Cheaper Home Batteries Program (Federal)

What it is: Starting 1 July 2025, this program offers a ~30% discount on eligible small-scale battery installations (up to 50 kWh for small businesses/community facilities) through the SRES framework.

Value: For a typical 11.5 kWh battery, expect ~$4,000 off the upfront cost, applied at purchase via accredited installers.

Eligibility:

  • Batteries must be CEC-approved and have Virtual Power Plant (VPP) capability.
  • Installed by a CEC-accredited installer after 1 July 2025.
  • How it helps You: This subsidy makes batteries more affordable, enabling you the client to store solar energy for nighttime use or outages, drastically cutting bills by avoiding Ergon’s low feed-in tariffs (4–12 c/kWh). Storing energy maximizes self-consumption, effectively eliminating reliance on grid power.