The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has issued a warning to retailers and installers over deceptive behaviour occurring in the rush to get batteries ahead of the May changes to the federal rebate.
Are Pre-May Battery Quotes Accurate?
The Cheaper Home Batteries incentive will transition to a tiered system from the 1st of May 2026, reducing the discount for larger capacity systems in particular.
The regulator on Wednesday warned that “deceptive or misleading behaviour will not be tolerated and retailers who fail to comply with their obligations will be reported to fair trading bodies.”
Carl Binning, Executive General Manager at the CER, said retailers and installers needed to ensure they were providing accurate quotes that reflect the upcoming changes.
“Retailers should not be promising installations before 1 May unless they are certain the installations can be completed on time. They need to be upfront with customers, schedule work responsibly, and explain the small-scale technology (STC) changes clearly, which could mean a significant price difference for customers,” he said.
Sunwiz data indicates a record 1.2 GWh of solar batteries was registered in February. There has been a particular surge for big systems set to be most affected by the impending reduction, with 40 kWh to 50 kWh battery sizes leading the way.
SolarQuotes has identified a raft of misleading practices amidst the rebate rush, including deceptive ads that suggest the rebate ends entirely in May.
SolarQuotes founder Finn Peacock has warned that some advertised battery system prices are so low that installers may have failed to properly account for GST, leading to “naive new installers collapsing [and] customers left with unsupported systems”, similar to what happened when the solar rebate was introduced.
An advertisement wrongly claiming the federal battery rebate ends April 30.
Rebate Applies To Date Of Install
The rebate applies based on the date of installation, not when the contract is signed, and with many installers booked out until May there’s a concern that many jobs quoted on pre-May rebate prices will actually be pushed into an install date that falls under the reduced discount.
“Check your quotes, ensure that they are not out of date, and communicate the price changes to customers… we will be watching the industry carefully during these changes,” Binning said.
The regulator is also concerned that installers may rush their work to get through the backlog of jobs before May.
“Safety is our number one priority – we inspect battery installations, and we will investigate and remove bad players from the program. Installers are being urged to do it once and do it well,” Binning added.
The CER is writing to solar retailers and installers to reiterate their responsibilities to customers.
What Should Customers Do?
The regulator recommends that customers make sure to confirm that the installation will happen when it is expected to and the price quoted will be honoured.
The long wait on installs is largely due to there not being enough installers to meet current demand – stock levels are not a major factor.
SolarQuotes recommends that customers scrambling to get a battery take care with any installer promising a pre-May install:
- Confirm that the batteries are already secured and not “expected” in case stock shortages do emerge;
- Confirm that the “installed” date refers to the date a certificate of electrical compliance is issued;
- Be careful with deposits and confirm whether they are refundable;
- Read through the terms & conditions;
- Ensure the installer has a written timeline that includes approvals submitted, plus commissioning/sign-off/certificate of electrical compliance.
Don’t Panic Buy
SolarQuotes’ in-house fact checker Ronald Brakels has cautioned that the increase in battery prices from May may not be as steep as expected because “installers won’t be so rushed and may lower prices as demand falls.” Ronald adds that battery manufacturers may continue to reduce prices themselves, but cautions there is no guarantee.
To calculate how much the value of the rebate changes based on your expected install date and preferred battery, use our federal battery rebate calculator.
For more, read our detailed guide to the federal battery rebate.
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