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Qualified seniors are getting rejected from energy loans by government—what's happening?

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Qualified seniors are getting rejected from energy loans by government—what's happening?

  • Maan
  • By Maan
1757037102813.png Qualified seniors are getting rejected from energy loans by government—what's happening?
WA seniors face hurdles accessing solar battery rebates. Image source: Pexels/Kindel Media | Disclaimer: This is a stock image used for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual person, item, or event described.

John Wootton thought the timing could not have been better when he heard about Western Australia's new solar battery rebate scheme.


He and his wife had been planning to add battery storage to their existing solar system, and now the government was offering generous rebates plus interest-free loans to make it happen.


Excitement quickly turned to frustration when the promise of support collided with unexpected obstacles.





In this article


The WA Battery Scheme and What It Offers


The WA Residential Battery Scheme appeared straightforward on paper: eligible households could reduce energy bills and store solar energy through rebates of up to $3,800 and optional interest-free loans of up to $10,000 for home battery systems.


For the Woottons of Warnbro, the scheme seemed tailor-made—they had a solid credit history, an unencumbered home, income from Australian and UK pensions plus superannuation, and John's casual employment at Murdoch University.


Despite ticking all the expected boxes, their application through Plenti—the Sydney-based administrator appointed by the WA Government—was rejected with no clear explanation.




'Part-pensioners like us will need to utilise credit cards or other high-interest means to join the scheme. This is despite the Government effectively endorsing the behaviour of this company'

John Wootton, Warnbro resident




Systemic Barriers for Seniors


The rejection illustrates a troubling trend across Australia’s financial services sector, where retirees with stable incomes and substantial assets increasingly encounter barriers when accessing credit, effectively treating them as second-class applicants despite their financial reliability.


Federal Age Discrimination Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald confirmed the problem stretches beyond solar batteries, noting that there are growing concerns by seniors that their financial needs, as they live longer, are not being properly considered by financial institutions.


He added that such discrimination can be 'possibly unlawful, depending on the circumstances'—a stark warning for a demographic controlling significant wealth yet facing systemic hurdles in accessing essential financial products.





How the WA Battery Scheme Works


Understanding the WA Battery Scheme clarifies what seniors stand to lose, with the government planning to expand support to up to 100,000 households, making it one of the country’s largest clean energy initiatives.


Rebates for home batteries in Western Australia vary depending on the electricity provider and battery size. ABC News reports that the WA Residential Battery Scheme, which launched on 1 July, provides a state rebate of up to $1,300 and access to an interest-free $10,000 loan for eligible households. Western Australians can combine this state rebate with a federal rebate of up to $5,000, although the federal incentive will reduce in value from 1 January 2026.


On the other hand, according to the WA Government website, the scheme works alongside the Federal Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program. For a 10kWh battery, applicants may be eligible for a combined rebate of $5,000 for Synergy customers and $7,500 for Horizon Power customers.





WA Battery Scheme Quick Facts


Rebates: Up to $3,800 (Horizon Power customers) or $1,300 (Synergy customers)


Interest-free loans: Up to $10,000 for qualifying households


Income threshold: Under $210,000 combined household income


Target: Support for 100,000 battery installations


Administrator: Plenti Pty Ltd


VPP participation: Mandatory for all recipients





Virtual Power Plants: The Hidden Requirement


A critical requirement—participation in a Virtual Power Plant (VPP)—was not widely publicised, requiring eligible households to allow their batteries to be remotely coordinated during peak demand and sell stored energy back to the grid, with payments around $200 per year for a 15 kWh battery.


While this model benefits both participants and the state’s renewable energy goals, it assumes households can first access financing—a hurdle for many seniors.



When Good Credit Isn’t Enough


John Wootton’s rejection exemplifies a Catch-22 faced by retirees, as Plenti’s algorithm deemed his application unsuitable despite proof of unencumbered property and multiple income streams.


When he escalated the case, the company replied: 'Disclosing precise reasons for loan decisions may undermine the integrity of the scheme, as such information could potentially be used to circumvent the credit assessment process in future applications.'




A Broader Issue for Seniors


Margaret Walsh, national president of Australian Independent Retirees, said the issue extends beyond clean energy programs, with members reporting difficulties accessing credit from other utilities including phone, power, and gas providers.


Algorithmic lending has introduced new forms of discrimination, often penalising seniors with stable financial positions.


With more than 531,000 solar installations in WA, excluding seniors on the basis of automated credit decisions threatens both household participation and the government’s renewable energy targets.



Did you know?


Did You Know Seniors control a significant portion of Australia's wealth but face increasing barriers to accessing credit products, despite having stable income and substantial property assets.




Recourse and Solutions


Seniors seeking recourse have several options, including requesting written rejection reasons, escalating through internal dispute processes, checking credit reports, and gathering comprehensive financial documentation.


External support is available through the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, the Australian Human Rights Commission, financial counsellors, or local MPs.


Alternative financing options include vendor financing, personal loans from credit unions, solar-specific lending products, or peer-to-peer platforms.




