The Real Reason Behind The Long Wait On Battery Installs

The Cheaper Home Batteries Program is still booming, but long waits for installation are persisting — and it’s not because of battery stock shortages. Installers tell SolarQuotes the main bottleneck is having enough accredited workers to fit them. Inspections and approvals play a smaller role; the real limiter is installer capacity.

How Long Is The Wait For Home Batteries?

There’s been a surge of customers seeking to get a battery ahead of May changes to the federal battery rebate. According to the latest Sunwiz data, a record 1.2 gigawatt-hours of home batteries were registered through the Cheaper Home Batteries Program in February. Most reputable installers are now booked out until well into May, with new customers set to wait two months or more.

Installers Are Reporting Long Waits

Graeme Galletly, General Manager at Goliath Solar & Electrical, says his team is booked well into May 2026:

“We have 8–10 weeks lead time — we’re currently booking installations into May. Installation capacity is the main constraint. We’re comfortable with our own team, but inspections and service work also factor into timing.”

In Queensland, Caleb Davey from Expert Electrical reports a similar story:

“We’re fully booked through to mid/late May. Our main constraint is installer capacity — we’d love to hire another qualified electrician, but finding the right person is tough.”

Another installer told SolarQuotes that stock isn’t an issue, and customers seem more patient than before Christmas, highlighting that workforce capacity is the central constraint rather than product supply.

A Fronius Reserva battery installed by Expert Electrical.

Stock and Brand Availability Are OK

According to installers, battery supply is not a limiting factor and popular brands such as  are generally available.

“We haven’t seen supply issues with Tesla, Sigenergy, Fronius or BYD,” says Galletly.

A recent development — Supply Partners Group securing a new distribution deal for Tesla Powerwalls in Australia — should help keep stock flowing for one of the most sought-after batteries, with Powerwall 3 soon to be compatible with Powerwall 2.

Why Installer Capacity Is the Bottleneck

Installer capacity is constrained by accreditation requirements and practical limits:

• Accreditation: Only installers formally accredited under Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) for battery systems can perform rebate-eligible installs. Many are accredited for solar, but fewer hold battery-specific accreditation.
• Practical install limits: Each battery installation takes several hours to design, install, test, and commission. Even well-staffed teams can complete only a limited number of installs per week.
• Additional work: Installers also manage service and warranty work, further limiting daily capacity.

Growing the Installer Workforce

While the bottleneck is accredited installers, there’s no clear solution yet for increasing their numbers quickly. To install a home battery under the rebate, electricians must hold SAA Grid-Connected Battery Systems accreditation, which requires completing nationally recognised battery units through a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and applying to SAA.

Some RTOs may now offer the required units, but there’s no evidence of a coordinated push by government or industry to rapidly grow the accredited installer workforce. For now, it seems the pool of qualified installers will expand only gradually.

It begs the question: how can a program this big be rolled out without a clear plan to get enough installers on the ground?

Another Curveball in the Mix

Media reports suggest the government is quietly modelling further tweaks to the Cheaper Home Batteries program. Installers who have been around a while are used to riding the “solar coaster” — with subsidies arriving one minute and disappearing the next — so the reputable ones tend to approach new rebate announcements cautiously, focusing on what they can actually deliver rather than the promises on paper.

Plan Ahead if You Want a Battery Soon

Lead times aren’t going away overnight. With accreditation and licensing taking time, installer slots remain tight — so you could be waiting months. While you wait, do your homework on what battery is right for you with our battery comparison table.