ACT Solar Battery Rebates

Last updated November 2026

Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program

The Australian Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program is available to homes and small businesses in every state and territory. Your installer takes the discount off your quote, so you don’t need to apply.

How much: the discount is based on the battery’s usable capacity. As a guide, a 10 kWh battery gets approx. $2,650 if installed by 31 Dec 2026, or approx. $2,220 from 1 Jan 2027 (at $39 per STC).
Battery size: 5 to 100 kWh nominal capacity, installed with new or existing solar. The full rate applies to the first 14 kWh, 60% to the next 14 kWh, and 15% up to 50 kWh.
Requirements: the battery and inverter must be on the Clean Energy Council’s approved list, installed by an installer accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA). The battery must be able to join a virtual power plant (VPP), but joining is optional.
Step-downs: the discount reduces every six months, on 1 January and 1 July, until the program ends in 2030.

Find out more about the federal battery rebate.

ACT Sustainable Household Scheme

Important Notice:
The following change was made to the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme on 1st July 2026:

The loan cap increased from $15,000 to $20,000 for new applications.
If you applied before 1 July 2026, your loan remains capped at $15,000 for the life of the scheme.

If you’re a homeowner in the ACT, you might be able to get a low-interest loan to help with the upfront costs of installing a home battery storage system, thanks to the ACT Government’s Sustainable Household Scheme.

Key Details of the Sustainable Household Scheme:

The Scheme offers low-interest loans to assist residents with the cost of energy-efficient upgrades, including battery storage systems.

Loan Amount: Homeowners can borrow from $2,000 to $20,000 at a 3% interest rate, no upfront costs, and no fees.

Repayment Period: You have up to 10 years to pay it back.

How the Sustainable Household Scheme works

You can use the loan solely to purchase a battery storage system or combine a few products (see eligible product list below), up to a total of $20,000. If you need more than that, it’s possible to apply for additional funds, but any amount above $20,000 may have a higher interest rate added.

Other energy-saving products available through the Sustainable Household Scheme include:

Efficient heating and cooling systems
Hot water heat pumps
Electric stove tops
Electric vehicles and charging infrastructure
Ceiling insulation
Installation costs for the above products

Please note that support for solar panels is not included in the Scheme.

Repayment Start Date: Your repayments begin once your battery system is installed and ready to use.

Who Can Apply for the loan:

Households

Homeowners in the ACT can apply if they meet the eligibility and lending criteria, including attending a free one-hour workshop on energy efficiency (online or in-person). This workshop will guide you on the best options for energy-saving upgrades.

Concession Card Holders

If you have an eligible concession card, you may be able to get an extra rebate through the Home Energy Support Program. This can provide up to $5,000 (covering half of your upgrade costs) for things like ceiling insulation, solar panels, and switching from gas to electric. You can combine this rebate with the low-interest loan to reduce upfront costs. Eligible concession card holders can also get a zero-interest loan of up to $10,000, which can be combined with the rebate. Unfortunately, battery storage systems are not included in the Home Energy Support Program.

Community Groups

Eligible community groups can also get low-interest loans from $2,000 to $15,000. These groups need to meet lending criteria and attend a free workshop or join the Business Energy and Water program to explore energy-saving options.

The Sustainable Household Scheme is a great way to make energy upgrades affordable and save on energy bills in the long run!

Can I combine these incentives?

Yes. Your installer takes the federal Cheaper Home Batteries discount off your quote, and you can use a Sustainable Household Scheme loan to pay for some or all of what’s left. Concession card holders may also be able to add the Home Energy Support rebate for other upgrades, like insulation or solar panels.

If your battery is connected to a Virtual Power Plant (VPP), you may also get extra credits or payments from your retailer.

Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) in the ACT

A Virtual Power Plant links home batteries together so a retailer can draw on them when the grid needs extra power. In return, you usually get a sign-up credit, ongoing bill credits or payments, or a special electricity plan.

Before you sign up, compare: