If you have been researching home batteries in Perth, you have probably seen the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program (CHBP) mentioned alongside a figure like ‘30% off’ or ‘$2,500 discount.’ Those summaries often do not explain how the discount is actually calculated, who applies for it, and, importantly for Perth homeowners, how it stacks with the separate WA state rebate.
This post answers those questions. The short version: the CHBP is an upfront discount, applied at the point of sale by your installer. You do not apply for it. You do not wait for a tax return. You do not receive a cheque. It simply reduces what you pay on the day your battery is installed. Here is how it works in practice.
What Is the Cheaper Home Batteries Program?
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program is a federal government initiative. It came into effect on 1 July 2025. It runs through the existing Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), the same mechanism that has provided rebates for rooftop solar for many years. Rather than a direct grant, the program works through Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs).
When an eligible battery is installed, it creates a number of STCs based on its usable capacity. Your installer claims those STCs on your behalf and sells them, typically to large energy retailers who are legally required to buy them. The cash value of those STCs passes to you as a discount off the installed price. From your side, you simply pay less.
Unlike some rebate programs, you do not fill out a government form or wait for approval. The discount is applied before you pay your invoice.
How Much Is the Discount? The Current Figures (Mid-2026)
From 1 May 2026, the program uses an STC factor of 6.8 per usable kWh. At the current STC spot price of approximately $38 per certificate, this works out to around $258 per usable kWh for the first 14 kWh of battery capacity.
For larger batteries, the rebate tapers:
The STC spot price moves. The ~$38 figure reflects current market conditions. Dollar amounts above are approximate and may vary slightly at the time of your installation.
Most Perth households install a battery between 10 and 15 kWh. This covers the majority of systems we design and supply. The full 14 kWh receives the maximum rebate rate. Any capacity above that receives the reduced rate.
What Changed on 1 May 2026
Before 1 May 2026, all eligible capacity received a flat STC factor of 8.4, no matter the battery size. Two changes came into effect from that date:
- The STC factor dropped from 8.4 to 6.8. This cuts the value of the discount by roughly $60 per kWh for a standard 10 kWh system.
- Size-based tapering was introduced. This means systems above 14 kWh receive a progressively lower rebate per kWh, as shown in the table above.
The government’s stated aim is to keep the discount at approximately 30% of installed battery cost as battery prices keep falling over time. The program now steps down every six months, rather than once a year. The next reduction is set for January 2027, when the STC factor will drop again.
The discount is fixed at the STC factor that applies on the date your battery is installed, not when you book or sign a contract. Locking in an installation date sooner secures a higher rebate.
Eligibility: What Qualifies for the CHBP
To receive the CHBP discount, these conditions must be met:
- Eligible battery: the battery must be on the Clean Energy Council’s (CEC) Approved Products list, with a usable capacity between 5 kWh and 100 kWh. The program supports up to the first 50 kWh of new usable capacity per installation.
- SAA-accredited installer: the system must be installed by a Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) accredited installer. As your local Perth solar and battery company, Positive Energy Solutions makes sure every installation is completed by SAA-accredited professionals.
- Paired with solar: the battery must be connected to a new or existing solar PV system. Stand-alone battery installations, not connected to solar, are not eligible.
- Not a portable battery or EV: portable battery systems and electric vehicle batteries are excluded from the program.
Every battery in the Positive Energy Solutions range, SigEnergy SigenStor, Sungrow SBR and SBH, iStore, Fronius Reserva, BYD Battery-Box HVM, and Tesla Powerwall 3, is on the CEC Approved Products list and qualifies for the federal CHBP discount.
What You Actually Get: Common Perth Battery Sizes After CHBP
Installed cost ranges are indicative only and vary by brand, site complexity, and current pricing. Contact us for a personalised quote with the current CHBP amount applied.
The Perth Stack: CHBP + WA State Rebate + Interest-Free Loan
Perth homeowners on the Synergy network can access two layers of rebate that combine, plus a no-interest loan. No other state in Australia currently offers this combination.
- Federal CHBP: ~$258 per kWh for the first 14 kWh, tapering for larger systems. Applied at the point of sale by your installer. Available to all eligible battery installations across Australia.
- WA Residential Battery Scheme: an extra $130 per kWh up to 10 kWh, capped at $1,300, for eligible Synergy customers. Requires the battery to be on Synergy’s Supported Solutions List (SSL), and participation in the Battery Rewards VPP program. Run separately from the federal CHBP.
- Plenti no-interest loan: up to $10,000 at 0% interest, repayable over 3 to 10 years. Available to eligible Synergy customers with a combined household income under $210,000. The loan can cover the remaining cost after both rebates.
For a typical 10 kWh SSL-eligible battery, the combined support looks like this:
The WA Residential Battery Scheme rebate requires the battery to be on the Synergy SSL, and the homeowner to enrol in Battery Rewards VPP. For the full picture of the WA scheme, how VPP works, and SSL-eligible batteries, see our WA Battery Rebates 2026 hub page and the Synergy Battery Rewards Explained guide.
Tesla Powerwall 3: A Note on Rebate Eligibility
The Tesla Powerwall 3 qualifies for the federal CHBP discount, a saving of approximately $3,483 on the 13.5 kWh model at current rates. However, the Powerwall 3 is not currently on Synergy’s Supported Solutions List. This means Powerwall 3 owners cannot access the extra $1,300 WA state rebate, or take part in the Battery Rewards VPP.
