Cheaper Home Batteries Program – Vendor & Installer Update
Date: Wednesday, 7 May 2025
On Sunday, 6 April 2025, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, announced the 'Cheaper Home Batteries Program.' This initiative, part of the 2025–26 Budget, allocates $2.3 billion to subsidise home battery installations, aiming to reduce the cost of a typical installed battery by 30% and facilitate over one million new battery installations by 2030.
Official announcement: Labor to deliver one million energy bill-busting batteries
Current Status
As of now, the program remains a policy proposal of the newly elected Labor government; however, official appointments, including that of the Energy Minister, are pending due to unconfirmed results in certain electorates.
Once the government is reappointed, we anticipate confirmation and progression of this policy, potentially involving the expansion of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) to include batteries.
Election results: AEC Tally Room
Key details from the announcement
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Installation targets: Over one million batteries by 2030
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Cost reduction: Approximately 30% off the typical battery installation cost, equating to around $4,000 savings
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Eligibility: Residential homes, small businesses, and community facilities
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Battery capacity support: Up to 50 kWh for households; systems up to 100 kWh eligible for subsidies
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Delivery mechanism: Through the existing SRES via Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs)
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Subsidy rate: $370 per kWh of usable battery capacity
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Battery size requirements: Minimum 5 kWh, maximum 50 kWh for households
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VPP readiness: Batteries must be Virtual Power Plant (VPP) ready; participation not mandatory
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Eligibility per site: One claim per site; separate claims allowed for primary and secondary residences at different addresses
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Grid connection: Applicable to both off-grid and grid-connected properties
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Means testing: No means testing; open to all eligible participants
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Solar requirement: Existing solar panels required on-site
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Installation timing: Batteries must not be commissioned (i.e., 'switched on') before 1 July 2025
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Additional installations: Sites with existing batteries may qualify if further eligible installations are made
Uncertainties and considerations
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Program finalisation: Awaiting official government reappointment and policy confirmation
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Regulatory details: Specific regulations and administrative guidelines are yet to be developed
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STC calculator: Current calculators for solar PV exist; battery-specific calculators are pending
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Commissioning definition: Clarification needed on what constitutes 'switching on' a battery before 1 July 2025
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Eligible equipment List: Anticipated that batteries must be on the Clean Energy Council's accredited list; additional requirements may apply
CEC Accredited Batteries: Clean Energy Council Battery List
Brighte's position on financing
Your customers:
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You must provide your customers with the Brighte Information Sheet & Customer Acknowledgement for Brighte Battery Buyers before submitting a credit application.
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Brighte will contact your customer directly to confirm receipt and understanding of the information sheet.
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Brighte will fund the battery cost net of the estimated STC contribution.
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If the installation occurs before 1 July 2025, you as the retailer must carry the risk associated with the anticipated STC rebate.
Important considerations:
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Due to current uncertainties, we advise caution in proceeding with battery installations at this stage.
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If the customer chooses to proceed, they must understand that they are fully responsible for repaying their Brighte credit contract, even if no subsidy is introduced.
Consumer protections
Under Australian Consumer Law, customers have rights relating to product quality and service guarantees. If the sale was unsolicited, customers are entitled to a 14-day cooling-off period.
Learn more:
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Australian Consumer Law Consumer rights and guarantees