Is a VPP needed for the federal battery rebate?
No. If your battery is connected to the grid (the power lines that bring electricity to your home), it must be able to join a VPP. Whether you join is up to you. That rule is in the official rules for who can get the rebate.
Where must you join a VPP?
- Western Australia: to get up to $1,300 (Synergy customers) or $3,800 (Horizon Power customers), you must join the VPP run by your power company. Synergy and Horizon Power are the two power companies owned by the Western Australian government. If you're with Synergy, you can also pick a VPP run by the company that sold you the battery, as long as it follows the rebate rules.
- New South Wales: joining a VPP is how you get the VPP incentive, an extra payment from the NSW Government. Battery size is measured in kWh (kilowatt-hours), which tells you how much power it can store; most home batteries hold 10 to 15 kWh. Batteries from just over 2 kWh up to 50 kWh can get the incentive. The more of your battery you let the VPP use, the more you get.
- The ACT, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and the Northern Territory have no state battery rebate right now, so none of them asks you to join a VPP.
How much can you get from the NSW VPP incentive?
The NSW Government doesn't publish one fixed amount: it depends on the VPP company and the contract you choose. As a guide, a 10 kWh battery usually gets about $360.
It may be paid up front, in parts, or as a credit on your bill. It can be claimed once for each electricity meter (the box that measures the power your home uses). Batteries in apartment buildings can't get it.
How do you join a VPP?
To join in New South Wales, choose a VPP company that pays the incentive. Then sign its contract, plus a form that lets the company claim the payment for you. Wait for the cooling-off period to end (the few days when you can still change your mind), then fill in the company's online form.
In Western Australia, you join the VPP at the same time as you sign up for the rebate with your power company.
Compare a few offers before you choose. Companies pay different amounts, and some plans need you to stay for a fixed time.
See your own rebate, then get quotes
Enter your postcode and battery size to see the federal discount and your state's extra. Accredited installers near you can then quote with the rebate already taken off.
Work out my battery rebateVPPs and battery rebates: common questions
What does “virtual power plant” mean?
It's many home batteries linked together. A power company can use the power stored in them when lots of people need power at once. In return, you usually get a credit on your bill or a payment.
Do I need to join a VPP for the federal battery rebate?
No. Your battery only needs to be able to join one. Whether you join is up to you.
Can I leave a VPP later?
Most of the time, yes. Check your contract before you sign. In Western Australia, the state rebate requires you to stay in the VPP, and some plans also set a minimum time.