The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has issued a warning to retailers and installers over deceptive behaviour occurring in the rush to get batteries ahead of the May changes to the federal rebate.

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About twelve years ago, there was a quiet wave of solar company bankruptcies in Australia. They were not caused by dodgy panels, bad installs, or disappearing warranties. They were caused by tax.

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Across the country, installers are bending over backward to get systems in before the federal battery rebate reduces on May 1. Note I wrote “reduces”. The rebate is declining, not disappearing.

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The Cheaper Home Batteries Program is still booming, but long waits for installation are persisting — and it’s not because of battery stock shortages. Installers tell SolarQuotes the main bottleneck is having enough accredited workers to fit them. Inspections and approvals play a smaller role; the real limiter is installer capacity.

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In a move widely wished and wildly anticipated, Tesla have finally answered the question all Powerwall 2 owners have been asking since August 2024: surely the new Powerwall 3 is compatible with the Powerwall 2? Well yes, it is now, almost.

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Do you own a Huawei hybrid solar inverter? Are you thinking of adding or expanding your battery?

This is a call for the 40,000 odd Huawei customers who probably don’t know they need to talk to iStore.

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Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) are often marketed as “easy money” for battery owners: let your battery support the grid during peak periods and receive a small payment. Sounds simple, right?

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With debate raging about the affordable end of the battery market, a fortuitous press release hit my inbox recently.

Can you get a system that offers full backup of synchronous 3 phase loads at an affordable price point? I’m pleased to report that yes, the GoodWe ESA series has now been CEC approved and will be rolling out from late March.
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Solar battery installers will face new requirements starting in March, as Clean Energy Regulator (CER) inspections ramp up amid a surging home battery market. Nearly two-thirds of home batteries inspected to date have fallen foul of the regulator (usually related to labelling issues), with 0.9% found to be unsafe.

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Norrie is a long-time reader who just spent $8,300 on a home battery. The install looked tidy. The installers were pleasant. Then the surprises landed after they were gone. He was told only one circuit could be backed up. Not the fridge and lights together. Not the air conditioner and lights. One. He was also told that in a blackout he must go outside to the switchboard and pull a lever to get power. None of this had been mentioned beforehand. He now feels stitched up and is wondering whether he has any recourse.

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