Perth households and businesses are installing home batteries at a record pace, and the reason is simple: two separate incentives can now take a meaningful slice off the upfront price. One comes from the Australian Government, the other from the WA Government. Used together, they can reduce a typical household battery cost by several thousand dollars.

The catch is that both schemes have rules, and the federal rebate is shrinking on a fixed schedule. This guide explains what is available, who qualifies, how to claim, and why timing matters.

The Two Incentives at a Glance

• Federal: Cheaper Home Batteries Program. A discount applied through Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). Open to homeowners, small businesses and community facilities across Australia.
• State: WA Residential Battery Scheme. A cash rebate plus an optional no-interest loan for eligible Synergy and Horizon Power residential customers.

They are designed to work together, so you can claim both on the same battery if you meet each scheme's conditions.

The Federal Rebate: Cheaper Home Batteries Program

The program began on 1 July 2025 and lets eligible batteries earn STCs, the same certificate system that has long supported rooftop solar. Your installer builds the discount into your quote, so you do not lodge a separate claim yourself.

Key rules

• The battery must be connected to new or existing rooftop solar. Batteries that only store grid power do not qualify.
• Systems from 5 kWh up to 100 kWh of nominal capacity are eligible, but the rebate is calculated on the first 50 kWh of usable capacity.
• The discount depends on your installation date, not the date you sign a contract.

Recent changes. Since 1 May 2026 the rebate has stepped down every six months instead of yearly, and larger batteries receive less support per kWh. The government also lifted the program budget from $2.3 billion to $7.2 billion to keep it running until 2030.

Size tiers. The first 14 kWh earns 100% of the factor, 14 to 28 kWh earns 60%, and 28 to 50 kWh earns 15%.

What that means in dollars (assuming an STC price of about $38, which fluctuates):

• 10 kWh battery installed now: about $2,584
• 20 kWh battery installed now: about $4,548
• The same 10 kWh battery installed in January 2027: about $2,166

The WA Residential Battery Scheme

This state scheme sits on top of the federal discount.

• Rebate: up to $1,300 for Synergy customers (Perth and the South West grid) and up to $3,800 for Horizon Power customers. Amounts are based on a 10 kWh battery, and larger batteries receive the same maximum.
• Loan: a no-interest loan of up to $10,000 for households with a combined annual income under $210,000, administered by Plenti and repayable over up to 10 years.
• Conditions: you must join an approved virtual power plant (VPP), buy through an accredited vendor, and meet the WA technical requirements that apply to systems installed from 1 May 2026. Off-grid homes are excluded.

A VPP lets your retailer or provider coordinate many home batteries to support the grid at busy times, usually in exchange for credits or better rates. Read the contract terms before you agree.

The scheme was planned around 100,000 rebates and runs until they are used up, so confirm there is still funding when you start shopping.

Who Can Claim What?

Homeowners. Most Perth owner-occupiers with solar can claim the federal discount. If you are a Synergy customer who will join a VPP, you can add the state rebate and, if you qualify, the loan. Tenants on Synergy can also be eligible with their landlord's written consent.

Business owners. Small businesses are eligible for the federal discount on the same terms as households, provided the battery is paired with solar. The WA scheme is aimed at residential properties, so a commercial premises should not expect the state rebate. Ask your accountant how the battery is treated for tax, as that can add to the financial case.

How to Claim: Five Practical Steps

1. Check your basics. Confirm you have, or will install, rooftop solar and an active Synergy or Horizon Power account.
2. Choose an accredited installer who is approved for the WA scheme and installs batteries on the approved product list.
3. Pick your VPP. Synergy customers can use Synergy's product or another that meets state criteria.
4. Ask for a written quote showing the STC discount, the WA rebate and any loan separately, so you can see the true out-of-pocket cost.
5. If using the loan, your installer applies to Plenti on your behalf, and income is verified before approval.

What Could You Save? A Worked Example

The figures below are a hypothetical illustration, not a real customer case, and use the $38 STC assumption.

A Perth homeowner on Synergy with existing solar installs a 10 kWh battery this December and joins a VPP:

• Federal discount: about $2,584
• WA rebate: $1,300
• Total upfront reduction: about $3,884

If they wait until January 2027, the federal portion falls to roughly $2,166, so the delay costs around $418 before any change in battery prices.

Some guides still quote around $5,000 combined for a 10 kWh system. That reflects the higher federal rates before May 2026, so treat older figures with caution.

For a small business adding a 20 kWh battery to its rooftop solar, the federal discount alone is about $4,548 at current rates.

Your payback depends on your battery price, evening electricity use, tariff and any VPP credits. The best check is to take your last few power bills and ask installers to model your savings after the rebates.

What Might Change Next?

The 1 January 2027 step down is already legislated. Beyond that, the following is speculation: with demand strong, the government may tweak the rules again to protect the budget, and the WA scheme could close once its allocation is used. Neither is confirmed, so do not plan around a change that has not been announced.

Your Next Step

If you are weighing a battery, the incentives are at their strongest right now and fall in January. Gather your bills, confirm your eligibility and request quotes that show every rebate clearly. You can explore solar battery options in Perth to see what suits your property.