Cheaper Home Batteries Program

Federal battery rebate — what Townsville homeowners need to know

The federal government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program makes battery storage significantly more affordable for Australian homeowners. The rebate is applied upfront by your installer — there is no paperwork to complete and no rebate to claim after the fact. We apply it directly to every battery quote we provide.

How the rebate works

An upfront discount on the cost of battery storage, applied before you pay

The Cheaper Home Batteries Program works similarly to the long-running solar panel rebate. Eligible battery installations receive a discount based on the battery’s usable capacity, which is applied directly to your quote by your installer. You pay the reduced price from the start — there is no rebate to chase after the fact and no government forms to fill in.

The program is funded through Australia’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme and is available to all eligible households regardless of income. It applies to both new solar and battery installs and to retrofits on existing solar systems that do not yet have storage.

No means testing

All eligible households qualify for the rebate regardless of income. There is no application process, no income threshold and no waiting list.

Applied upfront by your installer

We apply the rebate directly to your quote. You see the actual cost you will pay before you make any decision. No rebate claims, no chasing the government for your money.

Applies to new installs and retrofits

If you already have solar panels but no battery, you are still eligible. The rebate is not limited to new solar installs. Existing system owners adding storage for the first time qualify on the same terms.

Funded through to 2030

The federal government has committed substantial funding to keep the program running through to 2030. The rebate does reduce over time, which means installing sooner delivers a higher discount than waiting.

What the rebate structure looks like from 1 May 2026

The first 14kWh of usable battery capacity receives the full rebate rate — this covers most standard household battery systems
Battery capacity between 14kWh and 28kWh receives 60% of the standard rate
Capacity above 28kWh receives 15% of the standard rate
The rebate is designed to maintain approximately 30% upfront discount on batteries sized for typical household needs
The rebate factor declines every six months, so installing sooner delivers a better discount than waiting
The rebate is locked in on your installation date — once your system is installed, your rebate is fixed

How it works

How we apply the rebate to your quote

Every battery quote we provide shows the rebate applied upfront. You see the full price, the rebate value and what you actually pay — in the same document, before you make any decision.

1
We assess your home and usage
We visit your property, review your energy usage and assess your existing solar setup if you have one. This determines what battery size is right for your household and which system the rebate applies to.
2
We calculate your rebate
The rebate value depends on your battery’s usable capacity and the current rebate rate. We calculate the exact figure based on the battery we are recommending and include it in your written quote.
3
You see your actual cost upfront
The quote shows the battery price, the rebate deducted and what you pay. No estimates, no surprises. The figure in the quote is what you pay on installation day.
4
We handle the rebate administration
As an approved installer, we manage all rebate paperwork and registration. You do not need to contact any government agency or do anything after the installation is complete.

Townsville and the battery rebate

Why the rebate matters more in Townsville

Townsville’s solar conditions are among the best in Australia. With around 320 sunny days per year, a battery installed here will cycle more frequently and deliver more value over its lifetime than the same battery installed in a less sunny city. That makes the economics of battery storage particularly compelling in this region, and the federal rebate makes the entry point more accessible than it has ever been.

The rebate is also well timed for Townsville homeowners on the legacy 44 cent feed-in tariff, which is scheduled to end in June 2028. Adding battery storage now means capturing and using your own generation rather than exporting it at any tariff rate, and the rebate reduces the cost of making that transition.

Who is eligible

You have an existing solar system

You can add a battery to your existing solar system and still qualify. The rebate applies to retrofits on existing systems that do not yet have storage, not just new installs.

You are installing solar and a battery together

New solar and battery installs qualify in full. The solar panels receive the standard STC rebate and the battery receives the Cheaper Home Batteries Program rebate, separately and simultaneously.

Your property qualifies for off-grid storage

Off-grid battery systems may also be eligible. Eligibility conditions for off-grid differ from grid-connected systems, so ask us about your specific property and we will confirm whether it qualifies before we quote.

Your battery meets the minimum size

The battery must have at least 5kWh of usable capacity to be eligible. All three battery systems we supply — Sigenergy SigenStor, GoodWe ESA and BYD — meet this requirement.

Your battery is CEC approved

The battery and inverter must both be on the Clean Energy Council approved product list. Every battery system we supply and install is CEC approved.

One rebate per property

The rebate can only be claimed once per property. If you have previously received the Cheaper Home Batteries Program rebate at your current address, you are not eligible to claim it again for a second battery system.

Common questions

Battery rebate questions, answered

Does the rebate apply if I already have solar?

