Solar rebates in South Australia: what you can actually claim
No state solar or battery rebate in SA for homeowners. Federal rebates apply. SA has strong VPP programs that can earn you ongoing income.
What is different about South Australia
South Australia has the most expensive electricity of the 8 at 42c a unit, which raises what every unit you avoid buying is worth, and one of the lowest feed-in tariffs at 1c, so exporting is close to giving power away and self-consumption carries the entire case. It averages 5 peak sun hours a day.
The federal rebate, which applies everywhere
South Australia has no state panel rebate for homeowners, so the federal STC is the incentive that comes off a new solar system here.
It is not a cheque. It is a discount applied at the point of sale by the installer, who claims the certificates. That means the number you care about is the price after it comes off, and it is the only number worth comparing between quotes.
Batteries
South Australia has no state battery rebate, but the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program applies and SA's VPP programs can earn you ongoing income on top of it.
What it looks like once the rebates come off
Four households in South Australia, panels only, after everything they are entitled to:
| Household uses | Their bill a quarter | System | After rebates | Saves a year | Pays for itself |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kWh | $482 | 6.6kW solar | $6,250 to $8,250 | $480–$730 | 10+ years |
| 15 kWh | $673 | 10–13kW solar | $8,000 to $13,000 | $740–$1,120 | 9–10+ years |
| 22 kWh | $941 | 10–13kW solar | $8,000 to $13,000 | $1,030–$1,540 | 6–10 years |
| 30 kWh | $1,247 | 10–13kW solar | $8,000 to $13,000 | $1,360–$2,030 | 5–8 years |
Every figure here is produced by this site's calculator, not copied from a price list.
How to check a quote against this
Ask for the price before rebates and the rebate amount as separate lines. A quote that only shows the after-rebate total is not wrong, but it makes it impossible to tell whether the rebate has been applied in full or quietly used to pad the margin underneath it. Then ask what happens to the price if the rebate value changes between signing and installing, because certificate prices move.
$5,000 difference.
That is the gap between two quotes for the same 6.6kW system in South Australia, in the same week. Not build quality, not a better job. Overheads, how full the diary is that month, and what the person at your kitchen table thinks you will agree to. On solar with a battery the same gap is $10,600.
Closing that gap is what I do. I already know what installers in your area are quoting this month for this equipment, so I get you the bottom of that range for the same system other companies charge thousands more for. It costs you nothing. The installer pays me, and only if you go ahead, which is why there is no reason for me to push you at a bigger system than you need or at a dearer installer.
Get your own numbers, then get them priced properly
The table above is four example households. Two minutes of questions gets you your system size, what it should cost after rebates in South Australia, and a ten-year projection built on your roof and your usage. Then I find the bottom of that price range for you.
Run my numbers, freeNo installer buys placement or ranking here, and nothing reaches an installer unless you ask.
Common questions
What solar rebates can I get in South Australia?
No state solar or battery rebate in SA for homeowners. Federal rebates apply. SA has strong VPP programs that can earn you ongoing income.
Do I get the rebate as a cash payment?
No. It is applied as a discount by the installer at the point of sale, who claims the certificates. Compare quotes on the price after the rebate has come off.
What does solar cost in South Australia after rebates?
A 6.6kW system for a mid-sized household comes to $8,000 to $13,000 after rebates. The spread is the installer, not the equipment.
Does the panel rebate apply to a battery-only install?
No. Panel rebates apply to new panels. If you already have solar and are adding storage, the federal battery rebate applies but the panel incentives do not.