Australia offers a surprisingly generous range of energy rebates, grants, and incentive schemes — but finding them all in one place is nearly impossible. Federal, state, and territory governments each run their own programs, many with different eligibility criteria and application processes. This comprehensive guide covers every major energy rebate available to Australian homeowners in 2026.
Federal Rebates and Incentives
Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) — Solar and Heat Pumps
The federal government's Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) provides upfront discounts on solar panels and heat pump hot water systems through tradeable certificates called STCs. These are the biggest single rebate available nationally:
- Solar panels: A typical 6.6kW system generates approximately 80 STCs, worth around $3,000–$3,200 at current prices (~$39 per STC). This is applied as a point-of-sale discount by your installer.
- Heat pump hot water: A qualifying heat pump generates around 25–30 STCs, worth approximately $1,000–$1,200 as a point-of-sale discount.
Cheaper Home Batteries Program
The federal government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program provides rebates of up to $3,000 for eligible households installing battery storage systems. This program targets households that already have or are installing solar panels, helping them store excess generation for evening use.
Victoria
| Program | Rebate Value | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Victoria — Battery Rebate | Up to $1,400 | Home battery storage systems |
| Solar Victoria — Hot Water Rebate | Up to $1,000 | Heat pump or solar hot water systems |
| Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) | Up to $5,530 | Gas heating replacement, insulation, LED lighting, draught sealing |
Victoria's VEU scheme is particularly generous for replacing gas ducted heating with an efficient reverse cycle system — rebates of up to $5,530 make this one of the most valuable energy upgrade incentives in the country. VEU certificates are created by accredited providers and delivered as point-of-sale discounts.
New South Wales
| Program | Rebate Value | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS) | Varies by upgrade | Efficient appliances, demand response |
| Energy Savings Scheme (ESS) | Varies by upgrade | Energy efficiency upgrades including lighting, HVAC, hot water |
NSW operates certificate-based schemes where accredited providers offer discounts on energy-efficient products. The savings come through ESS certificates that reduce upfront costs on heat pumps, efficient air conditioners, pool pumps, and LED lighting. Discounts are typically applied at point of sale through participating retailers and installers.
Queensland
| Program | Rebate Value | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Booster | Up to $4,000 | Home battery storage |
| Interest-free loans | Up to $10,000 | Solar, batteries, energy efficiency |
Queensland's Battery Booster program provides substantial grants for home batteries, and the state also offers interest-free loans to help households spread the cost of solar and battery installations.
South Australia
| Program | Rebate Value | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Home Battery Scheme | Up to $2,000 | Home battery systems |
South Australia was a pioneer in home battery incentives and continues to support battery uptake through its Home Battery Scheme. Given SA's high electricity prices, batteries are particularly attractive here, and the combination of the state rebate with federal incentives makes the economics compelling.
ACT
| Program | Rebate Value | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainable Household Scheme | Up to $15,000 (0% interest loan) | Solar, batteries, EV chargers, heat pumps, insulation, EVs |
| Access to Electric | Varies | Low-income household electrification support |
The ACT's Sustainable Household Scheme is one of Australia's most generous programs — offering up to $15,000 in interest-free loans over 10 years. This covers an exceptionally broad range of upgrades including solar, batteries, heat pumps, EV chargers, ceiling insulation, draught proofing, and even electric vehicles.
Western Australia
| Program | Rebate Value | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS) | Feed-in credits | Solar export payments (time-varying rates) |
| Household Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) | Varies | Energy efficiency upgrades for concession holders |
WA's DEBS provides time-varying feed-in tariffs that pay higher rates for solar exported during peak demand periods. The HEES program specifically targets low-income and concession card-holding households with subsidised energy efficiency improvements.
Tasmania
| Program | Rebate Value | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Saver Loans | Up to $10,000 (low interest) | Solar, batteries, heat pumps, insulation |
Tasmania offers low-interest loans through its Energy Saver program to help homeowners invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades. While not as generous as the ACT's zero-interest scheme, it still makes upgrades more accessible for Tasmanian households.
Northern Territory
| Program | Rebate Value | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Home and Business Battery Scheme | Up to $5,000 | Battery storage for homes and businesses |
The NT's battery scheme recognises the particular value of energy storage in remote and off-grid communities, offering grants of up to $5,000 for qualifying battery installations.
How to Stay Up to Date
Energy rebate programs change frequently — new schemes are announced, existing ones are modified, and funding rounds open and close. Bookmark our Rebate Finder tool, which we update regularly with the latest programs and eligibility criteria. You can also sign up for alerts from your state government's energy department to be notified when new programs launch.