$4,000 energy rebates for hundreds of Aussies in cost-of-living boost

More Queensland residents are now able to claim rebates up to $4,000 to install solar battery storage systems. The government said the cost-of-living measure means hundreds more households will be able to slash their energy bills.

The Battery Booster program, announced earlier this year, will be increased from $10 million to $16 million following uptake of the program by households. The program is open to eligible households with a new or existing rooftop solar system that is 5 kilowatts or greater.

Lower-income households with taxable incomes of $66,667 or less can get the full $4,000 cash back, while those with a combined annual income of $180,000 or less will be eligible for $3,000 cash back.

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The rebate comes on top of the $550 Cost Of Living rebate given to all Queensland households last year, with an increased $700 rebate for eligible vulnerable households.

The state government also previously offered rebates of up to $1,000 to eligible households to buy and install energy-efficient appliances.

Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said the programs aimed to help Queenslanders with living costs in “both the short and long term”.

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“We know that the majority of Queenslanders who took up these programs are from vulnerable or low-income households, which makes these initiatives even more crucial,” de Brenni said.

“These programs allow low-to-middle income families to have more control over their energy usage, and allow for savings all year round.”

How to claim the rebate

The Battery Booster program is open for applications and will run until funding has been exhausted.

Applicants need to get conditional approval from the government before applying for the rebate and having the battery system installed. The solar battery systems must be 6 kilowatt hours or more.

Once your system has been installed and paid for, households can then submit their invoice to receive the rebate payment.

More than 1,400 households have already taken advantage of the scheme, with a further 1,000 expected to benefit from its expansion. You can find the full eligibility requirements and more information about the program on the Queensland government’s website.

What other battery rebates are available in Australia?

Victoria offers interest-free solar battery loans of up to $8,800 with repayments made over a four-year period.

South Australia and the ACT previously offered subsidies for solar battery storage, but these programs have now ended.

You can find out more about electricity rebates and rebates for installing solar power here.

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