Cheaper Home Batteries Program · rules as at 5 November 2026

Battery rebate calculator

See what the federal battery rebate takes off your battery, how the size tiers affect it, and how much less you'd get by installing after the next step-down.

Your battery

Models currently on the approved list, with usable capacity as listed.
kWh
The rate is set by the date the battery is installed and commissioned, not the date you sign.
$per certificate
What your installer credits you for each certificate. Typically $38–$40; check your quote.
$before rebates

NSW pays a one-off incentive (PDRS) for connecting your battery to a virtual power plant. It's advertised at up to about $1,500 gross, covers only the first 28 kWh, and providers deduct fees. Enter the net amount from your VPP offer.

$
May–Dec 2026 rate · factor 6.8

Federal battery rebate

$3,458

91 STCs × $38 per STC

Effective rebate$256/kWh
State incentive$0
Out of pocketAdd a quote
Rebates cover–

How your capacity is counted

Capacity bandkWh in bandShare of rateSTCsValue
0–14 kWh13.5100%91.8$3,488
14–28 kWh060%0$0
28–50 kWh015%0$0
Total, rounded down13.591$3,458

Same battery, different install dates

Rebate for a 13.5 kWh battery at $38 per STC. The STC factor steps down every six months until the program ends in 2030.

Rebate for this battery in each install period$3,458May–Dec2026$2,888Jan–Jun2027$2,660Jul–Dec2027$2,356Jan–Jun2028$2,090Jul–Dec2028$1,824Jan–Jun2029
Install periodSTC factorSTCsRebatevs now
May–Dec 2026 (your date)6.891$3,458–
Jan–Jun 20275.776$2,888−$570
Jul–Dec 20275.270$2,660−$798
Jan–Jun 20284.662$2,356−$1,102
Jul–Dec 20284.155$2,090−$1,368
Jan–Jun 20293.648$1,824−$1,634
Factors from July 2029 to the end of the program in 2030 aren't included yet.

Before you count on it

  • The exact model is on the Clean Energy Council approved batteries list on your install date. Listings expire, so check the “listed until” date.
  • Nominal capacity is between 5 and 100 kWh. Only the first 50 kWh of usable capacity earns certificates.
  • An accredited installer installs and commissions it. The discount comes off the quote at point of sale, so there's nothing to claim yourself.
  • The quote shows the number of STCs and the price per STC. If it doesn't, ask.
  • State incentives have their own rules. The NSW VPP incentive, for example, needs a contract with a VPP provider.

How it's calculated

The rebate is paid as small-scale technology certificates (STCs). Since 1 May 2026, each band of usable capacity earns a share of the STC factor. The total is rounded down to whole certificates, then multiplied by the STC price.

STCs = floor( kWh in 0–14   × factor × 100%
             + kWh in 14–28  × factor ×  60%
             + kWh in 28–50  × factor ×  15% )
Rebate = STCs × STC price

e.g. 14 kWh at factor 6.8 → 95.2 → 95 STCs