Solar, battery and hot water rebates in the ACT (2026)

Written and checked by the Energy Merchants desk · Reviewed 2 October 2026

ACT solar rebate 2026

Canberra’s solar discount is federal. The ACT does not pay a panel rebate at the time of writing; the territory’s money goes into financing. The STC count for a 6.6 kW system depends on your postcode’s zone rating and the 5-year deeming period for 2026 installs, which falls to 4 years in 2027 and 1 year in 2030 before the scheme ends on 31 December 2030. At roughly $38 to $40 spot, STCs still give a meaningful upfront discount. Canberra’s sunny, cold, dry climate suits solar, but frost and snow load mean mounting and cable ratings deserve attention.

ACT solar rebate and the Sustainable Household Scheme

People often search for an ACT solar rebate and land on the Sustainable Household Scheme. It is run by the ACT Government with a finance partner and covers products such as household batteries and hot water heat pumps. The scheme has historically been marketed as zero-interest, but third-party sources report that new loans carry an interest rate from 1 July 2025, with a ceiling of $20,000 over up to 10 years. Because that has changed once already, ask the customer to confirm current terms on the Climate Choices site before they sign anything. Eligibility also depends on the product category and, for some products, property value rules.

ACT battery rebate

The ACT’s earlier battery subsidy has ended, so the territory’s support is the Sustainable Household Scheme loan plus the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program. The federal discount applies to CEC-approved, VPP-capable batteries from 5 to 100 kWh usable, up to 50 kWh eligible, one per property, on new or existing solar. The STC factor is 6.8 per kWh for 2026 installs and steps down to 5.7 on 1 January 2027 and 5.2 on 1 July 2027, with tiered rates for larger batteries since 1 May 2026. A customer can use the federal discount to reduce the price and the scheme loan to finance the remainder. See our battery STC pillar.

Heat pump rebate in the ACT

With gas phase-out policy in the ACT, hot water heat pumps are a growth market. Federal STCs reduce the price; the Sustainable Household Scheme can finance what is left. Installers should record the system model, serial and installation type carefully, because a replacement and a new install are treated differently in the claim. The hot water STC page and hot water checklist cover it.

ACT STC trading for installers

Canberra installs connect to Evoenergy, and the STC claim goes to the Clean Energy Regulator like anywhere else. Installers working across the border into Queanbeyan or Yass face NSW rules and a different DNSP, so keep the postcode and zone for each job separate. The installation type guide and photo requirements cut down on rework. For local detail, see the Canberra page, and for the mechanism, the STC trading pillar.

How the ACT stack works in practice

A Canberra household adding a battery to existing solar sees the federal discount on the invoice, then decides whether to finance the rest. The scheme loan is repaid to the finance partner over its term, so the customer’s monthly cost depends on the loan size and rate, not on the certificate market. That is a useful point when a customer asks why the quote does not move when STC prices do: the discount is fixed at the time of installation, while the loan is a separate contract.

Canberra’s cold winters make heat pumps and good insulation as important as panels, and many homes have gas hot water that is due for replacement. The territory’s electrification policy pushes in that direction, which is why heat pump quotes are increasingly common. Since 1 May 2026 the federal battery discount also tiers down above 14 kWh, so a household sized for an evening peak will often get better value than one sized for the biggest battery available.

Remind customers that the deeming period shortens each year, from 5 years in 2026 to 4 in 2027, so a 2026 solar install earns more certificates. Our January 2027 explainer gives the details.