Households and businesses in the Blue Mountains are among the 7,800 across NSW enjoying lower energy bills thanks to the strong early adoption of the Minns Labor Government's household battery incentive, which delivers thousands of dollars off the cost of installation.
Since the incentive was launched in November, there have been 172 installations in the Blue Mountains out of more than 7,800 batteries installed in homes and businesses state-wide.
The Blue Mountains ranks 12th in the state for take up of the offer behind local government areas including the Northern Beaches (470), Central Coast, Blacktown and Shoalhaven.
Member for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle said:
“I’m not surprised at all that we are topping lists for clean solar energy choices in the Blue Mountains.
Year after year, a solar choice will not just save you money, but it will make you feel better about your choices for the planet – and Mountains people care about our planet.”
“Batteries are an incredibly important part of society and will help us decarbonise our environment.”
On top of this news, the NSW Government has recently legislated nation-leading reform to ensure the environmental safety of batteries, she added.
Ms Doyle was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change, Energy and the Environment, in May 2023, is a proud member of the Blue Mountains Conservation Society and a member of the Select Committee on Net Zero.
By using the incentive scheme, eligible homeowners and businesses get an upfront discount on the cost of battery installation through installers working with government-accredited suppliers.
The discount amount is related to the size of the battery, meaning larger batteries attract bigger discounts. For a typical household battery with 13.5 kilowatt-hours of capacity, this is 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 per cent 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.
Find out more information about the NSW Government's household battery incentive program: https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/households/rebates-grants-and-schemes/household-energy-saving-upgrades/install-battery.
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.”
"The NSW Government’s battery incentive is delivering real savings for Blue Mountains families and businesses, helping lower energy costs and support a sustainable future."
MEDIA: Brenda Cunningham-Lewis | Trish Doyle | (02) 4751 3298
