People search for a number, and the honest answer is that no single number exists. VPP offers are commercial products, priced by operators competing for batteries, and they change quickly. What you can do is learn how the payments are built so you can compare two offers fairly.
The four ways a VPP can pay you
- Sign-up credit. A one-off bill credit or bonus on joining. Often the biggest single item, and often tied to a minimum term.
- Annual or monthly bill credit. A fixed amount for keeping the battery enrolled.
- Event payments. An amount per kWh exported or per event when the operator calls on the battery.
- Tariff benefit. A better feed-in rate or a lower import rate for being a participant. This is harder to see but can be worth more than the headline credit.
How to value an offer
Add up what you would actually receive in year one, then ask what year two looks like. A simple way is to turn the offer into a dollar figure per kWh of battery per year, which lets you compare a 10 kWh and a 20 kWh battery fairly. Then subtract anything the offer costs you: a retailer tariff that is worse than your current plan, an exit fee, or lost backup reserve.
Illustration only: a $400 sign-up credit plus $10 a month on a 13.5 kWh battery is $520 in year one and $120 afterwards. If the retailer’s tariff costs you $200 a year more than your current plan, the net benefit after the first year is negative. That is why the contract matters more than the headline.
What changes the amount
- State and network. Some states have extra incentives for VPP connection (NSW’s PDRS incentive is the main one), and scarcity of peak capacity differs by region.
- Battery size and export limits. A larger battery can contribute more, up to the operator’s limit.
- Event frequency. Summer heat and winter evenings can mean more events in some networks.
- Wholesale prices. Operators that pass through wholesale prices can pay more in tight markets and less in a calm year.
What this means for homeowners
Ask for the offer in writing with: the term, the credit amounts and when they are paid, the event rules, any exit fee, and the effect on tariff and warranty. Do not choose a battery for the VPP offer alone, since the STC discount is likely the larger, more certain number. Run your numbers in the battery STC calculator first and see the battery STC pillar page.
What this means for installers
Be careful quoting VPP income to customers. If you mention it, label it as an operator offer that may change. Our guide to the 2026 program for installers covers how to present the discount and keep claims clean, and the rate for the certificates themselves is on /pricing/.