The WA Residential Battery Scheme Explained

If you're a Synergy customer in Bunbury, Busselton or anywhere else in the South West, the WA Residential Battery Scheme pays a rebate of $130 per kWh of usable battery capacity, up to a maximum of $1,300. Horizon Power customers in regional and remote WA get $380 per kWh, up to $3,800. The WA rebate sits on top of the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program discount, and your accredited battery vendor lodges both and takes them off the price.

To qualify, the battery has to be an approved product, installed by an accredited vendor, and connected to a Virtual Power Plant (VPP). Below is what each of those means, along with a checklist to work through before you get quotes.

What the Scheme Is

The WA Residential Battery Scheme is a State Government program that offers a rebate and, for eligible households, a no-interest loan toward a home battery. The scheme will run until 100,000 rebates have been paid, which the government expects to happen by 2027.

The rebate is for the battery only. A new solar system on its own isn't eligible, but solar panels installed as part of a battery package can be covered by the no-interest loan.

Where more than one alarm is installed, interconnection is generally required, though not for dwellings built on a building permit application made before 1 May 2015. 

How Much Can You Claim? 

The rebate is calculated on the battery's usable capacity and is capped at 10 kWh.

Last verified: 9 October 2026.

Almost every home in the South West is on the South West Interconnected System, so the Synergy figures are the ones that apply here. Horizon Power covers the parts of WA outside that network, and the government has set a higher rebate there because energy and installation costs are higher in remote areas.

You might still see "$5,000 for Synergy customers" quoted online, but that was the combined State and federal figure for a 10 kWh battery when the scheme opened in 2025. The federal discount has since been reduced, so that number no longer applies.

How it Stacks With the Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program

The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program works separately. Eligible batteries generate small-scale technology certificates (STCs), and the value of those certificates is deducted from your quote. 

The federal program changed on 1 May 2026, meaning the number of certificates per usable kWh (the STC factor) dropped, and it will now step down twice a year rather than once. 

The dollar value of the federal discount follows the STC market price, so your installer will quote it on the day rather than as a fixed figure. The federal discount drops on a set timetable, so a battery installed this spring will attract more federal support than the same battery installed after 1 January 2027.

Battery and Installer Requirements 

Not every battery on the market qualifies. For the WA rebate, the battery has to be new and on the Clean Energy Council's approved list of batteries and inverters. The inverter also has to appear on Synergy's Supported Solutions List, which is the list of equipment Synergy has confirmed can connect to the network and be managed remotely as part of a VPP.

The installation must be done by a vendor accredited under the scheme and listed in Plenti's Vendor Directory. Installers must be licensed electricians with Solar Accreditation Australia accreditation for grid-connected batteries. The property also needs an ongoing internet connection, since the battery has to be reachable for VPP control.

Who Applies, and How the Money is Paid

Your accredited vendor submits the application through Plenti's portal, and Plenti pays approved rebate funds directly to the vendor, so the rebate appears as a discount on your invoice. 

Once an application receives conditional approval, you must complete the installation within six months. If that window passes, you must lodge the application again. You can't claim the rebate retrospectively for a battery bought before the scheme started.

Households with a gross annual income under $210,000 can also apply for a no-interest loan of between $2,001 and $10,000, repaid over three to 10 years. The loan covers the remaining cost after the rebate and can include solar panels or an inverter installed with the battery.

If You Already Have Solar

Adding a battery to an existing system is common, but the whole site has to meet current standards and VPP requirements. Depending on its age, you may need to upgrade or replace your current inverter or wiring.

The WA rebate only applies to the battery, but the no-interest loan can cover a replacement inverter. The government also suggests getting more than one quote if you're told your whole system needs replacing.

Eligibility Checklist

Run through these before requesting a quote:

• The property hasn't already received a rebate under the scheme.
• You're 18 or over, a permanent resident of Australia, and a Synergy or Horizon Power customer.
• The property is in WA and used mainly as a home. Homes with a home business can still qualify.
• You own the property as your home or as an investment leased to a long-term tenant who has consented, or you're renting with your landlord's written consent.
• For a unit, you have approval from the strata or owners' corporation, and your power is billed directly by Synergy or Horizon Power rather than through an embedded network.
• The battery has at least 5 kWh of usable capacity and is on the Clean Energy Council list, with an inverter on Synergy's Supported Solutions List.
• Your installer is an accredited vendor listed in Plenti's Vendor Directory.
• You're willing to join a VPP and have an ongoing internet connection at the property.

Planning a Battery With NIXON

NIXON installs solar and battery systems for homes across Bunbury, Busselton and the wider South West. We'll check your existing system, explain which rebates apply to your property, and give you a quote with the WA and federal discounts already shown. 

Contact NIXON Bunbury or NIXON Busselton to book an assessment.

• NIXON Bunbury — 11 Dodson Rd, Glen Iris WA 6230 — (08) 6288 7152
• NIXON Busselton — 102 Strelly Street, Busselton WA 6280 — (08) 6288 7154

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the WA battery rebate if I’m renting?

Yes, as long as you have your landlord’s written consent. Owners who lease the property to a long-term tenant can also claim, provided the tenant consents to the installation.

Do I have to join a Virtual Power Plant to get the rebate?

Yes. Joining a VPP is a condition of the WA rebate, so your battery and inverter need to be on the approved lists. The property also needs an ongoing internet connection so the battery can be managed remotely.

Can I claim the rebate on a battery bigger than 10 kWh?

Yes, but the rebate is capped at 10 kWh of usable capacity. A Synergy customer installing a 13 kWh battery would still receive a maximum of $1,300. The battery also needs at least 5 kWh of usable capacity to qualify.