This is the year Australians truly start cashing in on the solar boom. Australia already leads the world in rooftop solar, and home battery uptake has surged by 47% in the last year as more households look for ways to get the most out of the energy they generate.
And with the Cheaper Home Batteries Program now live, the shift is accelerating even further.
This program – expanded in December 2025 to an estimated $7.2 billion over four years – aims to reduce the upfront cost of installing home battery systems by approximately 30%, offering savings of around $4,000 on a typical 13-14 kWh battery. The discounts apply to VPP-ready battery systems installed alongside new or existing solar panels. Households with existing rooftop solar could save up to $1,100 annually on their power bills, while those installing both solar panels and batteries may save up to $2,300 per year.
It's a game-changer for everyday Australians looking to cut bills and boost their energy independence.
But simply having a battery isn't enough. Most battery owners are still using their systems in ways that limit their ability to truly profit from their stored energy.
For Amber customers, it's different. Instead of just storing solar for later use or letting a retailer control their battery for small credits, Amber battery owners can tap into real-time wholesale prices – charging when energy is cheap and selling it when prices spike. This puts them at the centre of the energy transition and in the strongest financial position of any home battery owners in Australia.
WHY NOW IS THE TIME FOR BATTERIES
- Solar feed-in rates are plummeting. The days of premium 60c+ feed-in tariffs are long gone. In some States, feed-in rates are nearing zero, meaning solar households are getting next to nothing for exporting their excess energy to the grid.
- Energy prices remain elevated. Cost-of-living pressures mean households are looking harder than ever for smarter ways to manage their bills.
- Resentment with energy companies is at an all-time high. Traditional retailers continue to charge more for the same energy, with no added value – leaving customers looking for ways to take control.
- Enter: the battery boom. More Australians are installing home batteries than ever, seeking better ways to use their solar energy and boost independence from the grid. But not all battery setups are created equal.
DUMB VS. SMART BATTERIES – WHY AMBER CUSTOMERS WIN
Most battery owners today use their systems as "dumb batteries" – storing solar to use later in the evening to reduce their bill. Others sign up for a Virtual Power Plant (VPP), where retailers control their battery in exchange for small credits.
Neither of these approaches maximises battery payback. The result? Slow returns and missed opportunities to accelerate the energy transition.
With Amber for Batteries, customers take the next step – turning their battery from dumb to smart. This means:
- Maximised earnings from exports. Customers sell their excess solar at peak demand times, when prices are highest – unlocking rates as high as $19/kWh and making hundreds of dollars in a single day when the grid needs energy most.
- Wholesale feed-in rates with no caps. Unlike traditional retailers who set fixed (often low) feed-in tariffs, Amber customers get paid the true market price for the energy they export.
- Faster battery payback. By charging when wholesale prices are low or even negative and selling when prices surge, Amber customers pay off their battery investment faster than anyone else.
REAL EARNINGS – WHY AMBER CUSTOMERS ARE IN THE BEST FINANCIAL POSITION
By tapping into real-time wholesale pricing, our customers can charge their battery when energy is cheap or even free – and sell it back when prices surge. That means bigger savings, better earnings, and a faster payback period on their battery investment.
This isn't just theoretical. Between 2 May 2024 and 8 May 2024, multiple major power plants in New South Wales went offline, and transmission line maintenance further restricted supply. Wholesale prices spiked – and Amber battery customers got paid.
During this week-long period, NSW SmartShift customers collectively made $525,424.15 (total, net). Instead of sitting idly or just offsetting evening power use, their batteries actively participated in the market – turning power shortages into financial wins.
This is exactly what sets Amber apart. While traditional batteries sit and wait, Amber customers charge when energy is cheap and sell when it's expensive – making their battery a genuinely valuable asset.
MAKING BATTERY OWNERSHIP MORE ACCESSIBLE THAN EVER
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program makes it easier than ever for households to get started – and when combined with Amber's technology, the financial benefits go even further. The subsidy helps reduce upfront costs; Amber helps deliver faster payback and bigger long-term earnings.
The program cuts the cost of a typical 13-14kWh battery by around $4,000, making home energy storage significantly more affordable for thousands of Australians. That's great news for solar households looking to store their excess energy instead of sending it back to the grid for low feed-in tariffs.
But Amber customers don't just store and use their solar – they unlock the full value of their battery by charging when prices are low and selling when they spike. That means bigger bill savings, greater control, and a faster return on investment compared to standard battery setups.
For a full breakdown of what's available in your state, check out our government incentives guide.
BATTERIES BENEFIT EVERYONE, EVEN IF YOU DON'T OWN ONE
It's easy to think of home batteries as something that only benefits the household that owns them. But when batteries are used smartly, the benefits ripple across the entire grid.
When thousands of batteries export clean, stored energy back into the grid during peak demand periods, they help reduce the need for expensive, fossil-fuelled peaking plants. That takes pressure off the grid, prevents blackouts, and – most importantly – brings down electricity prices for everyone.
This isn't just theory. The federal government has set a target of 2 million home battery installations by 2030 under the expanded Cheaper Home Batteries Program. That's not just savings for battery owners – that's system-wide relief, driven by smarter energy use at the individual level.
Battery uptake is already booming – and with the program now live, even more households can take part.
We're at the cusp of a people-powered energy revolution. One where households don't just consume energy – they help provide it, shift it, and shape the future of our grid.
Home-grown, renewable energy. Powered by people. Benefiting everyone.
Last updated: April 2026.
