive is set by two things: how big your battery is and when it goes in. Getting the job done before the end of 2026 brings the biggest saving, and the figures shrink over the two windows that follow:
| Battery size | Installed by 31 December 2026 | 1 January to 30 June 2027 | From 1 July 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kWh | Up to $2,720 | Up to $2,280 | Up to $2,080 |
| 13.5 kWh | Up to $3,640 | Up to $3,040 | Up to $2,800 |
| 20 kWh | Up to $4,760 | Up to $4,000 | Up to $3,640 |
| 30 kWh | Up to $6,160 | Up to $5,160 | Up to $4,720 |
There's no paperwork for you to lodge with the government. Instead, you sign a form that hands the certificate rights to your installer, and the value comes off your quote as a result.
The ACT's cheap loan option
The ACT doesn't have its own battery rebate. What it offers instead is the Sustainable Household Scheme, which lets eligible homeowners borrow as much as $20,000 at 3% interest. You get up to 10 years to pay it back, and there are no upfront costs or fees. It can cover whatever the federal discount leaves you to pay.
Battery prices in Canberra after the discount
Once the federal discount comes off, most households pay somewhere in these bands:
| Battery size | Typical price once the discount is applied |
|---|---|
| 10 kWh | $7,000–$11,000 |
| 15 kWh | $11,000–$15,000 |
| 20 kWh | $14,000–$19,000 |
| 30 kWh | $18,000–$22,000 |
CHOICE is the source for these ranges. Quotes from installers in your suburb will show where your home lands within them.
What makes a battery eligible?
- The battery is one of the models the Clean Energy Council has approved.
- Solar panels go with it, either new or ones you already have. A battery that only charges from the grid doesn't qualify.
- It's installed by a Solar Accreditation Australia accredited installer with battery endorsement.
- The battery can join a virtual power plant, meaning a network of household batteries that a power company taps when demand peaks. Joining is optional.
- The install date falls on or after 1 July 2025, and the discount goes to just 1 battery per home.
Send the short form to compare quotes with the discount already taken off, since the install date sets which discount rate you get.
Questions people ask
Is the rebate capped?
Yes. Certificates only apply to the first 50 kWh of usable capacity, and each kWh above 14 kWh earns less. Install a 50 kWh battery by 31 December 2026 and you get $6,960.
When does the federal program end?
It runs to 31 December 2030. Toward the end of the program, the payments get much smaller — a 10 kWh system would only earn $840.
Does each certificate pay the full $40?
Not always. Certificates sell for about $37 to $40 each on the open market, and the discount figures on this page assume $40 each, so a lower certificate price means a smaller discount. Send the short form to compare quotes and see who gives you the most.