Home battery rebate by state in Australia (2026)
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program is the main home battery rebate in every Australian state and territory, worth about $272 per usable kWh (around $252 after typical costs) and stepping down every six months. On top of it, only Western Australia and New South Wales currently add a meaningful state battery incentive, the ACT offers an interest-free loan, and most other states no longer run their own battery rebate. Here is the full picture, state by state.
Home battery rebates by state, at a glance
| State / Territory | State scheme (2026) | On top of federal? |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | VPP incentive + Home Energy Saver | Yes |
| Western Australia | Residential Battery Scheme | Yes |
| Australian Capital Territory | Sustainable Household Scheme | Loan, not a cash rebate |
| Victoria | None active | Federal only |
| Queensland | None active | Federal only |
| South Australia | None active | Federal only |
| Tasmania | None active | Federal only |
| Northern Territory | Home and Business Battery Scheme (closed) | Federal only |
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program applies in every row above. “Federal only” means the state has no active battery-specific rebate of its own in 2026. Amounts for active state schemes vary by network and household, so confirm at quote.
Whichever state you are in, the federal rebate is applied at the point of sale. Through Refer Labs, Apollo Energy Group takes an extra $500 off your quote on top of it, with no code to enter.
Claim your $500 discountEvery state and territory, in detail
New South Wales
VPP incentive + Home Energy SaverNSW adds a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) incentive for connecting an eligible battery to an approved VPP, and in 2026 expanded support through the Home Energy Saver package (interest-free loans and targeted discounts for lower-income households). Both are designed to sit on top of the federal rebate. The VPP figure moves with energy certificate prices and the package is still rolling out, so confirm the current amount for your address and battery.
Western Australia
Residential Battery SchemeWA runs a state battery rebate on top of the federal discount, with the amount differing by network (Synergy in the south-west grid versus Horizon Power in regional WA), plus an interest-free loan option. Published figures vary between sources, so treat WA as an active state rebate and confirm the current amount for your network before you rely on it.
Australian Capital Territory
Sustainable Household SchemeThe ACT does not pay a cash battery rebate, but its Sustainable Household Scheme offers an interest-free or low-interest loan (up to around $15,000) that can cover a battery. You still claim the federal rebate on the purchase; the ACT scheme helps you finance the balance.
Victoria
None activeVictoria's Solar Homes battery rebate and its interest-free loan have closed. Victorian households now access the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program only, which still takes roughly 30% off an eligible battery.
Queensland
None activeQueensland has no dedicated state battery rebate in 2026. The federal program applies, and some Queensland retailers run their own VPP offers that can add value, which is worth asking an installer about.
South Australia
None activeSouth Australia's Home Battery Scheme, once the most generous in the country, closed in 2022. SA households now rely on the federal rebate, with retailer VPP offers as the main additional saving.
Tasmania
None activeTasmania has no dedicated state battery rebate. The federal program applies; Tasmania's separate energy loan products have historically focused on other upgrades, so confirm what currently covers batteries.
Northern Territory
Home and Business Battery Scheme (closed)The NT's Home and Business Battery Scheme reached its funding cap and has closed to new applications. NT households now access the federal rebate only.
How the federal rebate works everywhere
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program is national, so it is the one constant no matter your postcode. It discounts about 30% of an eligible battery, works out at roughly $272 per usable kWh before costs (around $252 after the typical certificate and admin costs), and applies to usable capacity up to 50kWh. Above 14kWh the rate tapers, and the whole scheme steps down every six months through to 2030, so the value is highest the sooner you install.
For the full mechanics, the 14kWh taper and worked examples by battery size, see our federal home battery rebate guide, and to check whether a battery pays for itself after the rebate, try the home battery payback calculator.
Get your rebate applied and $500 off the quote
Apollo Energy Group is a Sydney-based, SAA-accredited installer that applies the federal rebate at the point of sale and takes an exclusive $500 off for Refer Labs readers. Prefer a callback first? Register your interest and someone gets in touch within 2 business days.
Frequently asked questions
Which Australian states have a home battery rebate in 2026?+
In 2026 the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program is the main rebate in every state and territory, worth about $272 per usable kWh (around $252 after typical costs). On top of it, only Western Australia and New South Wales currently add a meaningful state battery incentive, and the ACT offers an interest-free loan rather than a cash rebate. Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory no longer run their own dedicated battery rebate, so households there rely on the federal program. State schemes change often, so confirm current terms when you get a quote.
How much is the federal home battery rebate?+
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program discounts roughly 30% of the upfront cost of an eligible battery. For May to December 2026 that works out at about $272 per usable kWh before costs, or around $252 after the typical 10% in certificate trading and admin costs. It applies to usable capacity up to 50kWh, tapers above 14kWh, and steps down every six months through to 2030. The exact figure moves with the small-scale certificate market, so treat it as a close guide, not a fixed number.
Do state and federal battery rebates stack?+
Where a state incentive exists, it is generally designed to sit on top of the federal rebate rather than replace it. In Western Australia the state Residential Battery Scheme adds to the federal discount, and in NSW the VPP incentive and Home Energy Saver support are meant to stack. The ACT's scheme is a loan that helps finance the balance after the federal rebate. Always confirm stacking rules for your address, because eligibility and amounts change.
Why did so many state battery rebates close?+
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program launched as a national scheme large enough that several states wound back or closed their own rebates rather than run two overlapping subsidies. South Australia's Home Battery Scheme closed in 2022, Victoria's Solar Homes battery rebate has closed, and the Northern Territory's scheme reached its funding cap. The practical effect for most households is one main rebate, the federal one, plus any retailer VPP offer.
Does Refer Labs set these rebate amounts?+
No. Refer Labs is an independent comparison publisher. We consolidate what the federal and state programs currently offer and link out to services, including a disclosed affiliate link to Apollo Energy Group. We do not set rebate amounts, they are set by government programs and move with certificate markets and scheme rules, so confirm the current figure for your address at quote. Nothing here is financial advice.
Keep reading
- The federal home battery rebate, in full: rate, taper and examples
- NSW home battery rebate 2026, explained
- Virtual power plants (VPP): how the payments work
- What a home battery actually costs in Australia
- Home battery payback calculator
- Best home battery in Australia, compared
- Apollo Energy Group: review and the $500 discount
Published by Refer Labs, an independent comparison publisher, and contains a disclosed affiliate link to Apollo Energy Group, which means we may earn a commission if you enquire or buy through our link, at no extra cost to you. Commissions never change what we write. Rebate figures are indicative, set by government programs, and move with certificate markets and scheme rules; state schemes open and close, so confirm the current amount for your address and battery at quote. This page is general information, not financial advice.