Originally published: Great Lakes Advocate, 23 June 2025
Almost one in every three Australians feels overwhelmed by the process of choosing and installing solar batteries even as demand for the technology grows in the lead-up to a national rebate scheme.
More than half of all Australians are also put off by the cost of the technology, a study has found, despite falling prices and low-interest loans.
The Commonwealth Bank and finance firm Brighte released the findings on Monday while launching a Home Energy Upgrades Service designed to provide advice and quotes for households investigating energy upgrades.
Their announcement comes one week before Energy Minister Chris Bowen launches the federal government’s $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program that promises to deliver a discount of 30 per cent on the cost of installing a battery.
Despite the rebate, a survey of more than 2000 Australians conducted by Pureprofile found 30 per cent felt overwhelmed by the process of having a battery installed and 52 per cent considered the up-front cost too high.
