Federal figures are gross certificate values at the 15 October 2026 price of $39.65 per STC; source: Demand Manager, STC spot market. Installers usually pass through slightly less after certificate fees.
Solar rebates in Canberra and across the ACT
The federal solar rebate follows your postcode's STC zone, not the state border. Canberra, Belconnen, Gungahlin and Tuggeranong all get the same $1,784 on a 6.6 kW system for a 2026 install. State programs apply the same way across the Australian Capital Territory, from Canberra to Belconnen, Gungahlin and Tuggeranong.
| Town | Postcode | STC zone | STCs (6.6 kW) | Federal solar rebate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canberra | 2600 | Zone 3 | 45 | $1,784 |
| Belconnen | 2617 | Zone 3 | 45 | $1,784 |
| Gungahlin | 2912 | Zone 3 | 45 | $1,784 |
| Tuggeranong | 2900 | Zone 3 | 45 | $1,784 |
Zones from the Clean Energy Regulator's postcode zone table; 5 deeming years for a 2026 install; at the 15 October 2026 price of $39.65 per STC. Check your own postcode in the STC calculator.
What changed in ACT recently
Checked against the official sources on 10 October 2026.
The Sustainable Household Scheme now lends $2,000 to $20,000 at 3% interest, with the maximum lifted on 1 July 2026 (earlier participants stay capped at $15,000). Batteries qualify; rooftop solar on its own no longer does.
Home Energy Support gives concession-holding owner-occupiers up to $5,000 in rebates, which can go towards rooftop solar, plus a zero-interest loan of up to $10,000.
Dated update: ACT Sustainable Household Scheme: 3% loans to $20,000.
How the ACT solar rebate works in 2026
There is no single "ACT solar rebate". What you claim is a stack. The federal solar STC discount under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme is about $1,784 on a 6.6 kW system in STC Zone 3. ACT adds no general panel rebate. If a battery goes in too, the federal Cheaper Home Batteries discount adds about $3,608 on a 13.5 kWh battery (about $270 per usable kWh on the first 14 kWh). Everything is applied at the point of sale by your installer. You never receive cash; you just pay less.
Eligibility checklist for the federal solar rebate
- A new solar system of up to 100 kW, which is the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) limit.
- Panels and inverter on the Clean Energy Council's approved product list.
- Designed and installed by a Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) accredited installer.
- The installation date sets the deeming period: 5 years for a system installed by 31 December 2026, 4 after that.
- No income test and no form for you to lodge: the installer creates the STCs and takes the value off the quote.
Every ACT program, with live status
Sustainable Household Scheme
LiveThe ACT's household energy loan covers batteries, hot water heat pumps, EV chargers and efficient heating/cooling, repaid over up to 10 years. The maximum was lifted to $20,000 on 1 July 2026. Note: standalone solar panels are no longer covered; batteries are.
Home Energy Support Program
LiveTargeted support for concession-holding homeowners: rebates covering 50% of costs up to $2,500 for rooftop solar plus up to $2,500 for electrification upgrades, and an interest-free loan up to $10,000.
Why storing beats exporting in the Australian Capital Territory
No regulated minimum feed-in tariff in the ACT. Retailers set voluntary rates, usually higher on the first few kWh you export each day. ActewAGL is the largest provider.
The feed-in tariff is what your retailer pays for exported solar. It's not part of the rebate, but it is the reason the battery maths works: every kilowatt-hour you store and use at night is worth what you'd otherwise pay the grid in the evening, several times what a midday export earns.
| Retailer / benchmark | Feed-in rate | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Origin Energy | 10c/kWh on the first 8 kWh a day, then 5c | Market offer |
| EnergyAustralia | 8c/kWh on the first 10 kWh a day, then 3c | Market offer |
| CovaU | 5.5c/kWh with no daily cap | Standing offer |
| ActewAGL | 5c/kWh on the first 15 kWh a day, then 3c | Market offer |
| 1st Energy (EL Retail Energy) | 3c/kWh on the first 5 kWh a day, then 1c | Market offer |
Retailer rows are each retailer's highest generally available flat rate, retrieved 29 October 2026; offers that need a battery, VPP or other condition are on the full comparison. Feed-in tariff data: Based on AER data, Consumer Data Right Energy Product Reference Data (Energy Made Easy and Victorian Energy Compare), retrieved 2026-10-29. Source: AER © Commonwealth of Australia. Not endorsed by the AER. Rates in c/kWh as published by retailers; no GST added. They change frequently and can vary by network area; use the AER's Energy Made Easy tool for the live picture. Full ACT feed-in tariff comparison →
The cost of waiting in ACT
Both step-downs are published schedules, not marketing deadlines, and the Clean Energy Regulator applies them by installation date. The battery factor keeps falling every January and July until the program ends after 2030, and the solar scheme phases out on 31 December 2030.
