What battery schemes can you use in Victoria?
| 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% |
| Solar Victoria battery loans | Closed | No state battery rebate or loan open |
Source: Solar Victoria battery loans.
What does the battery rebate pay in Victoria?
The discount works through certificates. Your installer claims them and subtracts the value from your bill, so you never handle them yourself. A single certificate is worth up to $40, and how many you get depends on two things: the size of your battery and when it goes in. Size is measured in kWh, which just means how much electricity the battery holds.
The first 14 kWh of battery storage gets the highest rate, which is 6.8 certificates per kWh if installed by 31 December 2026, and extra storage gets a lower rate. The rate then slides to 5.7 from 1 January 2027 and 5.2 from 1 July 2027, per the Clean Energy Regulator. The scheme stays open until 31 December 2030, though in its final six months the rate sits at just 2.1 certificates per kWh.
Savings by battery size and install date
Here is what the discount looks like for common battery sizes, depending on when they go in. These estimates use $40 per certificate.
- 10 kWh: $2,720 by the end of 2026, $2,280 from January 2027, $2,080 from July 2027. Usual price after the discount: $7,000 to $11,000.
- 13.5 kWh: $3,640 by the end of 2026, $3,040 from January 2027, $2,800 from July 2027. Usual price after the discount: $9,800 to $13,800.
- 20 kWh: $4,760 by the end of 2026, $4,000 from January 2027, $3,640 from July 2027. Usual price after the discount: $14,000 to $19,000.
- 30 kWh: $6,160 by the end of 2026, $5,160 from January 2027, $4,720 from July 2027. Usual price after the discount: $18,000 to $22,000.
These price ranges come from CHOICE. Each home can claim the discount on one battery, and only its first 50 kWh count. If you are weighing up two sizes, send the short form and each quote will show the discount for that exact battery.
Is there a Victorian state rebate or loan?
Victoria once ran an interest-free loan scheme for home batteries via Solar Victoria, but that program has now shut and there is no state battery rebate at present. The federal battery discount is still available.
New solar panels are separate. They attract their own federal discount, which for a 6.6 kW system in Melbourne works out to roughly $1,560 when installed in 2026, falling to about $1,240 the following year.
Eligibility rules for the discount
The federal scheme's rules come from the government department that runs it. The gist:
- Solar panels are a must, whether already up on the roof or put in alongside the battery. No solar means no discount.
- The battery must sit between 5 and 100 kWh and be one of the models the Clean Energy Council has approved.
- It also needs to be capable of joining a virtual power plant, a scheme that links many home batteries so they can share power with the grid. Joining is optional, the battery just has to be able to do it.
- Your installer must hold accreditation with Solar Accreditation Australia.
Batteries installed from 1 July 2025 onward can qualify if they meet these rules.
Common questions
Why might my discount be a little less than these estimates?
Certificates are sold on the open market, where they usually fetch between $37 and $40 each. If your installer gets less than $40, your discount will be a little lower, and your quote will show the exact amount you get.
Does the rebate need an application from me?
No. You do not need to apply to the government for the discount. Your installer takes the discount off your price and claims the certificates for you.
Does the rebate change depending on where in Victoria I live?
No, it does not. Postcode makes no difference to the battery discount, so a Mildura home gets the same amount as a Melbourne home with an identical battery going in on the same date. The panel discount is the only part that varies geographically.
Is the program wrapping up soon?
No. It runs until the end of 2030, but the rate drops every six months, so send the short form today to get quotes in time to install at this year's rate.