Your home battery questions answered
Here are the RACQ Solar team’s answers to seven of the most common questions RACQ members ask about home batteries.
1. How does the Cheaper Home Batteries Program work?
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program is a Federal Government initiative designed to reduce the upfront cost of installing home battery storage.
The program works in a similar way to the Federal Government’s solar rebate. It uses Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) to provide an upfront discount on eligible battery systems, which is typically applied directly to your invoice by the installer. The rebate can only be claimed once per premises.
The number of STCs your system creates is based on your battery’s usable capacity (measured in kilowatt hours, or kWh). Only the first 50 kWh of usable capacity is eligible.
An STC factor is applied to calculate how many certificates are created per kWh and tapers according to the amount of capacity installed:
- 0–14 kWh: STC factor applied at 100%
- 14–28 kWh: STC factor applied at 60%
- 28–50 kWh: STC factor applied at 15%
2. Has the rebate changed recently?
Yes. In December 2025, the Federal Government updated how the program phases down over time.
Under the new rules, the rebate decreases every six months. These step-downs began in May 2026 and will continue every January and July until the program is scheduled to end in December 2030.
The changes help ensure the discount aligns with falling battery costs over time and remains about 30% across battery sizes.
3. How much does a home battery cost in Queensland?
While home batteries were once considered expensive, government incentives have made them far more accessible.
Currently:
- 10 kWh systems: approximately $6,000–$8,000 installed
- 20 kWh systems: approximately $13,000–$19,000 installed
Pricing depends on the brand and installation requirements.
4. What size battery do most homes install?
Most Queensland households install batteries between 10 kWh and 20 kWh.
This size typically stores excess solar energy generated during the day for use later in the evening when electricity prices are highest.
The right battery size depends on:
- Household daily electricity use
- Solar system size
- Whether backup power is required during outages
A qualified installer can assess your home and recommend a system tailored to your energy needs.
5. Will a home battery eliminate my electricity bill?
A battery can reduce how much electricity you need to buy from the grid, but it usually won’t eliminate your bill entirely.
You may still need grid power:
- If you use more electricity than your solar generates or stores
- During low solar production (e.g. cloudy weather)
Batteries allow you to store and use your own solar energy, which is generally more cost-effective than exporting it at a lower rate and buying it back later at a higher price.
6. Will my battery work during a power outage?
Some batteries can keep parts of your home running during a blackout, but not all systems include backup power by default.
If outage protection is important, your system must include:
- A battery with backup capability
- A configuration that powers essential circuits only. Backing up too many circuits can cause overloads and drain the battery quickly.
Whole-of-home backup is possible but requires active management to prioritise essential circuits, especially during extended outages or poor weather conditions.
7. How long does it take for a battery to pay for itself?
Payback times vary depending on household usage, but many Queensland homes see a return in approximately 7–12 years.
Factors influencing payback include:
- Household energy consumption
- Solar system size
- Battery size
- Weather patterns
- Electricity prices and feed-in tariffs
- Available government incentives
Visit RACQ Solar for panels and batteries packages
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