In a significant move to alleviate cost-of-living pressures and promote renewable energy adoption, Premier Roger Cook has announced Western Australia’s inaugural Residential Battery Scheme. This $387 million initiative aims to assist households in acquiring residential batteries, leading to substantial savings on power bills and fostering local manufacturing employment.
Key Features of the Residential Battery Scheme:
- Generous Rebates: Starting July 1, 2025, Synergy customers can receive up to $5,000, while Horizon Power customers are eligible for up to $7,500. The exact rebate will correspond to the battery’s capacity.
- Eligibility Criteria: Batteries must comply with Australian and local grid standards. Both established brands and locally produced batteries qualify for the rebate.
- Projected Impact: The scheme is expected to more than double the current number of residential battery installations across WA homes.
To further support households, a complementary no-interest loan program will be introduced. This initiative is designed to assist up to 20,000 low and medium-income families in managing the initial costs associated with battery installation. Eligible participants can access loans up to $10,000, repayable over a decade.
In tandem with these consumer-focused measures, the Cook Labor Government is dedicating $50 million to a Battery Manufacturing Program. This fund will offer direct grants and low-interest loans to stimulate local battery production, ensuring that the economic benefits of the renewable energy transition are retained within the state.
Premier Roger Cook emphasized the transformative potential of this initiative, stating that enhancing household battery usage will revolutionize WA’s electricity infrastructure. He highlighted that as the state progresses towards a sustainable energy future, residential batteries will be pivotal in integrating more renewable sources into the grid, maintaining affordability, and ensuring reliability.
These initiatives build upon the government’s previous efforts, including household electricity credits and the development of WA’s largest grid-connected battery energy storage system in Kwinana. Additionally, plans are underway to phase out state-owned coal-fired power stations by 2030, underscoring WA’s commitment to a cleaner energy landscape.
For more information on the Residential Battery Scheme and related programs, visit the official announcement.
