Hundreds in Newcastle Already Saving Thanks to Solar Battery Rebate

8 April 2025

More than 130 households and businesses in Newcastle have already taken advantage of a generous NSW Government incentive that slashes thousands off the cost of installing a home battery system, and hundreds more are expected to follow.

The battery incentive, introduced by the Minns Labor Government in November, has seen over 7,800 battery systems installed across New South Wales, helping residents cut their energy bills and store their rooftop solar power for use when the sun goes down.

In the City of Newcastle alone, 133 installations have been completed so far. A further 101 systems have gone into homes and businesses in Port Stephens, with other Hunter communities also benefitting from the program.

Eligible homeowners and small businesses can receive more than $2000 off the upfront cost of a typical household battery, a 13.5kWh system, when installed by a government-approved supplier. The bigger the battery, the bigger the discount.

The program is designed to make battery storage more affordable and accessible, especially for those already using rooftop solar. A household with an $1850 annual electricity bill could save around $1500 a year by combining solar with battery storage.

State Member for Newcastle, Tim Crakanthorp, said the local uptake showed Newcastle’s strong commitment to sustainability.

“Novocastrians are very environmentally conscious and it’s great to see our community embrace this scheme,” Mr Crakanthorp said.
“These installations play a huge role in reducing energy bills and cost of living pressures for our community.”

More than half of all installations under the scheme so far have been outside Sydney, and the program has already reached over 90% of NSW council areas, with more than 600 approved installers taking part.

The battery incentive is part of the NSW Government’s broader energy strategy, which also includes: