Rooftop solar still gets cheaper in Australia when you stack the right incentives — but the stack changed in 2026–2026. Federal Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) remain the main upfront discount on panels and inverters, while the Cheaper Home Batteries Program (live since 1 July 2025) now cuts roughly $372 per usable kWh off eligible home batteries. State schemes such as Victoria’s Solar Homes and Queensland’s Battery Booster sit on top, not instead of, those federal rules. This hub explains what actually reduces your invoice in 2026, what installers must show in writing, and how MrSolar helps you compare three CEC-accredited quotes with rebate line items you can verify.
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Indicative 2026 pricing: a typical 6.6kW system often quotes around $5,000–$8,000 after the STC discount (metro installs often $5,000–$7,500; premium/regional can run higher). See our solar cost guide.
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STCs are created when a CEC-accredited installer installs an eligible small-scale system. Certificate count depends on system size (kW), postcode zone (1–4), and remaining deeming years. Installers usually assign the certificates to themselves and pass the dollar value through as a point-of-sale discount. Spot prices move; MrSolar’s planning tables currently reference about $39.85 per STC (as of 5 Aug 2026). A metro 6.6kW job often sees several thousand dollars off before you discuss state add-ons. Always ask for the STC calculation, zone, and as-of spot assumption on the quote — vague “rebate included” wording is a red flag.
From 1 July 2025, eligible home batteries can access a federal discount structured like STCs and commonly modelled near $372 per usable kilowatt-hour. On a typical 10kWh usable pack that is around $3,720 off before state programs. Eligibility, chemistry rules and installer accreditation still apply — DIY or non-CEC work will not unlock the discount. Pair battery modelling with your real evening load and DNSP export limit; a subsidised battery that never cycles usefully is still a poor buy.
Victoria’s Solar Homes pathway can add a point-of-sale solar rebate (commonly discussed up to $1,400 for eligible households) plus separate battery support that is income-tested. Queensland’s Battery Booster targets existing solar homes adding storage. South Australia’s Home Battery Scheme historically favoured finance-style support; confirm current product rules before you sign. The ACT’s Next Gen storage program remains battery-focused. NSW, WA, TAS and NT homeowners usually lean harder on federal STCs plus retailer tariffs. Never assume a state brochure applies to your NMI — eligibility windows change.
Ausgrid, Endeavour, Essential, Energex, SAPN, Western Power, Evoenergy and the Victorian distributors increasingly cap export on constrained feeders. If your street is limited to a few kilowatts of export, oversizing purely for FiT income is weak economics. Rebates still help the capital cost, but self-consumption, batteries, EV charging and load shifting decide payback. Every comparable quote should name the DNSP and the expected export limit for your address.
Insist on CEC designer/installer accreditation numbers, CEC-listed panel and inverter (and battery) models, a roof or single-line sketch, STC math with zone and deeming years, any Cheaper Home Batteries Program line item in usable kWh, state rebate assumptions with eligibility notes, DNSP application responsibility, and workmanship warranty length. Compare three quotes side by side on those fields — not on a single “from” price.
Paying a deposit before STC and export assumptions are written down, accepting non-CEC products for a “special deal,” double-counting state and federal discounts that cannot stack, and treating FiT forecasts as guaranteed income are the usual traps. Another frequent miss: adding a battery for the subsidy alone without checking evening kWh. Use MrSolar to shortlist CEC-accredited installers who document incentives properly.
MrSolar (Epic Unicorn Pty Ltd, ABN 34 656 087 428) matches Australian homeowners with up to three CEC-accredited installers. You stay in control of which proposal to accept. Our editorial team reviews incentive language against current federal and state context so pages like this stay useful — then your installer paperwork must still prove the dollars on your specific site. Australian 2026 context still rewards self-consumption over FiT hunting; when reading “How MrSolar helps you claim value, not marketing”, check whether the advice pushes daytime loads, EV charging, or storage instead of unlimited export assumptions. After install, revisit “How MrSolar helps you claim value, not marketing” using your app’s import/export charts — that feedback loop is how solar rebates Australia stays aligned with real tariffs and DNSP behaviour.
Ready to see which rebates apply at your address? Request up to three free quotes from CEC-accredited installers on MrSolar — with STC and battery subsidy line items in writing.
Written and reviewed by Daniel (Marketplace lead, Epic Unicorn Pty Ltd). We build pages from Australian solar datasets and regulatory references, then map you to CEC-accredited installers only.
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