Navigating Australia’s energy rebate landscape in 2026 requires understanding the shift from broad federal support to targeted state and territory programs. While the universal Federal Energy Bill Relief Fund concluded at the end of 2025, significant financial assistance remains available through state governments and ongoing federal clean energy incentives. This guide will walk you through the specific rebates, grants, and loans available in each Australian state and territory, detailing how you can claim your share of up to $15,000 in savings.
The End of Federal Energy Bill Relief: What It Means for You
The Australian Government’s universal Energy Bill Relief Fund, which provided up to $300 in 2024-25 and a further $150 in the first half of 2025-26, officially ended on 31 December 2025. This means that from January 2026, households no longer receive automatic federal credits on their electricity bills. The focus has now firmly shifted to state and territory-specific concession schemes and energy efficiency upgrade programs.
However, two crucial federal programs continue to provide substantial upfront discounts for clean energy technologies:
- Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) / Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs): This is the primary federal incentive for rooftop solar panels, providing an upfront discount on eligible systems. The value of STCs reduced on 1 January 2026, with the deeming period dropping from 6 to 5 years, resulting in a roughly 15-20% lower discount compared to 2025. For example, a 10kW solar system in Brisbane might now receive approximately $2,484 in STC value, down from around $2,952 in 2025.
- Cheaper Home Batteries Program: Launched on 1 July 2025, this federal initiative provides an upfront discount of approximately 30% on eligible home battery systems (5 kWh to 100 kWh). As of 1 May 2026, the program introduced a tiered structure, with the highest discount of around $252 per usable kWh applying to the first 14 kWh of capacity, before tapering for larger systems. This can translate to an estimated $3,528 off a standard 14 kWh battery system. This discount is applied directly by your installer at the point of sale.
These federal incentives can often be stacked with state-based programs, significantly reducing the upfront cost of solar and battery installations.
State and Territory Energy Rebates in 2026
Each state and territory offers a unique suite of energy rebates and support programs, primarily targeting concession card holders or specific energy-efficient upgrades.
New South Wales (NSW)
NSW households have access to a mix of ongoing concessions and new upgrade programs:
- Home Energy Saver Program: Launched 17 June 2026, this program offers eligible households zero-interest loans of up to $15,000 for energy-saving upgrades such as solar panels, home batteries, insulation, and efficient heating/cooling systems. Repayment periods extend up to 10 years.
- Upfront Discount for Lower-Income Households: Opening later in 2026, eligible lower-income households (combined income under $80,000 or concession card holders) may receive an additional upfront discount of up to $4,000 for approved upgrades.
- Low Income Household Rebate: Up to $285 per year credited to electricity bills for eligible concession card holders (Pensioner, Health Care, DVA Gold Cards).
- Family Energy Rebate: Up to $180 per year for households receiving Family Tax Benefit A or B.
- Seniors Energy Rebate: A $200 per year payment for self-funded retirees holding a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.
- Medical Energy Rebate: Up to $285 per year (indexed annually) for households with a resident requiring medically necessary heating or cooling.
Learn more about maximising your home’s energy efficiency: Australia’s Top Energy-Efficient Home Upgrades 2026: Maximise ROI as Electricity Bills Soar This Winter
Victoria (VIC)
Victoria has a comprehensive set of programs focused on electrification and energy efficiency:
- Solar Homes Program (Solar Victoria):
- Solar Panel Rebate: Up to ~$1,400 for eligible owner-occupiers, stackable with federal STCs. The household income cap for eligibility tightened to $150,000 from 1 July 2026.
- Hot Water Rebate: Covers 50% of the cost of an eligible heat pump or solar hot water system, capped at $1,000 (or up to $1,400 for Australian-made products).
- Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) Program: Provides upfront discounts on a wide range of energy-efficient products, including LED lighting, efficient heating/cooling (reverse cycle air conditioners), and heat pump hot water systems.
- Ceiling Insulation: A new VEU activity for 2026, covering 70-90% of costs, with $0 upfront for priority postcodes. It opens to all Victorian homes from 1 October 2026.
Households participating in the VEU program are expected to save an average of $192 per year on energy bills.
- Ongoing Concession Rebates: Approximately $174 per year on electricity and $107 per year on gas for eligible Pensioner, Health Care, or DVA Gold Card holders.
Queensland (QLD)
Queensland offers targeted assistance and incentives for renewables:
- Electricity Rebate: $399.47 per year (GST inclusive) for eligible pensioners, veterans, and seniors.
- Reticulated Natural Gas Rebate: $96.45 per year (GST inclusive) for eligible concession card holders.
- Home Energy Support Program: Provides grants of up to $5,000 for energy-efficient upgrades, particularly ceiling and wall insulation in subtropical climate zones to combat extreme heat.
