Battery uptake under the federal program has grown quickly, while ACCC and NETCC reporting shows why sizing, installation, and complaint handling need scrutiny.
The Clean Energy Regulator reported that more than 400,000 battery systems, representing 11.4 GWh of usable capacity, had been validated or were pending validation by mid-May 2026. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water describes the Cheaper Home Batteries Program as providing a discount of about 30 per cent, subject to the current eligibility and certificate settings.
NETCC data needs precise language
The New Energy Tech Consumer Code quarterly report for January to March 2026 recorded:
| Measure | January to March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Retailer applications | 189 |
| Applications unsuccessful | 7 per cent |
| Compliance cases opened | 251 |
| Compliance cases closed | 183 |
| Investigations resulting in compliance action | 42 |
| Suspensions or expulsions | None |
Applications are not the same as new Approved Sellers, and cases are not all proven breaches. The figures show the volume of oversight activity, not a finding against every business involved.
NETCC maintains a separate current compliance page for suspensions, expulsions, reinstatements, and other actions. That page can change after a quarterly report closes and should be checked before describing a seller's current status.
ACCC reports increased with uptake
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reported a 107 per cent increase in contacts about home batteries over the preceding 12 months. The issues described by the regulator included:
- systems that were unsuitable for the household
- faulty products or installation work
- delayed installations
- poor system performance
- difficulty obtaining a response or remedy
The ACCC figure covers reports received, not final findings that every complaint was substantiated. It is still a useful warning about the points where rapid market growth can place pressure on advice, delivery, and after-sales systems.
Approved Seller status carries obligations at every stage
Perth Solar Warehouse and PSW Energy hold separate entries on the NETCC Approved Seller register. That status creates obligations at the retail, installation, and complaint-handling stages.
Practical controls include:
- base system advice on the property's usage, tariffs, solar production, export settings, and customer objective
- explain assumptions, limitations, expected installation timing, and required site work in writing
- keep product, installation, commissioning, and certificate evidence attached to the job record
- acknowledge complaints and move them through a documented owner and response path
- review recurring issues for changes to training, templates, design checks, or field controls
Customers considering a retrofit can use the adding a battery to existing solar guide. Installers and operational staff can use the WA compliance hub and the current controlled business procedures.
Primary references
- Clean Energy Regulator battery and solar growth update (opens in a new tab)
- Australian Government Cheaper Home Batteries Program (opens in a new tab)
- NETCC quarterly compliance report, January to March 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- NETCC current compliance activity (opens in a new tab)
- ACCC home battery consumer protection update (opens in a new tab)
This article distinguishes applications, reports, cases, and confirmed actions. Those terms should not be used interchangeably.
