Discount stepping down: the federal battery discount falls on 1 January 2027 and again every six months until 2030. The install date decides your rate. Estimate my discount
Cheaper Home Batteries Program: your guide
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program takes roughly 30% off an eligible home or business battery at the point of sale. It isn’t means tested and there’s nothing to lodge – an approved installer applies it on your quote. Eco Solar Australia has installed 300+ batteries under the program; here’s how it works, who qualifies and what changes on 1 January 2027.
- Free discount check – know your price before you commit
- Discount itemised on your quote, no claim to lodge
- 300+ batteries installed under the program
Checked against official government sources in October 2026. See sources.
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The program at a glance
Everything that decides your battery discount, in one place.
- What it is
- A federal discount on small-scale batteries, delivered through STCs – how it works
- How much
- Roughly 30% off an eligible battery; tiered by size since 1 May 2026 – tiers
- Who qualifies
- Homes, businesses and community groups – not means tested – eligibility
- Battery sizes
- 5kWh to 100kWh usable capacity
- Existing solar
- Batteries added to existing solar qualify
- Key dates
- Steps down 1 January 2027, then every six months until 2030 – timeline
- Golden rule
- The install date, not the signing date, sets your discount
Key dates for the battery discount
The discount is designed to shrink over time. These are the dates that change what you pay.
Cheaper Home Batteries starts
Roughly 30% off eligible batteries at the point of sale, Australia-wide.
Battery discount tiers start
Full support on the first 14kWh, 60% from 14–28kWh, 15% from 28–50kWh.
Battery discount falls
STC factor drops from 6.8 to 5.7 per kWh.
Battery discount falls again
STC factor drops to 5.2 per kWh, then keeps stepping down every six months.
STC scheme ends
The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme is scheduled to close.
How the discount works
Eligible batteries create small-scale technology certificates (STCs) when they’re installed. The installer takes these as a discount on your price, so you pay less upfront and have nothing to claim afterwards.
Federal battery discount
Applied at the point of sale on an eligible battery from 5kWh to 100kWh.
- Not means tested
- For homes, businesses and community organisations
- Applies to new solar-and-battery systems and to batteries added to existing solar
- Delivered through STCs created by your approved installer
Combine it with solar incentives
Installing solar at the same time? The battery discount sits alongside the solar STC discount and, for eligible Victorians, the Solar Victoria solar rebate.
- Solar STC discount on every eligible solar system
- Solar Victoria rebate of up to $1,400 for eligible households
- Optional interest-free solar loan of up to $1,400
- All shown on one itemised quote
Point of sale
The discount is on your quote, not a refund later.
Installer-applied
We create the certificates and handle the paperwork.
Sized right
We size your battery to your evening use, not the biggest possible.
Spread the cost
Pay the balance with Brighte payment plans.
How much is the discount?
Since 1 May 2026 the discount depends on how much usable capacity your battery has, and on the STC factor in force on the day it’s installed.
- Your first 14kWhReceives full support – where most homes get the best value.
- 14kWh to 28kWhEarns 60% of the STC factor per kWh.
- 28kWh to 50kWhEarns 15% of the STC factor per kWh.
- STC priceEach certificate’s value moves with the market – your quote shows the exact discount.
| Usable capacity | Share of STC factor |
|---|---|
| First 14kWh | 100% |
| Over 14kWh up to 28kWh | 60% |
| Over 28kWh up to 50kWh | 15% |
| Installed | STC factor per kWh |
|---|---|
| May – Dec 2026 | 6.8 |
| Jan – Jun 2027 | 5.7 |
| Jul – Dec 2027 | 5.2 |
Don’t leave money on the roof
A 14kWh battery installed in 2026 could earn around $590 more than the same battery in 2027
Based on the scheduled STC factor drop from 6.8 to 5.7 and an STC price of about $37. Lock in today’s rate with an installation before 1 January.
Battery discount estimator
Set your battery size (and solar, if you’re adding it) to see roughly what the federal discount takes off – and what waiting until 2027 would cost.
Estimated incentives
- Solar STC discount
- $0
- Solar Victoria rebate
- $0
- Battery discount
- $0
- Interest-free loan option
- $0
Estimates only. STC values depend on the market price and your exact postcode zone. The Solar Victoria rebate is up to 50% of the cost after STCs, to a maximum of $1,400, and depends on eligibility and monthly availability. Battery figures use the published tier rates and STC factors. Your quote confirms exact amounts.
Who qualifies?
You can get the discount if all of these apply:
- You’re a household, small business or community organisation
- The battery has 5kWh to 100kWh of usable capacity
- It’s an eligible battery, installed by an approved installer
- It’s new and installed at your property
- There’s no income test and no property value cap
Already have solar? Batteries added to existing systems qualify too. Adding a battery.
Which battery size suits you?
Sizing to your evening use – not the biggest possible battery – usually gives the best value under the tiers.
- 10–14kWhEvening use for most homes; strongest discount per kWh.
- 20–30kWhLarger families, overnight use and backup.
- Business systemsUp to 100kWh for businesses and community groups.
How to get the battery discount
There’s no application form for the federal discount. As an approved installer we apply it for you.
