NSW homeowners can now borrow up to $15,000 at zero interest, over up to 10 years, to pay for solar panels, a home battery or an EV charger. It is the NSW Government’s Home Energy Saver loan, and SolaXs is a NETCC approved supplier, which means we can offer it to you directly on your quote.
This page explains how the loan works, who qualifies, what it covers and how it stacks with the battery rebates that are already available. SolaXs has installed solar across the Mid North Coast for more than 25 years, and we handle the application link and paperwork for you.
Last updated: September 2026
In short: between $2,000 and $15,000, 0% interest, no establishment or account fees, repay over up to 10 years, household income up to $210,000. Applications are open now with no closing date, but the program is funded for around 32,000 households state-wide. Get a free quote from SolaXs to start your application.
What the NSW Home Energy Saver Loan Is
Home Energy Saver is a $557 million NSW Government program that launched in June 2026. It lowers the upfront cost of energy upgrades in two ways: a zero-interest loan available now, and a discount of up to $4,000 for lower-income households that opens later in 2026.
The loan is funded by the NSW Government and delivered by two finance providers, Brighte and Plenti. You apply through one of them using a link your installer gives you, and the loan agreement is between you and the lender.
- Amount: $2,000 to $15,000 per property
- Interest: 0%, fixed for the life of the loan
- Term: up to 10 years, with no penalty for paying it out early
- Fees: no establishment fee and no account-keeping fee. The only charge is a small late fee if you miss a repayment
- Availability: open now, no current closing date
Who Qualifies
The eligibility rules are simpler than most government schemes. You qualify for the loan if you meet all of the following:
- The property is in NSW
- You own the property, as an owner-occupier or a landlord
- You are an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- Your combined, taxable household income is $210,000 or less
- You pass the lender’s standard credit assessment
A few things rule you out. The property cannot be social or community housing, cannot be used for short-stay rental, and cannot already have had $15,000 of upgrades funded through a Home Energy Saver loan. Renters are not eligible for the loan, though they will be able to apply for the discount when it opens.
Landlords: you can use the loan on an investment property. A battery or solar system funded at 0% is one of the few upgrades that improves a rental’s value and lowers the tenant’s bills at the same time.
What You Can Spend It On
The loan covers the upgrade and its installation. It cannot be used for extra work your home needs to get ready, such as roof repairs, so that is always quoted separately.
The upgrades SolaXs installs that qualify are:
- Rooftop solar, up to 100kW total system size
- Home batteries over 5kWh usable capacity, VPP-capable, with a 10-year warranty
- Level 2 EV chargers
- Switchboard upgrades, which are often needed alongside a battery
The full program list also includes heat pump hot water, reverse cycle air conditioning, induction cooktops, ceiling insulation, double glazing, draught-proofing, ceiling fans and NatHERS assessments. You can spread the $15,000 across more than one upgrade.
What a 0% Loan Actually Costs You
Zero interest means the repayments are simply the loan amount divided by the number of months. There is nothing added on top. Here is what that looks like at common loan sizes over the full 10-year term:
| Loan amount | Monthly repayment over 10 years | Total interest paid |
|---|---|---|
| $8,000 | $67 | $0 |
| $10,000 | $83 | $0 |
| $12,000 | $100 | $0 |
| $15,000 | $125 | $0 |
Whether the bill saving covers the repayment depends on your usage, your tariff and the system size. For a lot of solar-and-battery homes it is close, which is why a 0% loan changes the maths: the system can be paying for itself while the loan is still running. We show the estimated saving on every quote.
Repayment figures are for illustration only. Your lender confirms the exact schedule when the loan is approved.
How It Stacks With the Battery Rebates
This is the part most people miss. The loan does not replace the battery rebates, it sits on top of them. The NSW guidelines actually require your installer to apply every other incentive you qualify for first, and then the loan covers what is left.
For a typical home battery on the Mid North Coast that means:
- The federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate comes off the price as an upfront discount
- The NSW Peak Demand Reduction Scheme incentive comes off when the battery is connected to a Virtual Power Plant
- The Home Energy Saver loan covers the remaining balance at 0%
Rebates bring the price down. The loan takes the upfront cost to zero. Our NSW solar battery rebate guide covers the rebate side in detail.
Discount plus loan: if your household income is under $80,000 or you hold a Pensioner Concession, Health Care or Veteran Gold card, you may also qualify for the $4,000 discount when it opens later this year. NSW recommends applying for the discount first, then the loan. Talk to us and we will time your install to suit.
Why the Supplier Has to Be NETCC Approved
You cannot take the loan to any installer. The program only funds upgrades bought from a supplier who is approved under the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) and accredited with the finance provider.
NETCC is a consumer protection code covering honest sales, clear quotes with no hidden costs, safe installation and proper warranty support. SolaXs is a NETCC approved supplier, and our installers hold Solar Accreditation Australia accreditation for battery design and installation, which the loan also requires.
Every battery we quote under the loan meets the program’s technical rules: Clean Energy Council approved components, more than 5kWh usable, internet-connected and VPP-ready, with a 10-year warranty. That includes the Sigenergy, Sungrow, GoodWe and BYD systems we install most often.
How to Apply Through SolaXs
The application runs through your installer, so the first step is a quote. From there:
- Get a quote. Contact SolaXs and we will design the system, whether that is a 6.6kW solar and battery package, a 10kW system with battery, or a battery added to your existing solar.
- Check your eligibility. We confirm the property, income and product requirements with you before anything is submitted.
- Apply with the lender. We send you a Home Energy Saver application link for Brighte or Plenti. You supply ID, income details and your electricity NMI. The lender assesses and approves the loan.
- Install. Our SAA-accredited team installs the system, applies the rebates and registers the battery on the AEMO register as the program requires.
- Repay. Repayments start under your loan agreement. No interest, no account fees, and you can pay it out early whenever you like at no cost.
Common Questions
Can I use the loan if I already have solar? Yes. Adding a battery to an existing system is one of the most common uses, as long as the home has working solar PV when the battery goes in.
Is $15,000 enough for solar and a battery? Often, once the rebates are applied first. If the quote is higher, you pay the difference upfront or through a standard Brighte plan. We show both options on the quote.
Does the loan affect my rebates? No. The rebates are applied first and the loan funds the remainder.
Is there a deadline? NSW has not set a closing date, but the program is funded for a fixed number of households. Once the allocation is used, the loan closes.
Do you offer the loan in Tamworth and Armidale? Yes. SolaXs installs across the Mid North Coast from Port Macquarie and into New England, including Tamworth and Armidale.
Get Your Quote Before the Funding Runs Out
A 0% government loan over 10 years, stacked on top of the current battery rebates, is the best set of conditions for installing solar and a battery that NSW households have ever had. It is also a fixed pool of money.
Book a free quote with SolaXs and we will confirm your eligibility, size the system and send you the application link.