What rebates can I get in South Australia?
Most of the support is federal. South Australia adds offers delivered through energy retailers. We checked everything here against government sources on 7 November 2026.
South Australians can get the federal Cheaper Home Batteries discount, which aims for around 30% off an eligible battery, plus STCs on solar panels and heat pump hot water. The state adds REPS, delivered through retailers. REPS covers hot water, air conditioning and VPP connections, but not solar panels or batteries.
Answered by Chris Bull, Managing Director Chris Bull on LinkedIn (opens in a new tab).
The federal battery discount
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program is the main federal incentive for a home battery. The federal government says the discount aims to stay at around 30% of the upfront cost across a range of battery sizes.
You do not apply to the government. An accredited retailer or installer usually takes the certificates, called STCs, and takes the value off your price. The rate falls on 1 January 2027. See what changes on 1 January 2027.
- The battery must be installed with new or existing solar
- Nominal capacity must be 5kWh to 100kWh
- It must be on the Clean Energy Council approved list
- A Solar Accreditation Australia installer with a battery endorsement must install it
Solar panels earn STCs too
Solar panels get support through the same scheme. The number of STCs depends on system size, your zone and the deeming period. That period is 5 years for a 2026 install and 4 years for a 2027 install, so the same system earns about 20% fewer STCs next year.
The scheme ends in 2030. The period drops by one year each January until then.
What REPS covers in SA
The Retailer Energy Productivity Scheme, or REPS, is South Australia’s main program. It runs in two stages and is expected to continue until at least 31 December 2030.
ESCOSA, the scheme’s administrator, is clear that REPS is not a cash rebate scheme. The government does not pay you. Retailers and their activity providers offer discounted products or installation, and any incentive is applied when the work is delivered.
You do not need to be a customer of that retailer. Offers, prices and availability vary between providers, so there is no single statewide amount to quote.
- Efficient water heaters, including heat pumps
- Reverse cycle air conditioning, ducted and non-ducted
- Connecting a new or existing battery to an approved virtual power plant
- Connecting an EV charger or heat pump water heater to an approved demand response aggregator
- Switching to a time of use plan
Is there an SA battery rebate?
We could not find a current state rebate for buying a home battery. ESCOSA states that solar panel and battery rebates are not offered under REPS and points people to Commonwealth programs.
Two related programs are easy to confuse with one. REPS lists connecting a battery to an approved virtual power plant as an activity, but the amount comes from the provider. South Australia’s Virtual Power Plant, now owned by AGL, is for selected Housing Trust and community housing tenants and some concession households. It works as a discounted plan, not a rebate.
Priority group households
Retailers have a separate target for priority group households, who may get further discounts. The group includes pensioner concession and Health Care Card holders, people receiving the SA energy bill concession, renters paying $500 or less a week, and people in a retailer hardship program or payment plan.
Start with your bill
A rebate is only worth chasing if the system suits your home. At a 90-minute in-home consultation we start with your power bill, work out which upgrades make sense, then show which incentives apply. Book a bill audit.
Common questions
Is there a rebate for solar batteries in SA?
Yes, through the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program. We found no separate SA government battery rebate at 7 November 2026, and ESCOSA confirms REPS does not offer one.
Can I use federal and state programs together?
Possibly. The federal department says the program is intended to complement state schemes, and that eligibility depends on each scheme’s rules. Check with the activity provider before you sign.
Is there a government rebate for air conditioning in SA?
REPS includes efficient reverse cycle air conditioning as an activity. Any discount comes from a retailer or activity provider, and it varies, so ask what applies to your home.
Are there free hot water systems in SA?
No general free offer is published by the government. Discounts come from REPS providers and vary, with extra help possible for priority group households.
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