Rebates · 4 min read
Quick answer
To get the 6.8 STC rate, your battery must be installed and certified by 31 December 2026. From 1 January 2027 the factor drops to 5.7, about 16% fewer STCs for the same battery. Book early: the date that counts is your electrical compliance certificate, not your contract.
The Cheaper Home Batteries discount is set by the STC factor on the date the battery is installed, and a battery is treated as installed when the certificate of electrical compliance is issued. That certificate is issued when the install is finished and tested. See how the battery rebate works for the full rule and sources.
Switchboard upgrades, network approval times, roof or access issues and the Christmas period can all add time. December install slots are limited, so the earlier you start, the more room there is to sort these out before 31 December.
A real Panda Power install that shows this topic in practice.
Home batteries from $6,999 to about $15,999
base prices after rebates, inc GST, as at October 2026
What affects the price: battery size, brand and inverter, whether you already have solar, backup wiring, and any additional work at your home.
Base price for a standard install, after government rebates, inc GST, as at October 2026. Additional work such as switchboard upgrades, three-phase changes or complex installs is reviewed and quoted separately.
More practical guides from the Panda Power team.
Rebates · 4 min read · 3 November 2026
Yes. The federal battery discount falls from 6.8 to 5.7 STCs per kWh on 1 January 2027 and to 5.2 on 1 July 2027. Here is what that means for a typical battery.
Read article →
Rebates · 3 min read · 3 November 2026
How the federal battery discount changes with battery size, worked through for 10, 16, 20, 24 and 30 kWh at the 2026 rate and the 2027 rates.
Read article →Sources: DCCEEW, Cheaper Home Batteries Program; DCCEEW, Eligibility information; Clean Energy Regulator, Solar batteries; Clean Energy Regulator, Calculate STC entitlements. Last checked 5 November 2026.
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Install before 1 January 2027
