Batteries are getting cheaper every year, but they're still a significant investment. The honest answer to 'is it worth it?' depends on your electricity rate, feed-in tariff, usage patterns, and whether you can access a state rebate. Here's the full breakdown.
The Simple Maths
A battery saves you the difference between your electricity rate and your feed-in tariff, multiplied by how much stored energy you actually use. For example: if you pay 30c/kWh for grid power and receive 5c/kWh for exports, each kWh shifted by the battery saves you 25c. A 10kWh battery doing one full cycle per day saves roughly $2.50/day or $912/year. At a cost of $8,000–$10,000 installed, that's an 8.5–11 year payback without rebates.
State-by-State Verdict
South Australia (36c/kWh rates + battery rebate) and Victoria ($8,800 battery rebate) are the clearest winners for batteries. The ACT's 0% interest loans remove the upfront barrier entirely. In Queensland and NSW, batteries make financial sense mainly for homes with high evening usage and low feed-in tariffs. Tasmania and NT are marginal cases — the maths improves if you have specific needs like blackout protection.
The Non-Financial Benefits
Not everything comes down to payback period. Batteries provide blackout protection (essential in bushfire and storm-prone areas), energy independence from the grid, the ability to ride through peak pricing periods, and the satisfaction of near-zero grid reliance. For many homeowners, these benefits justify the investment even if the pure financial payback is longer than ideal.
Our Verdict
If you're in SA or VIC with access to state rebates, a battery is increasingly a no-brainer. For other states, the decision depends on your priorities — financially, solar panels alone still deliver faster ROI. But battery prices are falling 10–15% annually, so if you're on the fence, the maths will look even better next year. Our scorecard gives you a personalised battery recommendation based on your specific situation.