Central Coast households and businesses are making the most of the Minns Labor Government's incentive to slash the cost of solar battery installation to reap the rewards of lower energy bills.
The Coast is second out of 122 Local Government Areas in take-up of the household battery incentive, with 337 batteries installed in the region since the scheme's launch in November 2024.
More than 7,800 batteries have been installed in homes and businesses across NSW since November.
The incentive scheme enables eligible homeowners and businesses to get an upfront discount on the cost of battery installation by using installers working with government-accredited suppliers.
The discount amount is relative to the size of the battery, meaning larger batteries attract bigger discounts. A typical household battery with 13.5 kilowatt-hours of capacity attracts a discount of more than $2000 on average and is available for both new and existing solar systems.
A typical household with an $1850 annual electricity bill can save around $1500 per year by installing solar and a battery.
More than half of the 7,800 installations have taken place outside the Sydney Region. The scheme has reached more than 90% of all Local Government Areas in NSW, with more than 600 installers taking part across the state.
With more than one-third of NSW homes now equipped with rooftop solar systems, the ability to store this solar energy in batteries for later use offers significant benefits for household budgets and energy reliability.
The household battery incentive is part of the NSW Government's Peak Demand Reduction Scheme, reducing peak electricity demand in NSW, maintaining grid stability during periods of high electricity demand and reducing the grid's reliance on fossil fuels.
The Minns Labor Government is delivering cost of living relief through $435 million in annual energy bill rebates, $200 million to support the roll-out of public EV charging stations and $175 million to make energy savings upgrades for 24,000 social housing homes.
For more information about the NSW Government's household battery incentive program visit the Install a battery web page.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe said:
"NSW has set a cracking pace for battery adoption across the country, and we only see this momentum picking up.
"These installations are providing cost of living relief through lower energy bills and are making a valuable contribution to a more sustainable and secure energy system."
Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley said:
"We're serious about making solar more affordable - that's why we're installing these batteries.
"By making solar energy more accessible and cost-effective, we're encouraging more people to make the switch - and we're excited to see that happening right here in Swansea."
Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said:
"It's great to see so many Coasties take up this fantastic initiative in such a short period of time to help contribute to a sustainable energy system in an environmentally friendly way.
"We know that there is still more to do as cost of living pressures continue to grow but this is a great program to help put money back in the pockets of householders and business owners on the Coast.
"I encourage everyone on the Coast who is able to consider taking up this initiative to reap the rewards."
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said:
"By enabling our community's transition to solar energy, the NSW Government is supporting not just an environmental choice, but also an economic opportunity, unlocking significant energy cost savings for our community.
"With more than 337 households taking up the opportunity to save around $1,500 per year on the Central Coast alone, I encourage everyone to take up the opportunity offered by this fantastic program."
Member for The Entrance David Mehan said:
"It's great to see so many local households and businesses getting on board with battery storage. Not only are they cutting down on their power bills-which really helps with the cost of living-but they're also doing their bit for the environment. It's a win-win for the Coast."
