How does the discount reach you?
The government pays the discount through certificates. A new battery comes with a set number of them, and they are worth money.
Your installer deals with them for you. You sign one form, they lower your price by the value of the certificates, and then they sell them. The federal energy department describes the steps.
One certificate sells for $40 at most. Some sell for slightly less, so now and then a quote takes a bit less off.
How much the Cheaper Home Batteries Program takes off
Two things decide the amount: how big your battery is, and when it goes in. The amount drops twice a year, in January and July, so the sooner you install, the more you save.
| Battery | Installed by 31 Dec 2026 | Jan to Jun 2027 | Jul to Dec 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kWh battery | $1,360 | $1,120 | $1,040 |
| 10 kWh battery | $2,720 | $2,280 | $2,080 |
| 13.5 kWh battery | $3,640 | $3,040 | $2,800 |
| 20 kWh battery | $4,760 | $4,000 | $3,640 |
| 30 kWh battery | $6,160 | $5,160 | $4,720 |
| 50 kWh battery | $6,960 | $5,840 | $5,320 |
The table uses the top certificate price of $40.
Why does a big battery get less per kWh?
Up to 14 kWh, each kWh gets the full amount. After that, each extra kWh adds a smaller amount. Past 50 kWh nothing more is added, even though batteries as large as 100 kWh are allowed. These rules come from the Clean Energy Regulator, the government office in charge of the program.
Who can get the federal battery discount?
To get it, your battery has to meet every point here:
- It goes in with solar panels. Old panels already on the roof are fine. A battery with no solar that only charges from the grid (the network of power lines to your house) does not count.
- It appears on the Clean Energy Council's approved list. The Council is the industry group that tests batteries.
- It stores from 5 to 100 kWh.
- If it is linked to the grid, it must be able to join a virtual power plant. That is a group of home batteries that a power company draws on at busy times. Joining is your choice.
- The person who puts it in holds approval from Solar Accreditation Australia for batteries, not only for panels.
See the official eligibility rules for every detail.
Typical battery prices once the discount is off
CHOICE, the independent consumer group, publishes the prices people usually pay, with the federal discount already taken off.
| Battery | Usual price after the discount |
|---|---|
| 10 kWh battery | $7,000 to $11,000 |
| 15 kWh battery | $11,000 to $15,000 |
| 20 kWh battery | $14,000 to $19,000 |
| 30 kWh battery | $18,000 to $22,000 |
| 50 kWh battery | $24,000 to $30,000 |
Extra help from some states
The federal discount is the same in every state. Western Australia gives up to $1,300 more to Synergy customers and up to $3,800 more to Horizon Power customers, if they join a virtual power plant. New South Wales has a payment too: the virtual power plant company you pick pays it and decides how much.
The Australian Capital Territory offers a loan of up to $20,000 instead of a rebate, with 3% yearly interest. Right now there is no extra money in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania or the Northern Territory.
Common questions about the Cheaper Home Batteries Program
When did the program start?
On 1 July 2025. Any battery put in from that day can get the discount.
When does the program end?
At the end of 2030. Even near the end, from July to December 2030, about $840 still comes off a 10 kWh battery.
Is there a discount for a second battery?
No, only one battery per home can get it.
What is the smallest battery that counts?
A 5 kWh battery. Put in by 31 December 2026, it is about $1,360 cheaper.