Australia’s home battery market is growing quickly. WATTever surveyed 251 Australian households with home battery storage about their electricity plans and their attitudes toward energy retailers.
To understand what matters we asked battery owners about their setups, current plan, how their battery is controlled, and what they would like to see from energy providers. Battery owners made one thing very clear: they’ve made a significant investment and want it to pay off. Many feel that electricity plans should be providing more to owners with home storage than is currently on offer.
About the Battery Homes We Surveyed
Before diving into the results, it’s worth looking at the mix of battery households that responded:- 30% installed their battery more than three years ago.
- 36% installed their battery between one and three years ago.
- 34% installed their battery since 1 July 2025, when the federal battery rebate commenced.
Battery systems are getting much larger.
Battery size has shifted significantly over the past few years. Among households that installed batteries more than three years ago:- Nearly 60% had systems of 10–19 kWh.
- 28% had batteries of 10 kWh or less.
- 26% installed batteries between 20–29 kWh.
- 36% installed batteries larger than 30 kWh.
The reasons households install batteries.
Overall, the motivations for installing batteries remain remarkably consistent.- Reducing electricity bills.
- Storing excess solar generation.
- Backup power during outages.
What electricity plans do battery households choose?
Battery households are using a wide range of electricity plans. Across respondents:- 24% were on solar plans with higher feed-in tariffs.
- 20% were still on a standard electricity plan.
- 19% had selected a wholesale or market-linked offer.
Small batteries (<10 kWh)
- 32% standard plans.
- 24% solar plans.
- 18% EV or free-period plans.
Medium batteries (10–29 kWh)
- 28% solar plans.
- 22% standard plans.
- 17% wholesale market offers.
Large batteries (30+ kWh)
- 33% wholesale market offers.
- 24% EV or free-period plans.
- 13% battery-specific plans with higher evening feed-in tariffs.
What battery households want from energy retailers.
Respondents told us they’ve invested significant effort and money into adding storage, and they want that investment to pay off. They made their decision based on energy price signals such as feed-in tariffs, usage rates, and supply charges. For some, there is a feeling of frustration that the goalposts keep moving. “I have as much as possible electrified my house, but I don’t seem to win this battle.” Here’s what battery households told us what they were looking for from retailers,Higher and fairer feed-in tariffs.
The strongest theme in the responses was frustration about falling feed-in tariffs. Many respondents feel compensation for exported electricity is declining and often unfair, particularly after investing heavily in solar and battery systems. They are seeing declining daytime feed-in tariffs approaching zero, coupled with caps or limits on export payments, and higher usage rates on solar plans. Many also recognise a large gap between the price retailers pay for feed-in tariffs and the price households pay for electricity. There is a feeling that retailers profit excessively from exported energy. “Less ripping us off by charging more for adjacent peak electricity costs.” Households that previously banked on the value of their unused daytime solar, effectively cancelling out fixed supply charges, find they can no longer do this. “My feed-in rebate used to pay for my daily charge… now I’m getting small bills.” “I have to feed in 30 kWh every day just to make up for the supply charge” Some respondents recognise that the opportunity for higher rewards is now available during peak evening exports, enabling them to achieve “Fair prices for exports, especially when exporting battery power during peak times”. For some, things are working well. “I run my fully electric home, including charging my EV, and I make money on top of all that. I’ve made a significant capital investment over several tranches, and before a lot of the more recent government incentives, and the Amber model has made all that investment worthwhile.” However, not every household has the storage capacity, system compatibility, or inclination to do this. “My Sonnen installation is not recognised by any electricity retailer for coupling to a VVP.” “Wasting my time feeding the grid at night. Why wear my battery out for the energy providers? I’ve only got one battery.” “I have no interest in VPP plans or plans with feed-in bonuses during the evening. My system is designed mainly for self-sufficiency and for regional living outage protection.”Lower connection charges.
The second most common concern relates to fixed supply charges. Battery households dramatically reduce the amount of electricity they import from the grid — but daily network charges remain unchanged. There is a sense that these are unfair, given their reduced reliance on the grid. “Better feed-in tariffs and lower network access costs. We use virtually no grid power but still pay high access charges.” “If I’m propping up their failing infrastructure with my solar and battery… I should not be charged when I need to access the grid.” Some respondents suggested removing supply charges entirely, while others said they were actively considering disconnecting from the grid. “In a perfect world, I would like not to be charged a supply fee unless there is actually a supply.” “We only use electricity from the grid a few times a year – the grid is an insurance policy for the times when solar generation is low.“ “The sooner I can devise a way of telling them all to get stuffed and let them have their stinking grid.”Fairness and transparency.
Another recurring theme was fairness, simplicity and transparency. Battery households expressed frustration with confusing demand charges and a lack of transparency regarding offers and billing. It should be easy to understand all costs and charges with confidence. “I want a fair, plain-English electricity plan that doesn’t require a law or maths degree to understand.” “Simple plan that shows daily supply, import price and export price — that’s it.” I’d like a “VPP option that is easy to understand and good value.” Households told us they want a “fair balance between grid consumption and feed-in prices” along with “transparency, reliability and responsible practices”.Better tariffs for battery charging and energy flexibility.
Many respondents said they want tariffs that reward flexible energy use. Access to cheap or free electricity periods — particularly in the middle of the day — can help households charge batteries or electric vehicles and manage seasonal solar shortfalls. “This works well with 3 hours filling my battery and charging my car for free. These kinds of plans are a cheat code.” “Ways to intelligently use the battery at the best times. I like the Globird zerohero setup.” (plan includes a daytime zero cent window)Greater control over battery operation
Battery management is an area where households take different approaches.- 49% control their battery themselves via an app.
- 17% use automated optimisation software.
- 13% rely on their installer’s configuration.
- 11% have their retailer control it
Virtual Power Plants: proceed with caution.
Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) are often promoted as a key part of Australia’s future electricity system. But battery households remain cautious. Around 30% of respondents were open or neutral to a VPP or retailer-controlled battery arrangement. However, most raised concerns about:- Lack of transparency about how the battery is used.
- Loss of control
- Uncertain financial benefits
- Clear limits on battery discharge
- Fair payment for battery use The ability to override events or opt out.
Customer service and reliability still matter.
Although raised less frequently, some respondents emphasised the importance of customer service, support, and reliable apps. Several noted that some retailers now offer little or no phone support, making it difficult to resolve issues with batteries or solar systems. “access to phone support !! there isn’t any !!!”Looking for a long-term partner
Some households said they are tired of their plan constantly shifting. “Every time I do something to reduce my bills, the electricity retailers change their rates and T&Cs.” Some respondents said they would prefer a stable, long-term relationship with a retailer offering fair pricing. “I want a retailer that is for the long term and offers fair prices that suit my situation. I have had to change retailers almost every 12 months due to big increases after 12 months.” Others were more pragmatic. “Happy with my plan. If they change things drastically, I’ll just go elsewhere.”The features that battery households value most
We asked battery owners which features matter most in a battery-friendly electricity plan. The top responses were:- The ability to control their battery themselves.
- Smart automation that works in their favour.
- Access to cheap or free off-peak electricity.
- Consistently low bills with no surprises
The bottom line
Battery households are personally invested in the energy transition. They’ve spent significant time and money installing solar and storage systems — and are looking for retailers that support that decision, including.- Fair prices for exported electricity.
- Lower fixed connection costs.
- Tariffs that reward flexible energy use.
- Greater control over how their battery operates.
