Plans and switchingVerified 17 October 20266 min readShare

The 1 January 2027 battery rebate change: what it means for your plan

The discount steps down on 1 January 2027. What changes, what doesn't, and what it means for your plan.

On 1 January 2027 the federal battery discount steps down for new installs. If you already have a battery, nothing changes for you. If you are thinking about one, the date changes what the battery costs. Which electricity plan suits your home is a separate question, and this guide covers both.

What changes on 1 January

• How the discount works. The Cheaper Home Batteries Program takes around 30% off the upfront cost of a battery. The discount comes from small-scale technology certificates that your battery earns under a national scheme. The number of certificates for each kilowatt hour (kWh) of usable capacity is set by a factor.
• The factor steps down. It is 6.8 for batteries installed from May to December 2026. It drops to 5.7 for installs from January to June 2027, then keeps stepping down every six months until 2030.
• The install date decides it. The government says the discount you get is set by the factor on the day your battery is installed.
• Size matters too. Up to 14 kWh of capacity gets the full factor. Each kWh above 14, up to 28, gets 60% of it. Each kWh above 28, up to 50, gets 15%.
• You don't apply. Your installer or retailer takes the discount off the price or pays it as a rebate after the install. You can also claim the certificates yourself.

If you already have a battery

Your discount was fixed on the day of your install. The change doesn't touch your electricity bill or your plan. The question that matters now is the one that matters for every battery home: is your plan still the right one now that your battery changes when you buy and sell power? Here is how to tell. Your first bills after the install are worth a close read too: what to check on them.

If you are thinking about buying

• The date alone is a weak reason to buy. The government's solar guide says the savings from a battery may not cover its cost within the battery's warranty. Work out the payback for your home first.
• Ask for the numbers in writing. The federal energy department says your installer should give you the value and timing of the discount, the system warranty and the expected payback period.
• Get more than one quote. And check that the installer is accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia and the battery is on the Clean Energy Council's approved list.
• Bigger is not always better. A battery that is too large for your solar and inverter can limit the benefit to your home.

What it means for your plan

The discount lowers what you pay for the battery. Your electricity bill depends on your usage and your plan, and a battery changes your usage. The plan that suited you before may not suit you after. Two points to keep in mind:

• Your battery may need setting up again if your plan changes. The government's solar guide says so. Ask your installer who will do that.
• Joining a virtual power plant (VPP) is your choice. Under the program your battery has to be able to join one. Whether you ever join is up to you. See what to ask before you join.

Where PowerLens fits

1. Step 1

   Upload your bill

   We read what you pay now, exactly, from your own bill.

2. Step 2

   We price every plan in your area

   Every plan in the government's open plan data, priced on your use.

3. Step 3

   Stay or Switch

   If staying put is the better plan, that is what the report says.

PowerLens compares electricity plans. It doesn't sell batteries, check quotes or tell you how to set your battery. Once your battery is in, start with a recent bill. PowerLens says Stay or Switch. Stay is free in full. If it says Switch, you pay once to see the plan's name. A bill prices your current plan and flat rate plans. For time-based plans you can add your meter data file (NEM12), the detailed usage record from your smart meter, later. It's free. No saving is guaranteed.

Where to check the details

• Federal Government: Cheaper Home Batteries Program
• Energy.gov.au: Batteries