NSW Home Energy Saver Explained: Interest-Free Solar and Battery Loans

If you're in NSW and weighing up solar or a battery, there's a new state government program worth knowing about before you get a quote. Here's what Home Energy Saver actually offers, what's live right now, and what's still coming.

What Is Home Energy Saver?

Home Energy Saver is a $557 million NSW Government program designed to lower the upfront cost of energy-saving home upgrades, including rooftop solar and home batteries. It has two parts: a loan, which is active now, and a discount, which hasn't opened yet. Treating these as the same thing is the most common mistake people make when researching this program, so it's worth being precise about which part you're actually eligible for.

How the Loan Works

The loan portion has been active since 17 June 2026. It has 0% interest and no fees, on amounts up to $15,000, repayable over up to 10 years. You still repay everything you borrow. The saving is entirely in the interest you don't pay, not free money.

Two approved finance providers deliver the loan: Brighte and Plenti. To qualify, you generally need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident with a combined taxable household income of $210,000 a year or less, and your property can't be social housing or used for short-stay accommodation. Both owner-occupiers and landlords can apply for the loan.

What About the Discount?

NOT YET OPEN. The discount, worth up to $4,000, is a separate part of the program and has not yet opened for applications at the time of writing. When it does, it will be available to lower-income households earning up to $80,000 per year, or households where at least one resident holds an eligible concession card. Renters will also be able to apply for the discount with their landlord's approval. For the latest updates and application status, refer to the official NSW Government Home Energy Saver page.

If you end up eligible for both, the NSW Government recommends applying for the discount first, then using the loan to cover whatever's left.

Does It Stack With Federal Solar and Battery Rebates?

In most cases, yes, but not by simply adding on top. Based on the program's loan guidelines, other incentives you're entitled to, such as the ACTIVE federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program or Small-scale Technology Certificates for solar, are applied first to bring down your system price. The loan then covers whatever balance remains, rather than stacking on the full, unreduced cost.

Practically, that means your accredited installer should be showing you a quote with the federal rebates already applied before you work out what you'd need to borrow.

What Can You Use It For?

The loan covers a fairly wide list of upgrades, not just solar and batteries:

• Rooftop solar
• Home batteries
• Heat pump hot water systems
• Solar water heaters
• Reverse cycle air conditioners
• Induction cooktops
• EV chargers
• DC ceiling fans
• Insulation
• Draught-proofing
• Window glazing
• Switchboard upgrades
• NatHERS assessments

Who's Eligible?

At a glance, for the loan specifically:

• Australian citizen or permanent resident
• Combined taxable household income of $210,000 or less
• Property is not social housing or short-stay accommodation
• Subject to the finance provider's standard credit assessment
• Available to both owner-occupiers and landlords

How to Apply

Start by checking your eligibility through the NSW Government's Home Energy Saver page. From there, get quotes from an approved seller, choose Brighte or Plenti as your finance provider, and your installer typically handles most of the paperwork alongside the loan application.

Your installer also needs to be a New Energy Tech Approved Seller to work within the program, so it's worth confirming this status before you get a quote rather than after.

If your solar or battery quote already has federal rebates applied, the loan amount you actually need to borrow will usually be smaller than the full system price, which is worth keeping in mind when you're comparing quotes between installers.

Program Status at a Glance

Key Takeaways

• Home Energy Saver has two separate parts: an active 0% interest loan, and a discount that hasn't opened yet
• The loan covers up to $15,000 over 10 years with no interest and no fees
• Eligibility for the loan is based on a $210,000 household income cap, not the lower $80,000 threshold that applies to the discount
• Federal incentives are applied to your system cost first; the loan then covers what's left
• The loan covers far more than solar and batteries, including hot water, air conditioning and insulation

Frequently Asked Questions