The Smart Energy Council warmly welcomes the news that tens of thousands of WA solar residents will now be able to store their solar power in home batteries.
Stacking of the WA state and federal government rebates for the first year will mean solar homes will save up to $5,000 for Synergy customers and $7,500 for Horizon Power customers on their battery purchase.
“Combining the state and federal rebates will enable up to 100,000 Western Australian solar homes to take back control of their energy bills,” Chief Executive John Grimes said.
“It’s important to note that the federal government’s generous Cheaper Home Battery Program could enable many more homes to get a discount beyond the duration of the state rebate.”
“This is a great step forward for the smart energy industry and for consumers.”
The Smart Energy Council’s WA General Manager, Charlie Caruso, says the establishment of a contestable Virtual Power Plant (VPP) market under the new Residential Battery Scheme is also to be congratulated.
“This is a critical signal to industry that WA is serious about building a flexible, resilient, and consumer-empowered energy system — and we welcome the clarity and ambition embedded in these reforms.”
“Enabling customer choice, interoperability, and third-party participation is exactly what’s needed to unlock the full value of consumer energy in Western Australia.”
Incentivising the installation of more batteries in solar homes across Australia, says Mr Grimes, is enabling energy users to have more control over their power bills.
“The Smart Energy Council’s advocacy for home electrification policies are helping people to slash their power bills by getting off expensive, unreliable fossil fuel power generation.”
“Australia’s move to renewables is shifting up a gear, and its households that are doing much of the driving.”
“We must make sure that as Australian homes flick the switch to smart energy, everyone benefits, and we’ll continue to do that.”
“Less demand on the grid during peak times, thanks to batteries, will lower power prices for all, but there is more to do.”
