Thousands of households and businesses in New South Wales are benefiting from significantly lower energy bills thanks to a new household battery incentive program. Since its launch in November 2024, over 7,800 solar battery systems have been installed statewide, helping residents store solar energy for use when electricity demand is high.
The incentive offers upfront discounts on battery installation costs, with larger batteries qualifying for bigger savings. For example, a typical household battery with a 13.5 kilowatt-hour capacity receives an average discount of over $2,000. Combined with solar panels, households with an average annual electricity bill of $1,850 can save around $1,500 per year.
More than half of the installations have taken place outside the Sydney metropolitan area, including 23 in Broken Hill, demonstrating widespread uptake across regional and urban areas. The program now reaches over 90% of all Local Government Areas in NSW, supported by more than 600 accredited installers.
Top areas for installations include Northern Beaches, Central Coast, Blacktown, and Shoalhaven, among others.
In addition to upfront savings, households can also join a Virtual Power Plant, allowing them to sell excess stored energy back to the grid for additional income.
This battery incentive is part of a broader Peak Demand Reduction Scheme aimed at reducing electricity demand during peak times, supporting grid stability, and lowering reliance on fossil fuels.