For Perth homeowners who want the full rebate stack, federal CHBP plus the WA $1,300, the SSL-eligible options in our range are SigEnergy SigenStor (DC-coupled), Sungrow SBR and SBH, iStore, Fronius Reserva, and BYD Battery-Box HVM.
How It Works in Practice
You do not need to apply to the government for the CHBP discount, or deal with any paperwork. Here is what the process looks like from your end:
- You receive a quote from Positive Energy Solutions that includes the installed price with the current CHBP discount already applied. The quote shows both the gross price and the net price after the federal rebate.
- If you are eligible for the WA state rebate, we handle the Synergy and Plenti applications as part of the installation.
- Once the system is installed and commissioned, your installer lodges the STC claim with the Clean Energy Regulator on your behalf. No further action is needed from you.
- The discount is not a reimbursement. It reduces what you pay upfront, not what you get back later.
Positive Energy Solutions manages the whole rebate and application process as part of every installation we complete. The CHBP discount is built into every quote we provide.
Get Your Quote with the CHBP Discount Applied
Every quote Positive Energy Solutions provides includes the current Cheaper Home Batteries Program discount, plus the WA state rebate and Plenti loan details where you are eligible. We handle all applications and paperwork as part of the installation.
Want to know what a battery system will actually cost after all available rebates? Request a quote from our team for your home, your usage, and your existing solar setup.
Related guides
- V2X Explained: Vehicle-to-Home, Vehicle-to-Grid and What It Means for Perth in 2026
- Which Fronius Inverter Is Right for My Perth Home? Primo GEN24 Plus vs Symo GEN24 Plus vs Verto Plus — 2026 Guide
- Adding a Battery to Your Existing Solar System in Perth: 2026 Costs, Rebates, and Inverter Compatibility Guide
- Does Solar Add Value to Your Home in Perth? What the Data Says in 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to apply for the CHBP separately?
No. The Cheaper Home Batteries Program discount is applied by your installer at the point of sale. You do not submit a form to the government. You do not wait for approval. You do not receive a payment. It is built into the price on your quote.
Is the CHBP available for a battery-only retrofit (no new solar)?
The CHBP requires the battery to connect to a new or existing solar PV system. If you already have solar and are adding a battery, you are eligible. Stand-alone battery installations, not connected to solar, do not qualify. For more detail on adding a battery to an existing system, see our guide Adding a Battery to Your Existing Solar System in Perth.
How is the CHBP different from the WA state rebate?
They are completely separate programs. The CHBP is federal, applies across all of Australia, and runs through the STC mechanism. It reduces your invoice directly. The WA Residential Battery Scheme is a WA state program for eligible Synergy customers, worth up to $1,300, and it requires VPP enrolment through Battery Rewards. Both can combine for eligible installations. See our WA Battery Rebates 2026 hub for the full picture.
Will the CHBP rebate amount change?
Yes. The STC factor now steps down every six months. The current factor of 6.8 (May–December 2026) will drop to 5.7 from January 2027, then keep declining until the program ends in 2030. The discount is fixed at the factor that applies on the date your battery is installed, so installing sooner locks in a higher rebate. The program will not disappear overnight, but the value of waiting shrinks over time.
Can I get the CHBP on a battery larger than 14 kWh?
Yes. The program supports up to 50 kWh of new usable capacity. But the rebate per kWh is lower for the part above 14 kWh (60% of the base rate for 14–28 kWh, 15% for 28–50 kWh). For most Perth households installing a 10 to 20 kWh system, most of the battery capacity still gets the full or high-rate rebate.
Does the Tesla Powerwall 3 qualify for the CHBP?
Yes. The Powerwall 3 is on the CEC Approved Products list and qualifies for the federal CHBP discount. At 13.5 kWh, the discount is approximately $3,483 at current rates. It does not qualify for the separate WA state rebate ($1,300), because it is not on Synergy’s Supported Solutions List.
What is an STC and do I need to understand it?
A Small-scale Technology Certificate is a tradeable certificate created when an eligible renewable energy system, such as solar panels, hot water systems, or now batteries, is installed. You do not need to understand how STCs work to benefit from the program. Your installer handles the creation and sale of the certificates, then passes the value to you as a discount. From your side, the result is simply a lower invoice.
About the Author
Jason Wiktorowicz
Sales Manager, Positive Energy Solutions | Perth, WA
Jason has been at the centre of Western Australia’s energy transition for over a decade. As Orchestration Lead on Project Symphony — WA’s largest virtual power plant pilot — and Stream Lead on Project Encore, he worked directly with AEMO, Western Power and Energy Policy WA to shape how distributed energy resources connect and operate on the SWIS. That work included developing and rolling out CSIP-AUS, now mandatory for all new WA grid connections. He also led Emergency Solar Management (ESM), the first program of its kind in WA, VPP for Schools (VPP4S), which provided direct market benefits through Supplementary Reserve Capacity, and REBAR, the WA Residential Battery Rebate scheme.
His earlier career spanned Synergy, Infinite Energy and Curtin University’s Sustainability Policy Institute, where he co-authored peer-reviewed research on net-zero urban precincts, solar integration and peer-to-peer energy trading, published in the journal Urban Planning in 2018.
At Positive Energy Solutions, Jason leads sales with a focus on system design accuracy and long-term performance. Positive Energy Solutions installs solar and battery systems, EV chargers and heat pumps, and holds partner accreditations with Fronius, SigEnergy, iStore and SunPower. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
