Installers searching “2027 battery rebate drop plan”, “pipeline before 1 January 2027”, “battery strategy 2026” and “stockpile jobs before deeming drops” are asking one thing: how to handle a rebate that steps down at New Year.
What changes on 1 January 2027
- Batteries. The factor under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program is 6.8 at the time of writing and steps to 5.7 on 1 January 2027, then 5.2 on 1 July 2027. The tier weights (100%, 60%, 15% across 14, 28 and 50 kWh) are unchanged. See the January 2027 battery drop.
- Solar. The deeming period falls from 5 years to 4 years for 2027 installs, so a system creates about 20% fewer STCs than the same system in 2026. See the deeming period page and what changes in January 2027.
A realistic pipeline plan
- Count real capacity. Total installs per crew per week to 31 December, minus Christmas shutdowns and weather. Remember the CER limit of two battery installs per day per installer.
- Sort the pipeline. Jobs with approved finance, confirmed stock and site access go first. Jobs that are still “thinking about it” will not make the date.
- Confirm stock. Inverters and batteries on the approved list must arrive in time. Talk to distributors in October, not December.
- Tell customers the truth. Show the discount at today’s value and the likely 2027 value, using the STC calculator and battery calculator. Do not promise a lock-in you cannot give.
- Hold quality. Rushed installs produce photo gaps, rejected claims and audit exposure.
Why stockpiling is risky
“Stockpiling jobs” tempts crews to book more than they can finish well. The value is set on the installation date, so a job completed in January earns the January value regardless of when it was signed. Rushing creates compliance risk that outweighs the gain, and a demand spike can strain supply and the CER’s attention. For certificates already created, see selling STCs before deeming drops.
A simple December checklist
In the first week of December, confirm every remaining job has stock on site or booked, an install date and a customer who has signed off. In the second week, run photo and serial checks on completed jobs so claims can be lodged before the holiday shutdown. Keep a short list of jobs that will slip into January and tell those customers the new figures now, in writing, so there are no surprises on the final invoice.
What this means for installers
After the cut-off, expect a quieter January and plan cash for it. Keep claims flowing cleanly through December: Energy Merchants pre-checks every claim and settles in 24 hours for established partners, with the day’s rate on pricing. See also how it works, the installer guide to the program and the installer business hub.