See your exact ACT solar and battery rebate
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How we get you the full stack without the legwork
We're a free service for ACT homeowners. You give us your postcode and bill range, we match you with one SAA-accredited installer who works in your area, and they apply every rebate you're eligible for at the point of sale. One specialist, one number.
- 30-second eligibility check on this page: postcode, ownership, bill, roof.
- A friendly follow-up from your specialist within 24 to 48 hours.
- Matched with a single SAA-accredited installer in ACT.
- Installer applies the full stack at invoice. You pay the discounted price, that's it.
More on how it works → · Run your own numbers in the calculator →
Common questions about ACT solar rebates
How much is the solar rebate in the Australian Capital Territory in 2026?
About $1,784 on a 6.6 kW system in Canberra: 45 federal STCs at the 15 October 2026 price of $39.65 per STC, for a system installed by 31 December 2026. The figure moves with your postcode's STC zone and the system size. The ACT adds rebates of up to $5,000 for concession card holders. Its 3% Sustainable Household Scheme loan no longer covers rooftop solar on its own.
How much is the battery rebate in the Australian Capital Territory?
About $3,608 on a 13.5 kWh battery from the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program (6.8 STCs per usable kWh for batteries installed by 31 December 2026, at the 15 October 2026 price of $39.65 per STC). The ACT adds finance rather than a rebate: 3% loans up to $20,000, plus up to $5,000 in Home Energy Support rebates for concession holders.
Does the Australian Capital Territory have a battery rebate in 2026?
Not a rebate, but yes on finance. The Sustainable Household Scheme lends $2,000 to $20,000 at 3% interest for batteries, and concession holders can get up to $5,000 in Home Energy Support rebates plus a zero-interest loan. The federal discount stacks on top.
Are solar rebates reducing in 2026?
Yes, on a fixed schedule rather than by surprise. The federal solar STC rebate loses a year of deeming every 1 January: 5 deeming years for 2026 installs, dropping to 4 from January 2027, on the way to zero in 2031. On a 6.6 kW ACT system that is about $1,784 now versus $1,427 from next year. The federal battery discount steps down too, next on 1 January 2027 when the factor falls from 6.8 to 5.7 STCs per usable kWh.
Who is eligible for the solar rebate in the Australian Capital Territory?
The federal solar STC rebate has no income test: any ACT home or business installing panels and inverters on the Clean Energy Council's approved list, through a Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) accredited installer, qualifies under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme for systems up to 100 kW. On top of that, ACT runs its own eligibility rules: Home Energy Support Program: ACT owner-occupiers holding an eligible concession card.
How much is a 6.6 kW solar system in the Australian Capital Territory after the rebate?
A 6.6 kW system typically costs $6,900 to $9,200 installed before any discount. In the Australian Capital Territory the federal STC rebate takes about $1,784 off that at the point of sale, so you land around $5,116 to $7,416 after the rebate.
What is the ACT feed-in tariff for 2026-27?
Typical ACT feed-in rates run 0 to 10 c/kWh for 2026-27. No regulated minimum feed-in tariff in the ACT. Retailers set voluntary rates, usually higher on the first few kWh you export each day. ActewAGL is the largest provider.
When does the battery rebate drop?
The federal battery discount runs to 2030, but it steps down before then. On 1 January 2027 the factor falls from 6.8 to 5.7 STCs per usable kWh, trimming about $595 off a 13.5 kWh battery ($3,608 now versus $3,013 after). The solar STC rebate also drops on 1 January 2027, worth about $357 less on a typical 6.6 kW ACT system. The Clean Energy Regulator sets both by the installation date.
Does the ACT have a solar or battery rebate?
For most households, finance rather than a rebate. The Sustainable Household Scheme lends $2,000 to $20,000 at 3% interest; batteries qualify, rooftop solar on its own does not. Concession card holders can get up to $5,000 in Home Energy Support rebates, which can go towards rooftop solar, plus a zero-interest loan. The federal discounts stack on top: about $1,784 in STCs on a 6.6 kW system and about $3,608 off a 13.5 kWh battery.
How do I apply for the solar rebate in the ACT?
For the federal money, you don't. There is no form to lodge and no waiting for a cheque. Your accredited installer creates the certificates, claims them, and takes the value off your quote before you pay, so a 6.6 kW system in the Australian Capital Territory is quoted about $1,784 cheaper and a 13.5 kWh battery about $3,608 cheaper. What you have to do is check the discount is itemised on the quote, and that the installer is SAA-accredited. The ACT's Sustainable Household Scheme loan is a real application you make yourself, and you need approval before you commit to the install.
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