Home battery costs after rebates

About $3,402 on a 13.5 kWh battery at current rates (Cheaper Home Batteries).

Enough to cover your evening and overnight use, usually 10–15 kWh for a family home. A battery bigger than your excess solar rarely fills up.

Battery installation costs $7,000–$15,000 depending on capacity, brand and roof complexity. A 5 kWh system starts around $8,500; a 10 kWh system averages $12,000–$14,000; a 15 kWh system runs $18,000–$22,000 before rebates. These are landed prices including all labour, racking, switchboard work and connection paperwork by an accredited electrician. The Cheaper Home Batteries Program rebates $252/kWh for the first 14 kWh (up to $3,528 for a 14 kWh system) from 1 May 2026, so your out-of-pocket cost drops significantly if you're eligible.

The rebate structure from DCCEEW is tiered: $252 per kWh for the first 14 kWh, $151/kWh from 14–28 kWh, and $38/kWh from 28–50 kWh. For a typical 10 kWh system, you'd receive $2,520 (10 × $252) as an instant deduction on your invoice. For a 20 kWh system, the rebate is $3,528 (14 × $252) + $906 (6 × $151) = $4,434. These amounts are set by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water and change on 1 May each year, so confirm current figures with the CER before signing.

Not always. If your existing inverter is a hybrid model (usually installed after 2015), a battery can connect directly and costs less to install ($7,500–$10,000 for a 10 kWh system). If your inverter is string-only (older systems), you have two choices: install a separate hybrid inverter alongside it ($9,000–$12,000 installed) or replace the old one ($1,500–$4,200 for inverter replacement). We assess your switchboard and inverter type during a site visit and quote both paths; hybrid retrofits are fastest but cost more upfront.

Size your battery to your daily energy use (from your bills), not your peak solar output. Most Australian homes use 15–25 kWh per day; if 60% of that falls between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., a 10 kWh battery covers a full winter night and charges from solar the next day. A 5 kWh system is entry-level but leaves you buying grid power on cloudy days; a 15 kWh system buys near-total independence but costs $22,000+. Our site assessment includes a usage review and a written recommendation; oversizing is a common mistake that inflates your capital cost without proportional benefit.

The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program (from 1 May 2026) is available nationwide through NETCC Approved Sellers. Some states run additional rebates: South Australia's scheme has ended, but Victoria's Solar Homes program includes battery rebates (confirm current amounts with the Victorian Energy Upgrades Agency), and other states periodically launch schemes. Check your state energy agency's website (Energy Queensland, NSW Department of Planning, etc.) for current local offers, as these change. Our team confirms your eligibility during consultation and applies every rebate you qualify for.