Key Takeaways



  • Document all communications with lenders and keep comprehensive records

  • Age alone cannot legally justify loan rejection in most circumstances

  • Government-backed schemes should be accessible to all eligible participants regardless of age

  • Alternative financing options exist even if mainstream lenders reject your application

  • You have legal recourse if you believe age discrimination has occurred




Looking Forward


The WA Battery Scheme remains a forward-thinking policy with potential to deliver around 1 GWh of distributed storage if fully accessed, but good intentions falter when implementation barriers prevent eligible seniors from participating.


Requiring private contractors to provide clear rejection explanations and demonstrate fair credit criteria could help overcome these obstacles.



What This Means For You


Seniors with solid finances are increasingly being excluded from government-backed energy financing due to opaque credit assessments, leaving many feeling frustrated and overlooked despite their financial stability.


The WA Battery Scheme adds another layer of complexity by requiring participation in Virtual Power Plants, which can make accessing support even more daunting for households unfamiliar with this technology.


Algorithmic lending decisions may inadvertently discriminate against retirees, treating stable income and substantial assets as risk factors rather than strengths.


Fortunately, multiple recourse options exist for those affected, including lodging formal complaints, exploring alternative financing solutions, and engaging in political advocacy to challenge unfair rejections.


This highlights a critical issue: even financially responsible seniors are not guaranteed access to programs designed to benefit them, and staying informed and proactive is essential to protecting both their clean energy investments and their rights.







Have you or someone you know been denied a government-backed energy loan despite being financially qualified?

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How typical: if you've paid taxes all your working life and made provision for your retirement, you're not entitled to any financial assistance. Even when such assistance will help Australia achieve 'net zero' emissions!
 
the government giveth, the government taketh away. Blessed is the name of the government.

Gross change: 0. Net change - more bureaucratic fiddling and expense. Whoopee!
 
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Reactions: Ricci and siameezer
I have a 20kw battery backup on order.
I qualified for the $5,000 federal subsidy but decided to give applying for the WA state govt subsidy a miss after the solar company explained to me the fact that for the $1300 subsidy offered you had to sign a contract with Synergy allowing them to draw off your stored power, for which in return they paid you some miserly amount, nothing like what they charge. I'm not going to install batteries so Synergy can help themselves when they feel like it.
I managed to get a good deal with the company that installed my solar system last year.
For $6,650 I will have a 20kw battery which also includes the back up in case of black outs.
As there is only myself and my daughter I'm hopeful of nil power bills.
Am in the process of getting a new electric stove and this will then mean I will no longer need to buy gas bottles, which were costing me almost $200 delivered. Recently replaced my old gas hot water system with an electric heat pump which operate very economically

This should make my yearly budget a fair bit less and maybe even increase my yearly savings goal. I hope.
 
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I have had my energy rates changed, power up from .53c per kw to .57c per kw, $75 gov. rebate removed, solar rebate down from .49c kw to .2c kw, am beginning to think solar is not worth having.
 
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Solar is not worth having. It is just a big con job.
 
Solar is not worth having. It is just a big con job.
I don't know about that. My power bills have been negligible for years.
My step daughter thought the same as you, but she wasn't using them properly.
 
I don't know about that. My power bills have been negligible for years.
My step daughter thought the same as you, but she wasn't using them properly.
By the time you take out the government rebates, there is no way that it will pay for itself. The rebates are paid for by the taxpayer.
 
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By the time you take out the government rebates, there is no way that it will pay for itself. The rebates are paid for by the taxpayer.
Well I've been a taxpayer all my life, so I'm happy to get the rebate. My solar system was $3,199 and my 20kw battery $6,650, so just under $10,000. My son has the same. They are a family of 5 and have no bills. As there is only me and my daughter, we should get a payback each year.
I used to budget around $3,000 a year for gas and electricity so it should have the system paid off in less than 4 years.
As well as that it adds considerable value to the property.
 
Well I've been a taxpayer all my life, so I'm happy to get the rebate. My solar system was $3,199 and my 20kw battery $6,650, so just under $10,000. My son has the same. They are a family of 5 and have no bills. As there is only me and my daughter, we should get a payback each year.
I used to budget around $3,000 a year for gas and electricity so it should have the system paid off in less than 4 years.
As well as that it adds considerable value to the property.
May I ask if you are in Sydney and if so where did you get your battery from please? We got solar recently and possibly looking at installing a battery, depending on cost and if it's worth it. Thank you
 
May I ask if you are in Sydney and if so where did you get your battery from please? We got solar recently and possibly looking at installing a battery, depending on cost and if it's worth it. Thank you
Good evening, Sorry about the late reply.
I'm actually in Wagin. WA but I am getting my batteries from Sunboost who are actually based in NSW.
I did get a good deal from them as I bought my panels from them, but can't see why you couldn't get the same deal.
Worth a try.
I got a 20kw battery set up, including blackout backup up for $6553. Other quotes were a fair bit higher.
 
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Good evening, Sorry about the late reply.
I'm actually in Wagin. WA but I am getting my batteries from Sunboost who are actually based in NSW.
I did get a good deal from them as I bought my panels from them, but can't see why you couldn't get the same deal.
Worth a try.
I got a 20kw battery set up, including blackout backup up for $6553. Other quotes were a fair bit higher.
Thank you so much :)
 

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