- Solar for Renters Rebate: Landlords can receive up to $3,500 for installing eligible solar systems on rental properties, tiered by system size (e.g., $2,500 for 3-3.99kW, $3,000 for 4-4.99kW, $3,500 for 5kW+).
South Australia (SA)
South Australia’s rebate landscape heavily integrates Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) and retailer-led efficiency schemes:
- Retailer Energy Productivity Scheme (REPS): This scheme obliges energy retailers to offer discounted or free energy-efficient upgrades, including efficient hot water systems, reverse-cycle air conditioning, and appliances.
- VPP Incentive: An incentive of up to $2,050 for connecting a home battery to an approved Virtual Power Plant. While general funding was largely exhausted in May 2026, support for priority group households (concession holders, low-income) continues, with new funding expected in early 2027.
- Learn more about VPPs: Join a VPP in 2026: Earn Up To $1,500 Annually & Boost Grid Stability
- Energy Bill Concession: Helps low-income or fixed-income households with energy costs. The annual concession rate is expected to increase up to $291.27 from 1 July 2026.
- Medical Heating and Cooling Concession: Available for households with a clinically verified medical condition requiring frequent heating or cooling.
- SA Concessions Energy Discount Offer (SACEDO): Eligible concession customers signing up with Origin Energy can receive 20% off electricity usage and supply charges and 15% off gas usage and supply charges under an agreement running until at least 2029.
- City of Adelaide Bonus: An additional $1,000 rebate for battery installations in specific CBD postcodes.
Western Australia (WA)
WA offers specific battery incentives and concessions:
- WA Residential Battery Scheme: Rebates of up to $1,300 for Synergy customers ($130/usable kWh, capped at 10 kWh) and up to $3,800 for Horizon Power customers. Eligibility requires participation in a Virtual Power Plant.
- No-Interest Loans: Up to $10,000 for battery purchases, available to households with a combined annual income under $210,000, repayable over 10 years.
- Energy Assistance Payment (EAP): $326.33 per year (2025-26 rate) for eligible Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, or DVA Gold Card holders, paid in instalments.
- Dependent Child Rebate: $146.84 per child, per year (2025-26 rate) for eligible concession families.
- Cost of Living Rebate (CoLR): $104.90 in 2026 for WA Seniors Card holders.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
The ACT strongly supports energy efficiency and electrification:
- Electricity, Gas and Water Rebate: An annual concession of $800 for 2026-27 for eligible concession card holders (Pensioner, Low Income Health Care, Health Care, Veteran Gold Cards, ACT Services Access Card). Applied as a daily rate, with higher rates in winter.
- Life Support Rebate: $150 per year (2025-26 rate) for households with essential medical equipment.
- Home Energy Support Program: Provides up to $5,000 in rebates for energy-efficient products for pensioner and DVA Gold Card homeowners.
- Sustainable Household Scheme: Offers low-interest loans from $2,000 to $15,000 at 3% p.a. for energy-efficient upgrades, including solar, batteries, EV chargers, and induction cooktops. This can be combined with the Home Energy Support Program.
- Electrify with ActewAGL: Up to $5,000 off plus $1,000 in credits for ActewAGL customers switching from gas to all-electric appliances.
Tasmania (TAS)
Tasmania provides key concessions and supports renewables:
- Annual Electricity Concession: From 1 July 2026, this concession is $1.84347 per day for retail customers (approximately $673 per year). For eligible embedded network customers, it’s a once-off payment of $673 in 2026-27.
- Medical Heating or Cooling Concession: A daily discount of 55.216 cents per day for eligible medical conditions.
- Life Support Concession: Offers annual support, such as $499 for an Oxygen Concentrator or $371 for peritoneal/haemodialysis machines.
- Eligibility: Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, ImmiCard (Bridging Visa E), or Tasmanian Concession Card holders.
- Electric Vehicle Rebates: $2,000 for eligible new battery electric vehicles or second-hand EVs new to Tasmania.
Northern Territory (NT)
The NT focuses on general concessions and federal clean energy support:
- NT Concession Scheme (NTCS): Provides up to $1,200 per year towards household electricity costs (covering up to 8,000 kWh) for eligible members.
- NT Seniors Recognition Scheme: Members can use their prepaid card for electricity bills.
- Solar for Multi Dwellings Grant: Up to $7,500 per dwelling for solar installations in apartments and units.
- Note: The NT Home & Business Battery Scheme is currently fully allocated and closed to new applications.
How to Claim Your Rebates
Claiming your energy rebates typically involves one of three methods:
- Automatic Application: Many bill relief concessions (like the former federal scheme or some state concessions) are automatically applied by your energy retailer if you hold an eligible concession card and your details are registered. Always check your bill to confirm.