What Eco Solar does
- Sizes your battery to your evening use and checks your existing solar and inverter
- Quotes an eligible battery with the federal discount itemised
- Gets pre-approval from your electricity distributor where it’s needed
- Installs and commissions the battery, then creates the STCs
- Handles the certificates and paperwork – nothing for you to lodge
What you do
- Share a recent power bill so we can size the battery
- Choose your battery and sign your quote
- Book an install date before the next step-down if you can
- Pay the discounted price – the discount is already off
Tip: the install and commissioning date decides your discount rate, not the date you sign. Installs are completed within 3 weeks of signing in Melbourne and 4 weeks in regional Victoria.
The battery discount for businesses and community groups
The program isn’t just for homes.
Same discount, larger systems
Businesses and community organisations can claim the discount on batteries up to 100kWh.
No means test
There’s no turnover or income test for eligible small-scale batteries.
Pair with commercial solar
Solar systems up to 1MW can create STCs from 1 October 2026, so solar and storage can be quoted together.
Size for your load profile
We look at when your site uses power – shifting daytime solar into evening trade hours is where batteries pay off.
Tax treatment
A battery is a business asset. Your accountant can advise how depreciation or other rules apply.
One proposal
Every incentive your project qualifies for is shown on a single itemised proposal.
Get a commercial proposal with the battery discount applied.
Six mistakes that shrink your battery discount
Each of these can cost you hundreds of dollars – or the discount entirely.
1. Waiting for a state battery rebate
Solar Victoria’s battery loan is closed. The federal discount is the battery incentive – and it shrinks on 1 January 2027.
2. Assuming signing locks in the rate
The discount is set by the date the battery is installed and commissioned, not the date you sign.
3. Buying the biggest battery
Capacity over 14kWh earns 60% support, and over 28kWh only 15%. Size to your evening use.
4. Paying for the discount twice
The discount should already be taken off your quote. Ask for it to be itemised.
5. Ignoring your existing inverter
Older systems may need a hybrid or battery inverter. Check compatibility before you buy.
6. Leaving it too late
Allow 3 weeks in Melbourne and 4 in regional Victoria before a step-down date.
Why claim your rebates through Eco Solar
Solar Victoria authorised retailer
We can lodge your quote directly in the Solar Victoria portal.
Every incentive applied upfront
Solar Victoria rebate, STCs and battery discount shown on one itemised quote.
Experienced with the federal program
300+ batteries installed under Cheaper Home Batteries, and 1,500+ systems since 2016.
New Energy Tech Approved Seller
Signed up to the consumer code for solar and battery retailers.
Rebate knowledge kept current
Our team reviews program changes every month, so your quote reflects the rules on your install date.
No hidden costs
Upfront pricing with every extra listed before you sign.
Cheaper Home Batteries FAQs
What is the Cheaper Home Batteries Program?
A federal program, running since 1 July 2025, that takes roughly 30% off an eligible battery at the point of sale. It works through STCs that the installer creates and takes as a discount on your price.
Is the Cheaper Home Batteries Program means tested?
No. It is available to homes, businesses and community organisations regardless of income.
How much will I save?
Roughly 30% on an eligible battery. Since 1 May 2026 the first 14kWh receives full support, capacity from 14–28kWh earns 60% and 28–50kWh earns 15%. Your quote shows the exact amount.
Can I get the discount on a battery for existing solar?
Yes. Eligible batteries added to existing solar qualify. See adding a battery to existing solar.
Will the discount get smaller?
Yes. The STC factor falls from 6.8 to 5.7 per kWh on 1 January 2027, to 5.2 from 1 July 2027, and keeps stepping down every six months until 2030.
Does signing a quote lock in the rate?
No. The rate that applies is set by when the battery is installed and commissioned, so allow time before a step-down date.
Do I need to apply?
No. The discount is applied at the point of sale by an approved installer – it appears on your quote.
Can I combine it with the Solar Victoria rebate?
Yes. If you’re installing solar at the same time and you’re eligible, the Solar Victoria solar rebate and solar STCs can sit on the same quote as the battery discount.
Official sources
This guide is based on information published by the Victorian and Australian governments. Program rules change – always check the official pages, and your quote will confirm the figures that apply on your install date.
- Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Regulations – explanatory statementCheaper Home Batteries tier rates and twice-yearly STC factor reductions.
- Notice to Market 2026–27: Overview – Solar VictoriaClosure of the Solar Victoria battery loan and current Solar Homes incentives.
- Mid-scale solar – Clean Energy RegulatorSRES expansion to 1MW from 1 October 2026 and the fixed 5-year deeming period.
- Solar panel (PV) rebate – Solar VictoriaRebate amount, interest-free loan, eligibility, application steps and the July 2027 transition to VEU.
Last checked: October 2026. Eco Solar Australia is a private company and is not affiliated with Solar Victoria or the Clean Energy Regulator.
Get your battery quote before 1 January 2027
The federal battery discount steps down on 1 January 2027. Get a free discount check and an itemised quote from an experienced battery installer.
- Free discount check
- Battery sized to your use
- Discount itemised on your quote
