Every Australian household gets the same federal battery discount. What differs by state is what sits on top of it: some states run their own incentive, some have wound theirs up, and several have VPP-linked payments that change from year to year. Anything below marked “at the time of writing” should be confirmed with the scheme’s own page, because battery programs have closed and reopened faster than almost any other energy policy.
The federal piece is covered in how the Cheaper Home Batteries Program works. This article is the map of what can sit alongside it.
The federal base, same everywhere
At the time of writing, installs from 1 May 2026 use an STC factor of 6.8, stepping down to 5.7 on 1 January 2027 and 5.2 on 1 July 2027 (the factor now steps every six months to 2030). The first 14 kWh earns the full factor, 14 to 28 kWh earns 60 per cent, and 28 to 50 kWh earns 15 per cent. A 10 kWh battery creates 68 STCs, about $2,584 to $2,720 at the spot range of $38 to $40. That is true in Cairns and Hobart alike.
State by state
| State or territory | What to look for (at the time of writing) |
|---|---|
| NSW | The earlier state battery incentive moved into the federal program in 2025. The Peak Demand Reduction Scheme offers an incentive for VPP connection, delivered through certificates. |
| Victoria | Check Solar Victoria for any current battery support. Its solar rebate has an income cap of $150,000 from 1 July 2026, and the Victorian Energy Upgrades program is run by the Essential Services Commission. |
| Queensland | Check the state government for current battery incentives; some earlier schemes have closed or are limited. |
| South Australia | VPP-linked support has operated, such as the REPS VPP program. The earlier state battery subsidy has closed. |
| Western Australia | A state residential battery scheme has operated with different rebate levels by network area and a funding cap. |
| Tasmania | Check the state government for current support. |
| ACT | Check the ACT government’s sustainable household programs for current battery support. |
| NT | Check the NT government for current support. |
The honest summary is that the federal program is the main support almost everywhere, and the state layer is thinnest in states where earlier schemes ran out of funding. We do not state state dollar amounts here because they change and the brief for this page is to point you to the source.
Two states in more detail
NSW
The Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS) creates Peak Reduction Certificates (PRCs) for qualifying battery installations that connect to a VPP. The certificates are traded, and the value is passed through to the customer by the installer or aggregator as a discount or credit. It is a different mechanism from STCs, with its own rules, accredited providers and paperwork, and the NSW Energy Savings Scheme (ESCs) sits next to it. Check the NSW government’s PDRS pages for what qualifies now.
Western Australia
WA has run a state battery scheme with different support for customers in the Synergy and Horizon Power areas, and with a funding cap. Because the funding is capped, the status at the date you sign matters more than the status last quarter. Confirm it with the WA government before you rely on it.
What the pattern means
- Federal first. Build your price expectation from the STC discount, which you can calculate.
- State second. Treat it as an extra you confirm, not a base.
- VPP third. Payments depend on the operator. See should you join a VPP.
For the mechanics of combining them see can you stack battery rebates and federal and state stacking.
How to check any state scheme in five minutes
- Find the administering agency’s official page, not a comparison site.
- Check the status: open, paused, closed or waitlisted.
- Check the eligibility: property type, income or concession tests, network area, installer approval.
- Check the deadline: before install, within a window after, or both.
- Check how it is delivered: discount on invoice, rebate to you, certificate value, or loan.
For installers working across states
If you quote in more than one state, keep a one-page status sheet and update it monthly. The federal claim stays constant, but the state layer changes the evidence you need. Keep the federal claim clean, with a pre-check and a trader who settles quickly, and handle the state layer as a second workflow. The federal side is covered in how battery STCs work.
Retailer and network offers
Beyond government schemes, some retailers and network operators offer their own battery incentives, such as bill credits or tariff discounts for batteries that join a VPP. These can look like rebates but are commercial offers with terms. Treat them as you would any contract: check the length, the exit terms and what happens when you move house.
Keeping your information current
Battery policy has moved quickly. A page that was right in March can be out of date by September. Before you rely on any figure, including those in articles like this one, confirm it with the administering agency and ask your installer what they have seen in the last month. Installers who work in a state every week usually know when a scheme is about to close before the website says so.
Why the federal program leads
The federal program is large, national and runs to 2030, which makes it the stable part of the stack. State schemes tend to be capped, time-limited or tied to specific network conditions, so they are better treated as bonuses to confirm than as foundations. That is not a criticism of them; it is how the funding works. A household that plans around the federal discount and treats the rest as upside will rarely be surprised.
What to do next
- Households: check your state’s scheme status and your retailer’s VPP offers before you sign.
- Installers: build a state status sheet and add an incentives block to your quotes.
- Read the program overview and the battery STC page.
- Check today’s rates to see what certificates are settling at.