With the cost of living soaring like a cockatoo on a summer breeze, Aussies everywhere are searching for ways to hang onto more of their hard-earned cash—especially when it comes to sky-high electricity bills.

If you’ve ever opened one and felt your stomach drop, you’re not alone. But what if there was a simple way to bring those bills right down, just like one savvy tradie recently discovered?


Meet Neil Westgarth, a 58-year-old family man who was fed up watching his electricity bills balloon to a whopping $1,500 every quarter.

With a wife and teenage daughter at home, Neil knew something had to give.

'The amount of electricity these days is just ridiculous, and we had the money there, so I thought it’s gonna pay for itself in the long run,' he shared.


So, what was Neil’s secret weapon? Solar batteries.

After already having solar panels installed for five years (a 6kWh system that cost him $6,000 at the time), Neil decided to take the plunge and invest $11,000 in two home batteries, totalling 20kWh.

Thanks to a timely government rebate, the upfront cost was a little easier to swallow.


The results are nothing short of jaw-dropping. Neil’s most recent winter bill was just $240 for the quarter, and the one before that was a mere $59.

That’s a massive saving—enough to make anyone do a happy dance in the kitchen! Neil reckons the batteries will pay for themselves in about five years, and the savings are already helping him chip away at his mortgage.

Neil isn’t alone in his quest for energy independence. Since the federal government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program kicked off, Aussies have been installing home batteries in record numbers.

The scheme, which offers a 30 per cent discount on battery installation costs, is part of a $2.3 billion push to help households take control of their energy bills.

In July alone, nearly 20,000 solar batteries were installed across the country, with the average battery size coming in at 18.2kWh.

Demand has skyrocketed—up 390 per cent in Queensland, 315 per cent in South Australia, and 160 per cent in New South Wales compared to just a month earlier, according to battery provider VoltX Energy.


But with this surge in demand comes a new challenge: finding enough qualified installers to keep up! If you’re considering making the switch, it might pay to get in early before the tradies are booked out for months.

Government modelling suggests that if you already have rooftop solar, adding a battery could save you up to $1,100 a year.

If you’re starting from scratch with a new solar and battery system, the savings could be as high as $2,300 annually.

And for those in NSW, there’s an extra sweetener: you can claim a rebate for connecting your battery to a virtual power plant, potentially boosting your savings even further.

Neil’s experience shows that for high-usage households, the savings can be even more dramatic.

He estimates that without his solar and battery setup, his bills would have soared to $1,700 or $1,800 a quarter—ouch!


Of course, there’s a significant upfront cost. Batteries and solar panels aren’t cheap, and while rebates help, you’ll need to crunch the numbers to see if it’s worth it for your household.

Neil’s five-year payback period is pretty typical, but if your usage is lower, it might take a bit longer to break even.

There’s also the issue of finding a reputable installer. The ACCC has put the industry on notice, warning that they’ll be keeping a close eye on dodgy operators.

Their advice? Don’t rush in—take your time, do your research, and make sure you’re dealing with a company that stands by its products and services.

It’s not just about saving money. As Clean Energy Regulator executive Carl Binning points out, more batteries in Aussie homes means less pressure on the electricity grid, which can help keep prices down for everyone.

Plus, you’ll be doing your bit for the environment by making the most of the sun’s free energy.
Have you installed solar panels or batteries at your place? Are you thinking about it, or do you have questions about how it all works? We’d love to hear your experiences, tips, and even your horror stories—share them in the comments below.

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