Door knockers are falsely claiming that the government is giving away free solar and battery systems because of “the oil crisis”, as a spate of online ads assert the federal rebate will end in May.
Are Solar & Batteries Being Given Away Due To The Energy Crisis?
SolarQuotes has learned of a door knocker for an installer in Western Sydney claiming “the government is offering free solar and battery installation in the area due to rising energy costs caused by the oil crisis”.
No Australian government program is offering free solar or batteries because of oil prices or similar issues.
Amid the global fuel crisis caused by conflict in the Middle East, some marketers are leaning on fear-based messaging to push systems or collect personal details.
In reality, Australia’s legitimate incentives such as the Cheaper Home Batteries Program have nothing to do with oil prices or emergency funding.
What’s Actually Happening With The Battery Rebate?
Another rumour spreading through door-knockers and online ads is that the federal battery rebate “ends in May.”
What is happening on 1 May 2026 is a scheduled adjustment to the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which continues until December 2030, stepping down gradually.
Some marketers are taking that scheduled reduction and spinning it into an arbitary deadline to pressure homeowners into signing quickly.
You can even see this kind of urgency-based language on some company websites:
The Solar Naturally website was still spruiking this 2025 rebate message in April 2026.
This kind of wording leans heavily on scarcity and deadline framing — which can easily mislead consumers about how the rebate actually works.
Dodgy Ads Are Amplifying The Confusion
This confusion isn’t limited to what people hear at the door. A wave of Facebook ads is now pushing the same “ending soon” narrative — often with countdown clocks, crisis-themed language, or vague claims about government urgency.
How To Protect Yourself
- Be sceptical of unsolicited offers. Reputable installers don’t rely on doorknockers claiming “free” government solar.
- Check the source. If you hear about a “new rebate”, “crisis funding”, or a “special offer for your postcode”, verify it on official government sites.
- Watch for urgency. Phrases like “last chance”, “ending this month”, or “prices doubling” are designed to override your judgement.
- Verify credentials. Only consider Clean Energy Council (CEC)-accredited installers with verifiable reviews.
- Remember: even legitimate companies sometimes use commissioned marketers who exaggerate to close a deal.
If something feels off, it probably is.
Regulator Issues Warning To Installers
It comes as the Clean Energy Regulator issues a warning to installers about ensuring they can honour contracts based on pre-May rebate rates.
The regulatory body has warned installers that the applicable rebate rate is based on the installation date, not the purchase date, and not to rush jobs to get them done before May.
“This is another reminder to retailers to only commit to what they can deliver. Be honest about your availability to install solar batteries when quoting jobs to customers. Safety is the number one priority, and installers can claim no more than 2 installations per day. It’s very important that contracts entered into are honoured. If you agree to a solar battery installation before 1 May but can’t deliver, you may be liable to pay the difference,” CER Executive General Manager Carl Binning said.
Retailers have been reminded they must comply with Australian Consumer Law when advertising solar batteries.
“Deceptive, misleading or unsafe behaviour will not be tolerated. This is a high integrity scheme, with robust controls in place, and we’re going to enforce them,” Binning added.
The Bottom Line
Be extremely wary of any installer still advertising in April that they can install before May. The vast majority of reputable companies are booked out well into May by now – the SolarQuotes installer network included.
Solar and battery incentives in Australia remain strong — but they’re discounts, not giveaways. There is no oil-crisis-related handout, and the battery rebate is not disappearing in May.
For a rundown on what’s actually happening with the federal battery rebate, check out our detailed explainer.
About Kim Wainwright
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