NECA welcomes expansion of Cheaper Home Batteries program
NECA welcomes expansion of Cheaper Home Batteries program
NECA welcomes expansion of Cheaper Home Batteries program as a major boost to electrical contractors, apprentices and Australia’s clean energy transition.
The National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) welcomes the Albanese Government’s expansion of the Cheaper Home Batteries program, recognising it as a significant stimulus for the electrotechnology sector and a practical means of lowering energy costs for Australian households, small businesses and community organisations.
The expanded investment of 7.2 billion dollars over four years is expected to support more than two million battery installations by 2030, delivering approximately 40 gigawatt hours of distributed storage capacity. This represents a four-fold increase in projected household battery uptake and will generate strong demand for licensed electrical contractors and accredited design and installation services, along with the apprentices who will sustain the industry’s future capability.
In less than six months, the Cheaper Home Batteries program has supported more than 155,000 installations, with around three quarters occurring in suburban and regional communities. This uptake has nearly doubled national residential battery capacity, with many households also installing or upgrading rooftop solar. Increased behind-the-meter storage plays an important role in smoothing evening demand, reducing peak pricing, and strengthening grid reliability in support of wider renewable energy integration.
NECA acknowledges the Government’s introduction of a tiered support structure, to take effect from 1 May 2026, which ensures the scheme remains sustainable and continues to encourage appropriately sized battery systems for different household and business needs. The tiered framework, delivered through the Small Scale Renewable Energy Scheme, aligns support levels with battery capacity and reflects ongoing reductions in technology costs while maintaining compliance and safety standards crucial to industry.
Further details on the Cheaper Home Batteries program, eligibility and support rates can be found on the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website.