Gippslanders install 1,188 batteries in five months, as government invests another $4.9 billion into home storage subsidy

The federal government’s solar battery scheme has been topped up with an extra $4.9 billion as homeowners across the country take up the subsidy, which can cut the price of a home battery by about 30 percent.

What happened: On Saturday December 13, the Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced a $4.9 billion top up to the government’s $2.3 billion battery subsidy scheme, announced in April. 

🔋 What is the battery subsidy scheme?

The Labor government’s $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries subsidy program came into effect on July 1 and aimed to cut the price of a home battery by about 30 percent, saving consumers around $4,000 when buying a typical 10kw storage system.

The government has said more batteries would add to grid stability and help reduce electricity bills.

💰 Gippsland battery sales “increase drastically”

The Monitor spoke to solar panel and battery installer Blake Edwards, who operates a Solar Run franchise in Drouin. Edwards estimated that prior to the subsidy, 60 percent of the houses he installed solar panels on were choosing to install a home battery.

🗣️ Edwards said those sales have “increased drastically since the battery rebate release”. He estimated that about 95 percent of the homes he installs solar panels on are now choosing to purchase home batteries as well.

⚡️ Hard data

Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator has released data showing the amount of solar battery systems installed around the country since July 1.

• There have been 125,447 systems installed nationwide with 1,188 of those sales coming from Gippsland.

• Latrobe City Council had the most out of any Gippsland local government area, with 296 home battery systems installed since July 1.

• Baw Baw Shire followed with 256 systems, then Bass Coast Shire (191), East Gippsland (161), Wellington Shire (157) and South Gippsland Shire (121).