Advocacy groups came up with many ways to celebrate July 1st, the day the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program kicked in.

Households, small businesses and community organisations are now eligible for around a 30% discount on the upfront cost of installing small-scale battery systems alongside new or existing rooftop solar. The discount will be based on the usable capacity of the battery and will gradually decline through to 2030. While the NSW government isn’t offering its rebate anymore, it does provide incentives for connecting batteries to a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) which offers you the chance to make money by providing power. 

Here’s a bit of fun with the Solar Citizens organisation.

How does it work locally?

Australia has the highest rate of rooftop solar in the world, with SolarQuotes research calculations showing there are 44 solar panel systems per 100 dwellings in our area – higher than this national average. It states more than 8,542 small-scale systems have been installed with a collective capacity of 62,389 kW as at May 31, 2025.

“Based on a conservative average of 258,407 kWh of energy production a day (enough to power the equivalent of 16,150 homes) and retail electricity costs of 34c per kilowatt-hour; Orange and 2800 postcode area residents are collectively generating $32,068,289 of energy at retail prices a year,” the report states.

“Orange solar power system owners are also contributing to greenhouse gas emission reduction, with the systems in 2800 region avoiding 77,341 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.”

What is it exactly?

The Cheaper Home Batteries Program will be delivered through the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). Under the program, a household could save around:

• $4,000 off the upfront cost of installing an 11.5 kWh battery previously costing around $13,000.
• It’s capped at $330/kWh after administration fees ($375/kWh before costs).
• $700 to $1,600 per year on their electricity bill, with the battery delivering $300 to $900 of that. 

Not only will this help you save on electricity, but reduce the costs for everyone as it will mean reduced demand for expensive gas power generation, poles and wires. These costs are built into your electricity bills and our taxes. 

Ensure you get at least three quotes from reliable electricians. Experience from our members is to seek out local tradespeople before being looking further afield. Interest free or low-interest loans are available as part of the federal Household Energy Users Fund to purchase solar panels or a battery. 

Please share with us your experiences and we may be able to help you based on our experience.
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