Yes. The Cheaper Home Batteries Program applies to existing solar systems adding battery storage for the first time. You do not need to be installing new solar panels to qualify.

Do I need to do anything to claim the rebate?

No. We apply the rebate directly to your quote and handle all administration as an approved installer. You do not contact any government agency, fill in any forms or claim anything after installation.

Will the rebate amount change over time?

Yes. From 1 May 2026, the rebate factor declines every six months rather than annually. This means the rebate available today is higher than it will be in six months. The figure is locked in on your installation date, so installing sooner protects the higher rate.

Does the rebate apply to larger batteries?

The rebate now uses a three-tier structure. The first 14kWh of usable capacity receives the full rebate. Capacity between 14kWh and 28kWh receives 60% of the standard rate. Capacity above 28kWh receives 15%. For most households a battery up to 14kWh captures the full rebate value.

Is the rebate the same as the solar STC rebate?

No. They are separate programs. The solar STC rebate applies to solar panels under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. The Cheaper Home Batteries Program applies specifically to battery storage. If you are installing solar and a battery together, both rebates apply simultaneously.

Does the rebate apply to off-grid battery systems?

Off-grid installations may be eligible under specific conditions. The rules differ slightly from grid-connected systems. Ask us about your property and we will confirm eligibility before we quote.

Rebate at a glance

Program name

Cheaper Home Batteries Program

How its applied

Upfront by installer

Means tested

Minimum battery size

5kWh usable capacity

Full rebate up to

14kWh usable capacity

Applies to retrofits

Yes

Program funded until

2030

Rebate declines

Every 6 months from May 2026

OUR REVIEWS

What Our Customers Say

4.9Based on 185 reviews

Bob Tomeia week ago

Excellent, from Rob coming to quote the job to installation I couldn’t be happier. Great local company and highly recommend.

Keith Christiea week ago

The installation of the solar system was carried out with true excellence. The system has performed well and has helped in the cost of our power . We have since the first installation in 2023 have just had more panels installed to help reduce the cost of power even more . I have used True North Solar on both supplies and installation. May I say try hey have shown excellence in the product and install. It would be great for others from their example . Top Job and thanks again .

Jennifer Mortensena week ago

I am extremely happy with the work these gentlemen did .we did have a slight hiccup ,True North Solar got onto it straight away very much appreciated the quick response from them .Very happy customer.

Bryan Glancya week ago

TNS were very professional from the beginning providing technical advice, recommendations/options with reasons why, and followed up with their commitment of a timely installation. The installation being retrofitted into an existing home was neat and tidy and their workforce very considerate. TNS provided their support post installation when we changed our internet provider with a new modem.

Kevin Hawkea week ago

We are very pleased with our solar and are nearly back to our normal energy situation ,we can only thank True North Solar for that result ,their prompt and efficient service was a result of our now great result .

Johna month ago

We had the pleasure of having Rob from True North Solar review our home for additional solar panels, as well as adding a battery system. Rob acted in both an efficient and professional manner throughout the whole process, leaving us with no doubts that the recommended system would suit our needs. Nick and the installation team not only did a great job with the installation, but left the premises spotless. Any questions were answered in both a professional and friendly manner. We could not rate True North Solar any more highly, they deliver a high quality product and exceptional service. Thank you John and Kayleen Grasso.

Jerry and the Tilemakersa month ago

Excellent service from the True North Solar team. Professional, reliable, and easy to work with. The installation was completed efficiently, and everything was explained clearly. Very happy with our new solar system and highly recommend them.

Tim Whelan2 months ago

I used True North Solar 12 years ago, I did a search and found them still going, a good sign this day and age. Kash was still there too. Kash looked at the job, quoted and got the installation done. The installation boys did an excellent job, very neat and all good to get on with. Over all I could not rate the crew from True North Solar high enough. I recommend them to all who ask about our solar system. Cheers Tim.

Simone Iturriaga3 months ago

True North Solar have completed fitting solar to our house and we couldn’t be happier with the all round service. Administration staff were polite, helpful and prompt with any request and technical staff were professional and knowledgeable with their installation. Nick and Jordan worked together seamlessly and stepped us through everything we needed to know. Their work was neat and efficient and we would highly recommend True North Solar to anyone with solar needs.

Rodney Ambrose7 months ago

True North Solar put our solar system on 2 1/2 years ago and we have just had them add batteries to it. With both installations we had lots questions that were quickly answered because of their extensive knowledge of solar systems. The employees that were on site doing the installations were very approachable regarding any questions on the day and were very respectful. We highly recommend them to anyone thinking about installing solar.