The battery rebate drops on 1 January 2027: should you buy now?
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries discount shrinks every six months, and the next step down is on 1 January 2027. Here is how much it falls, what date actually counts, and when it is worth moving quickly.
The short answer
- The drop: the factor that sets the discount falls from 6.8 to 5.7, about 16% less per kWh[1].
- On a 10kWh battery: about $2,520 now, roughly $2,110 from January if certificate prices stay where they are.
- What counts: the install date on your electrical certificate, not the day you sign.
How much less you get
The discount is worked out from a factor that falls every six months. For January to June 2027 it is 5.7[1], down from 6.8 now. If certificate prices hold, that is roughly[2][1]:
- 10kWh: about $2,520 now, about $2,110 from January, $410 less.
- About 15kWh: about $3,680 now, about $3,080 from January, $600 less.
- About 27kWh: about $5,490 now, about $4,600 from January, $890 less.
Certificate prices move, so treat these as estimates.
The date that counts
The discount is set by the factor on the install date, which is the date on the certificate of electrical compliance[1]. Signing a contract in December does not lock in December's discount if the battery goes in in January. Ask the installer for a written install date.
Bigger batteries get less per kWh
The discount is tapered: full rate for the first 14kWh of usable capacity, 60% from 14 to 28kWh, and 15% from 28 to 50kWh[1]. Beyond about 14kWh, each extra kWh earns much less discount, whatever the month.
Should you rush?
- Yes, if you already know a battery suits you, you have a fair quote, and the installer can commit to a December install date.
- No, if the rush means a dearer quote. Quotes for the same 10kWh battery range from $7,650 to $13,500; a poor quote costs far more than the $410 the discount drops.
- Watch for pressure selling that uses the deadline. A fair price matters more than the date.
Why two quotes for the same job can be thousands apart
Installers price the same system very differently. These are the installed price ranges our calculator works from, before rebates: the low end is what a competitive installer charges, and the high end is what a poor quote looks like.
| System | Competitive quote | Poor quote |
|---|---|---|
| 6.6kW solar system | $8,000 | $10,000 |
| 10kWh battery | $7,650 | $13,500 |
| About 15kWh battery | $12,100 | $18,000 |
- The gap usually comes from margin, the brand of panel, inverter or battery, and extras such as a switchboard upgrade or backup circuit, not from a better install.
- Get at least two or three quotes, and ask for each to be itemised: hardware brands and models, size, rebates taken off, and anything extra.
- Compare batteries on price per usable kWh, not the headline price.
Thinking of a battery before January?
Two minutes of questions shows what a battery would save on your usage and what it should cost after the discount. No installer sees anything unless you ask.
Run my numbers, freeCommon questions
Is the battery rebate ending?
Not ending, but shrinking. The factor that sets it falls every six months, to 5.7 for January to June 2027.
How much will I lose if I wait until January?
About $410 on a 10kWh battery, if certificate prices stay where they are.
Does signing in December lock in the discount?
No. It is set by the install date on the certificate of electrical compliance.
Sources
- Clean Energy Regulator, Solar batteries (Cheaper Home Batteries Program): the discount is set by the factor on the install date, the date on the certificate of electrical compliance; the factor falls every six months, from 6.8 for July to December 2026 to 5.7 for January to June 2027; the discount is tapered, 100% for the first 14kWh of usable capacity, 60% from 14 to 28kWh and 15% from 28 to 50kWh. Read 26 October 2026.
- Aussie Solar Info, How the calculator works: installed prices, battery sizes and the federal battery discount used by this site's calculator. Read 4 November 2026.