- Through Your Installer: For solar panels (STCs) and home batteries (federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program), accredited installers handle the paperwork and apply the discount directly to your quote. You pay the net cost. Always request an itemised quote showing the rebate amount.
- Direct Application: Some state-specific rebates or loans require you to apply directly to a government department (e.g., Service NSW, ConcessionsSA, Service Tasmania) or through an online portal. Ensure you have all necessary documentation, such as concession cards, proof of residence, and recent energy bills.
Maximising Your Savings Beyond Rebates
While rebates offer immediate financial relief, long-term savings come from reducing your energy consumption and optimising your home’s energy use. Consider these strategies:
- Energy-Efficient Upgrades: Beyond solar and batteries, upgrades like insulation, draught sealing, and high-efficiency appliances (e.g., reverse-cycle air conditioners, heat pump hot water systems) can significantly cut your bills. Many state programs (like VIC’s VEU or SA’s REPS) offer discounts on these.
- Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS): Installing a HEMS can help you monitor and control your energy usage, identifying areas for further savings. Best Home Energy Management Systems in Australia 2026: Slash Bills by $1,000+ Annually
- Virtual Power Plants (VPPs): If you install a home battery, joining a VPP can earn you additional income by allowing your stored energy to support the grid during peak demand. This can add hundreds, even thousands, of dollars annually to your savings. Unlock $1,000+ Annually: Best Home Battery VPP Programs in Australia 2026 Ranked
Key State Rebates and Programs Summary (2026)
| State/Territory | Key Rebates/Programs (2026) | Typical Annual Value / Loan Amount | Eligibility Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Home Energy Saver Loan | Up to $15,000 (0% interest) | Homeowners, for upgrades |
| Low-Income Household Rebate | Up to $285 | Concession card holders | |
| Seniors Energy Rebate | $200 | Commonwealth Seniors Health Card | |
| Lower-Income Upgrade Discount | Up to $4,000 | Income <$80k or concession card | |
| VIC | Solar Panel Rebate | Up to ~$1,400 | Owner-occupiers, income cap $150k |
| Hot Water Rebate | Up to $1,400 | Owner-occupiers, for heat pumps/solar HW | |
| VEU Program Discounts | Variable (e.g., insulation, heating) | Broad eligibility, for efficient upgrades | |
| Electricity/Gas Concession | ~$174 (elec), ~$107 (gas) | Concession card holders | |
| QLD | Electricity Rebate | $399.47 | Pensioners, veterans, seniors |
| Gas Rebate | $96.45 | Concession card holders | |
| Home Energy Support Program | Up to $5,000 (grants) | For insulation, energy efficiency | |
| Solar for Renters Rebate | Up to $3,500 | Landlords installing solar | |
| SA | REPS VPP Incentive | Up to $2,050 | Battery + VPP connection (priority groups for now) |
| Energy Bill Concession | Up to $291.27 | Low/fixed income, concession card | |
| SACEDO (Origin) | 20% off elec, 15% off gas | Eligible concession customers | |
| City of Adelaide Bonus | $1,000 | CBD postcodes, for batteries | |
| WA | WA Residential Battery Scheme | Up to $1,300 (Synergy), $3,800 (Horizon) | Requires VPP participation |
| No-Interest Battery Loans | Up to $10,000 | Income <$210k | |
| Energy Assistance Payment | $326.33 | Concession card holders | |
| ACT | Electricity, Gas & Water Rebate | $800 | Concession card holders |
| Home Energy Support Program | Up to $5,000 | Pensioner/DVA Gold Card homeowners | |
| Sustainable Household Scheme | $2,000-$15,000 (3% loans) | Homeowners, for upgrades/EVs | |
| TAS | Annual Electricity Concession | ~$673 | Concession card holders |
| Medical Heating/Cooling Concession | ~$201 | Medical condition, concession card | |
| EV Rebates | $2,000 | New/second-hand EVs new to TAS | |
| NT | NT Concession Scheme | Up to $1,200 | Eligible scheme members |
| Solar for Multi Dwellings | Up to $7,500 | For apartments/units |
Bottom Line
While the broad federal energy bill relief has concluded, 2026 presents a robust landscape of state and federal clean energy incentives and concessions. Australian households can significantly reduce their energy costs by actively seeking out and applying for these targeted programs. Prioritise understanding your state’s specific offerings, especially for solar and battery installations where federal and state incentives can stack to offer substantial upfront savings. For ongoing bill relief, ensure your concession card details are current with your energy retailer and relevant state departments. Acting proactively to upgrade your home’s energy efficiency and leverage renewable technologies is the most effective way to combat rising electricity costs in the long term.