The after-rebate price is simple arithmetic, but there are a few places where homeowners get surprised. The first is to start with the installed price of a complete system rather than the headline price of the battery alone.
A worked example
The numbers below are for illustration only. They use a before-discount price of $12,000, which is not a market quote, and a certificate price of $38 to $40 (the range at the time of writing).
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery installed, before STC discount | $12,000 | $12,000 |
| STCs for a 14 kWh battery | 95 | 79 |
| STC discount at $38 to $40 | $3,600 to $3,800 | $3,000 to $3,200 |
| Price after discount | $8,200 to $8,400 | $8,800 to $9,000 |
Your own quote will differ with the brand, size, install complexity and the installer’s margin. Use the method, not the number.
What is not in the rebate
The federal discount is a certificate value. It does not cover a switchboard upgrade, extra cabling, a backup load circuit, trenching, a new meter or network approval fees. Those items vary a lot from home to home and are a common reason final bills exceed expectations. Ask for a line-by-line quote.
Questions to ask on a quote
- How many STCs does the quote assume, and at what dollar value each?
- What happens to the discount if the install slips into 2027?
- Is the battery CEC approved and VPP-capable, and who is the accredited installer?
- What is the warranty and who services it?
What this means for you
Compare after-rebate prices on the same usable capacity and the same inclusions. Then look at payback, which depends on your bills and any VPP earnings, not on the sticker. See is a battery worth it, the battery STC pillar, and how it works for how installers pass the discount on. For the certificate side see how much the federal battery rebate is.