Australia’s much-anticipated Cheaper Home Batteries Program, launched on 1 July, promised to cut battery costs by roughly 30 per cent. Yet soaring demand has rapidly outstripped supply — resulting in long waitlists, rising prices and frustrated installers.
Record Demand, Limited Supply
Within weeks of the rebate launch, more than 11,500 home batteries were installed — averaging over 1,000 a day. Households in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia have led uptake. That already represents a 25 per cent jump in household energy storage capacity nationwide.
But distributors report empty warehouses, over-booked import allocations and severely limited stock. With Australia largely reliant on imports from China, South Korea and Europe, global production delays and shipping bottlenecks have left installers scrambling.
Household & Small Business Impacts
Homeowners and small businesses now exchange speed for rebate access — installation times stretching from a few weeks to several months. Many have been placed on waiting lists or offered unfamiliar brands. In numerous cases, installers say quotes have risen despite the rebate due to limited supply.
For businesses hoping to save on electricity, the delay dampens potential gains: battery storage would cut costs, but only once systems can be installed.
Industry Under Stress
Solar retailers are booming — they report record enquiries and pressure to deliver. Yet securing sufficient inventory has become a daily struggle.
Some installers have paused sales of specific brands due to zero deliveries. Others are sourcing new suppliers, diversifying product offerings, and juggling customer expectations — all while managing trust risks around untested battery makes.
Supply Outlook Foggy
Different predictions say when batteries will be able to flow freely again. Some suppliers expect global capacity expansion to ease supply constraints by mid-2026. Others warn that elevated demand may persist for years, particularly as international incentives escalate. Some optimistic manufacturers have hinted at improved supply by late November.
Meanwhile, analysis from SolarQuotes anticipates the $2.3 billion rebate pool could be exhausted by 2028, not the originally expected 2030, even with an additional $1.2 billion earmarked.
National Policy Momentum
The program has already delivered over 1,000 installations a day, boosting household energy storage by 25 per cent in just two months. That uptake extends beyond inner-city areas — a notable contrast to critics who claimed the scheme would primarily benefit wealthier urban voters.
Originally pitched as part of Prime Minister Albanese’s 2025 re-election campaign, the plan sought to help up to one million households by 2030, offering possible electricity bill savings of $1,100 to $2,300 a year. State incentives in NSW and WA also stack with the federal rebate in eligible cases.
What to Do Now
Residents and small businesses aiming to capitalise before the rebate steps down on 1 January 2026 are advised to:
- Join waitlists early with reputable, accredited installers
- Confirm eligibility, paperwork and approvals promptly
- Be flexible on battery brands while ensuring they’re Clean Energy Council-approved
- Avoid deals that seem too cheap — they may compromise quality
- Plan installation timing carefully, as deliveries may cluster near the rebate changeover
The Take-Away
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program has undeniably sparked a national shift toward household energy storage — but supply hasn’t kept pace. While the rush reflects Australia’s growing embrace of clean energy, the current market stress underlines the urgency of expanding local manufacturing and global supply chains. In 2026, Australians may look back on 2025 as the year the storage revolution really took off, even though it had some problems along the way.