What rebates can NSW households actually claim in 2026?
Australian solar rebates come in two layers: the federal Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) scheme that every household gets, and a state-specific top-up that varies by where you live. New South Wales households can stack both, plus the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program if you're adding storage.
For a typical 6.6 kW system in NSW, the federal STC rebate is worth about $1,386. NSW sits in STC Zone 3, which means the zone rating multiplier is 1.382 (a middle-of-the-road federal rate). The rebate is applied as a point-of-sale discount on your invoice. You never receive cash directly; you simply pay less for the system.
Active NSW programs (May 2026)
Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS) battery incentive
Point-of-sale discount on a new home battery, calculated per usable kWh and applied as Energy Savings Certificate (ESC) value at install. Stacks with the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
NSW VPP / BESS2 sign-on incentive
One-off payment to homeowners who connect an eligible battery to a NSW-registered Virtual Power Plant. Paid in addition to the PDRS battery rebate.
Recently closed in NSW
Programs that have closed in the last 18 months — kept here so you can search and confirm what's gone.
Empowering Homes interest-free battery loan
Closed to new applications in 2025. Federal Cheaper Home Batteries + PDRS now apply.
Feed-in tariffs in New South Wales
NSW has no regulated minimum feed-in tariff. Retailers set their own rates; competitive plans currently sit around 7–10c/kWh for the first 5–14 kWh/day.
The feed-in tariff is what your retailer pays you for solar power you export back to the grid. It's not part of the rebate, but it's a major driver of long-term savings. Choosing a retailer with a high feed-in rate can be worth $200–$500 a year on top of the rebate.
| Retailer | Solar feed-in rate | Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | 12c/kWh | first 14 kWh/day |
| AGL | 8c/kWh | — |
| EnergyAustralia | 7c/kWh | first 10 kWh/day |
| Red Energy | 13c/kWh | first 5 kWh/day |
Rates checked against retailers' published plans. They change frequently and can vary by network area; use the AER's Energy Made Easy comparison tool for the live picture. Full NSW feed-in tariff comparison →
How much is solar worth in New South Wales?
Real-world payback for a typical 6.6 kW system in NSW sits between 3 and 5 years, depending on daytime usage and retailer choice. NSW has lower peak-sun-hours than the northern states (about 4.3 per day), but the rebate stack is generous enough that payback is still comparable. On a 6.6 kW system, the typical NSW household saves about $ 2,057 per year against their current electricity bill.
What size system fits a NSW home?
- Apartment / small home: 5 kW — about 15 panels. Suits 1–2 person households on quarterly bills under $300.
- Typical family home: 6.6 kW — about 19.799999999999997 panels. The most-installed size in Australia. Suits 3–4 person households with quarterly bills $300–$600.
- Larger home / battery-ready: 10 kW or more. Suits households with pools, ducted air-con, EV charging, or planning to add a battery within 12–18 months.
See your exact NSW rebate
Enter your postcode. We'll match you with one CEC-accredited installer who covers your area.
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program
From 1 July 2025 every state can claim the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program — about $372 per kWh of installed usable battery capacity. On a 13.5 kWh battery (a Tesla Powerwall 3 or equivalent) that's roughly $5,000 off. It stacks on top of NSW state programs (where applicable) and on top of the STC rebate for any solar installed at the same time.
The catch
The federal STC rebate steps down each January by roughly 1/15th. Today's $1,386 federal rebate will be about $ 1,294 in 12 months, and lower again the year after that. The scheme phases out entirely by 2030. If you've been thinking about solar, getting locked in this year is measurably more valuable than waiting.
How we get you the best rebate without the legwork
We're a free service for NSW homeowners. You give us your postcode and bill range, we match you with one CEC-accredited installer who works in your area, and they apply every rebate you're eligible for at the point of sale. No quote-shopping. No call-centre scripts. 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 CEC-accredited installer in NSW.
- Installer applies every rebate at invoice. You pay the discounted price, that's it.
Common questions about New South Wales solar rebates
How much is the solar rebate in New South Wales in 2026?
Most NSW households claim about $2,900 in stacked rebates on a typical 6.6 kW system. That's roughly $1,386 in federal STC value, plus around $1,500 from NSW-specific programs.
Which state-specific rebates can I claim in New South Wales?
NSW currently has 2 active programs in May 2026: Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS) battery incentive; NSW VPP / BESS2 sign-on incentive. Recently closed in NSW: Empowering Homes interest-free battery loan.
What feed-in tariff will I get in New South Wales?
NSW has no regulated minimum feed-in tariff. Retailers set their own rates; competitive plans currently sit around 7–10c/kWh for the first 5–14 kWh/day. Typical rates currently range from 4.9 c/kWh to 13 c/kWh depending on retailer. The cheapest plan isn't always the best feed-in plan, so it's worth comparing both together.
How big a system do most New South Wales homes install?
The typical NSW home installs a 6.6 kW system. Smaller homes or apartments often go with 5 kW; larger family homes with batteries or pool pumps usually size up to 10 kW.
Does the federal STC rebate apply in New South Wales?
Yes. The federal Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) scheme applies in every state. New South Wales sits in STC Zone 3, which gives an STC zone rating of 1.382. On a typical 6.6 kW system this is worth about $1,386 off the invoice.
How long does payback take in New South Wales?
For most NSW households the payback period on a typical 6.6 kW system is 3–5 years, depending on daytime usage, system size, and electricity retailer. Battery payback is longer (typically 7–10 years) but improves substantially with the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
Get matched with your NSW installer
We've matched over 12,400 Aussie homes with the right installer since 2018. The average household saves $1,420 a year. Free, no obligation, no quote-shopping headache.