Home battery rebates are changing – here’s what that means for you
If you’re thinking about getting a home battery installed, here’s why you should consider doing it sooner than later.
This sponsored story is brought to you by Ahrns Electrical.
If you’re interested in installing a home battery, now is the time to get onto it.
The federal government recently announced that it would reduce the rebate available to households from this May.
Rebates will then continue to shrink over the next few years.
What does that mean for you?
It means there’s an incentive for you to get the job done sooner than later.
Here’s the down low, with some guidance from the trusted locals at Ahrns Electrical.
Why install a home battery?
First, let’s talk about why you should invest in a home battery.
More than 40 per cent of South Australian homes already have solar panels, giving residents cheap or free power during the day and access to feed-in tariffs if they produce any excess electricity.
But most of us use more power at night: for cooking, heating and cooling, lights or watching TV.
If your solar power system has a battery attached, you can store the extra energy you produce during the day and save it up to be used in the evening.
That saves you money – and potentially a lot of money – on your power bill.
It also reduces your home’s reliance on the energy grid, equipping you to survive any blackouts without interruption and limiting your family’s reliance on power sources that cause climate change.
What rebates are available?
The federal government is currently offering discounts of about 30 per cent on home batteries through its Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
Why “about” 30%?
The formula for calculating the discount is pretty complicated, and depends on:
- the capacity of your home battery, in kilowatt hours
- the date on which you get it installed
- the installer you use
We won’t get you bogged down with the details, but basically anyone who installs a home battery is entitled to a bunch of “small-scale technology certificates”, or STCs, worth about $40 each.
Thankfully, you won’t need to worry about that.
Whoever installs your battery will offer you a fixed discount, either up front or as a rebate, in return for the right to trade in those STCs at a later date.
What’s changing in May 2026?
The changes to the Cheaper Home Batteries Program will reduce the number of STCs issued to households which get a battery installed.
In turn, that means the discount offered by battery installers will go down over time, too.
For example, if you were to install a popular battery with a capacity of 13.5kWh, you might expect a discount of about:
- $4500 between now and April 30
- $3700 from May-December 2026
- $3100 in the first half of 2027
- $2800 in the second half of 2027
The cost of a home battery is likely to come down over the next few years, too; but if you’d prefer to lock in a higher rebate, it would be worth getting a move on.
Why choose Ahrns Electrical?
Ahrns Electrical, based in Murray Bridge, are your trusted local experts for any electrical work.
Their work standards are high, and they’ll give you reliable, considerate service.
But best of all, Ahrns partner with Adelaide-based finance company Brighte to offer flexible, low-cost payment options for anyone installing solar power and/or a battery system.
That includes an interest-free option over a period of up to 10 years.
“If a system is designed correctly, the cost of paying off a battery can be less than the cost of your power bill,” director Tristan Ahrns says.
“The finance company we work with has the goal of giving everyone access to solar and batteries, and their finance options are set up to help people who may have trouble paying their power bills.”
Ahrns can help you get started by offering a free assessment and proposal: a team member will visit your home, talk about your power usage and design a home battery system that’s right for you.
So don’t wait – contact Ahrns Electrical today.
- Contact Ahrns Electrical: Call 0423 197 608 between 9am and 5pm on weekdays. You can also visit ahrnselectrical.com.au or follow Ahrns Electrical on Facebook or Instagram.
- More information: For the finance options available through Brighte, visit brighte.com.au. For the government rebate, visit www.dcceew.gov.au.
Advertising to more than 20,000 highly engaged locals can do wonders for your business. Call Jane Intini on 0418 835 768 or email jane@murraybridge.news.
Peri Strathearn
