SA’s REPS VPP Rebate: Boost Your Home Battery Subsidy

Last Updated: 10th Jun 2026

multiple solar-powered homes with batteries linked to a cloud showing dollar signs, representing a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) earning REPS battery incentives in South Australia.

South Australians can build on the nationally available federal government battery rebate by collecting a bonus payment under a state scheme for connecting their home batteries to a REPS-approved Virtual Power Plant.

For the rest of 2026, the SA REPS VPP rebate is only available to priority group applicants, which includes pensioners, health care card holders, and tenants paying $500 or less in rent per week. 

The rebate can be claimed once per address. When it was available to general households, the rebate was up to $670 for a 13kWh battery, with a maximum of up to $1,560 for a 28kWh battery. The rebate is higher for priority group members. They can currently receive up to $1,030 for a 13kWh battery and a maximum of up to $2,050 for a 28kWh battery.

The REPS VPP rebate has a major flaw: its funding can run out, making the rebate unavailable until it’s topped up again. In 2026, funding ran out in May for most applicants, and it’s currently only available to priority group members (see below). Additional funding should be provided at the start of 2027.

The South Australian Retailer Energy Productivity Scheme (REPS) kicked off in 2021, following on from the state’s Retailer Energy Efficiency Scheme (REES) that operated from the beginning of 2009 to the end of 2020.

While not a government rebate, REPS sets energy productivity targets (EPTs) that must be met by electricity and gas retailers. To achieve these targets, obliged retailers offer incentives to households and businesses to carry out approved activities that include:

This explainer focuses on the VPP aspect of the Scheme. Further details about other activities under REPS can be found here.

  1. What Is A VPP?
  2. Which VPPs Are Eligible For REPS?
  3. What Batteries Are Eligible?
  4. How Much Are REPS VPP Incentives Worth?
  5. What Are The Other Eligibility Requirements?
  6. How Do You Apply For The REPS Rebate?

What Is A VPP?

A Virtual Power Plant is a network of distributed energy resources, such as solar panels and batteries, essentially acting like a single power plant, managed by a VPP operator. The operator determines when to charge and discharge connected batteries from and into the grid, helping to maintain network stability. In exchange for handing over control of a home battery, the owner may be provided with incentives such as a battery discount, a cash bonus, or higher feed-in tariff rates — or a mix.

You can learn more about the pros and cons of Virtual Power Plants here.

Which VPPs Are Eligible For REPS?

There are a number of Virtual Power Plant programs that are REPS eligible, providing battery owners with some choice. At the time of writing, known examples include:

  • AGL Virtual Power Plant
  • Amber Smartshift
  • Engie VPP
  • Globird Energy ZeroHero
  • Localvolts
  • Nectr Evolve
  • Origin Loop
  • Powwow VPP

Just regarding Amber Smartshift — it operates differently from conventional VPPs, but participating battery owners contribute to grid stability along with participating in the wholesale energy market, making it eligible for VPP-related incentives and schemes.

You can compare these programs side-by-side on the SolarQuotes VPP comparison table.

What Batteries Are Eligible?

This is where things get a little tricky, as one REPS-approved VPP that supports a certain battery may not be supported by another. While not all models from a brand may be supported, generally speaking, brands/models that can participate in at least one of the VPPs above at the time of writing include:

That list isn’t complete, and note in some cases the battery must be paired with a particular inverter. Also, eligible models may change without notice — but I’ll show you how to easily determine what batteries/inverters are currently supported at which VPP in a bit.

The good news is the REPS rebate is for new and existing batteries participating in an eligible VPP, assuming the battery was connected to the VPP during the current calendar year. So, if you joined a VPP in January, you can still apply for the rebate up to the middle of December of the same year, so long as funding is available.

Important!

However, if the VPP operator has met its REPS obligation for the year, you may have to wait for early in the following year to join in order to get the rebate; and your application still won’t be guaranteed of success. Given this uncertainty, if joining a VPP hinges on getting the REPS rebate, this may not be for you.

Currently, in 2026, funding is only available for those in the priority group.

How Much Are REPS VPP Incentives Worth?

The REPS rebate varies depending on the battery and also whether you are considered part of the ‘priority group’.

Among those in the priority group are holders of a Commonwealth Government pensioner concession card or health care card, an energy bill concession recipient, an energy retailer hardship program or payment plan participant, those paying $500 or less a week in rent under a tenancy agreement or have been referred by a South Australian Financial Counsellors Association (SAFCA) member.

As an example, the 2026 rebate for a Sigenergy Sigenstor 13 kWh battery when funding for all groups was available:

  • Priority Group Rebate: $880
  • Non-priority Group Rebate: $670
  • Small Business Rebate: $740 incl. GST

You can claim the rebate on more than one battery, but the maximum rebate of $2,050 will be reached at a total of 28 kWh total, not usable, capacity. The program minimum is a 2 kWh battery.

That’s all without factoring in discounts from the federal Cheaper Home Batteries program, which can shave thousands of dollars more off the cost of a new battery. But just to be clear, the federal rebate is provided as an up-front discount on your battery purchase, while the REPS rebate is provided after you connect to an eligible VPP and are approved for REPS and if your REPS application is successful.

One Claim Per Address

The rebate can be claimed once per address, so if you have multiple properties, you can claim it more than once. Once you claim and receive the REPS rebate, you are not bound to stay with your chosen VPP.

What Are The Other Eligibility Requirements?

Nothing too onerous:

  • The battery/s must be for home or small business use and connected at the address specified in the application.
  • Your battery/s were installed by a properly accredited retailer and installer.
  • Installation must comply with all relevant Australian and South Australian laws and regulations, and all relevant Australian and International Standards.

There are also warranty requirements. Note that these are the warranty durations at the time of installation, not of application:

  • Battery: 7 years.
  • Any inverter: 5 years.
  • Balance of system (e.g. enclosures): 5 years.
  • Workmanship: 5 years.
  • Whole of system: 5 years.

How Do You Apply For The REPS Rebate?

You’ll need to complete an application with an REPS activity provider authorised for the VPP activity. One of them is MAC Trade Services. Through its partnerships with various electricity retailers, MAC Trade Services can facilitate REPS payments for any VPP listed above.

Another REPS activity provider that appears to work with a wide range of VPP is Demand Manager. Other providers include Ecovantage for Amber Shiftsmart and AGL for AGL Virtual Power Plant. 

Your REPS activity provider should be able to provide you with information on exactly which VPPs they provide the rebate for, as well as other information, such as which batteries and inverters are eligible, how much the rebate will be, and how to submit an application.

For the subsidy application, there are a few hoops to jump through. You’ll need to provide:

  • Your address details and proof of address.
  • VPP details along with supporting evidence.
  • Battery installation details and supporting evidence.
  • Banking details.

The supporting evidence required is detailed on the page linked to above.

From there, the REPS activity provider will assess your application and, if approved, they will send confirmation plus the official REPS Activity Record for your Battery/VPP connection. This record is part of the compliance paperwork needed so the activity can be counted under REPS and the rebate paid. The rebate will then be sent to you via bank transfer. Payment processing may take up to 60 days.

By the way, if you want a good-quality home battery and professional installation at a reasonable price, you’re already in the right place:

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