Picture this. Your power bill lands again, and it is higher than last quarter. Again.
You have thought about solar. Maybe you got a quote once. Then you saw the price, $10,000 or more up front, and put it in the too-hard basket.
Here is what changed last week.
NSW now lends you the money to put solar and a battery on your roof, at 0% interest, up to $15,000, paid back over 10 years.
Stack the federal rebates on top, and an eligible home can start with $0 upfront. The savings on your bill go toward the repayment from day one.
It is a loan, so you pay it back. But you pay it back with money you were already handing your electricity retailer.
Here is exactly how it works, who qualifies, and how to lock it in before the federal rebate on top drops on 1 January 2027.
At a glance
Why your bill keeps winning
Power prices in Australia have climbed hard. Plenty of homes are paying around 37% more than a few years ago, and the bill lands every quarter whether you like it or not.
You can switch retailers and shave a little. You can turn the aircon down and sweat a little. Either way you are still renting your power from someone else, at their price, on their terms.
Solar and a battery change that. You make power on your roof in the day, store it, and use it at night when the peak rate hits.
Solar and a battery turn the one bill you cannot control into the one you can.
What NSW just did (17 June 2026)
On 17 June 2026 the NSW Government launched the Home Energy Saver program, a $557 million package to help households upgrade and cut their bills.
The centrepiece is an interest-free loan of up to $15,000, repaid over 10 years, for homes with a combined income under $210,000. It is expected to reach more than 32,000 NSW households.
The loans run through accredited lenders like Brighte and Plenti. Applications are open now, with no closing date announced.
There is also a targeted discount of up to $4,000 coming later in 2026 for homes earning under $80,000 a year or holding an eligible concession card.
Stack it with the federal rebates
The NSW loan stacks on top of the federal solar and battery rebates.
The federal Small-scale Technology Certificate scheme takes thousands off a solar system at install. The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program takes thousands more off the battery.
Those federal rebates cut the price first. The NSW interest-free loan then covers what is left, up to $15,000. That is how an eligible home gets to $0 upfront.
Already have solar and just want the battery? The federal rebate plus the NSW battery incentives are broken down in our NSW battery rebate guide.
You can see your own stacked number on our NSW Home Energy Saver page, or run the 30-second check below.
A simple example
Take a Sydney home that wants a 6.6 kW solar system and a 10 kWh battery. Installed, that might list around $16,000 to $19,000 before any help.
The federal rebates take several thousand off the price at install. The NSW interest-free loan then covers the rest, up to $15,000, with nothing due on day one.
The home starts making and storing its own power straight away. The monthly repayment is roughly matched by what they stop paying their retailer, and the system runs for 20+ years.
Numbers move with your roof, your usage and your retailer. The check below returns a figure based on your actual situation.
See if your home qualifies. Takes 30 seconds.
We check the NSW interest-free loan plus the federal solar and battery rebates against your details. Free, no obligation, no spam. If you do not qualify, we tell you straight away.
Do you qualify?
The interest-free loan is open to NSW households with a combined taxable income under $210,000. You need to be the homeowner.
The $4,000 discount, coming later in 2026, is for households earning under $80,000 a year or holding an eligible concession card.
The program covers rooftop solar, home batteries, insulation, reverse-cycle air conditioning, switchboard upgrades, ceiling fans and draught-proofing. Most people we help put it toward solar and a battery, since that is what shrinks the bill the most.
How to lock it in
It is simpler than most people expect, because your installer handles the paperwork.
1. Check what you qualify for. Run the 30-second check on this page, or apply directly through the NSW Government at energy.nsw.gov.au.
2. Choose an accredited installer. A Clean Energy Council accredited installer claims the federal rebate at install and arranges the NSW interest-free loan through a lender like Brighte or Plenti.
3. Let the rebates and loan stack. The federal rebate comes off the price first. The interest-free loan then covers what is left, up to $15,000, so there is nothing to pay on day one.
4. Sign before 1 January 2027. The federal rebate steps down then, so locking in your contract during 2026 captures the larger amount.
Why 2026 matters
Two things work against waiting.
One: the federal rebate stacked on top steps down on 1 January 2027. Lock in during 2026 and you capture the larger federal amount, worth roughly $1,000 more on a typical solar and battery install.
Two: the NSW loans are funded for around 32,000 households. Allocations like this are first-in, and they do run down.
If your bills keep climbing and you have been putting solar off, this is the cheapest the setup has been in a long time.
Frequently asked questions
Joe White
Joe has over five years of experience in the renewable energy sector. Based in Australia, he is dedicated to advancing sustainable energy solutions to benefit both the environment and local communities. In his spare time, Joe loves to surf and take his dog, Mitchy, on road trips to explore the road less traveled.
