Battery boom: Australians charge into next phase of solar revolution
However, experts warn householders that while spending thousands of dollars on a battery can dramatically cut annual power bills, it may not deliver rapid returns on investment.
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program was one of the government's key election pledges, offering a 30 per cent rebate on the purchase and installation cost of a battery from July 1.
Quote-comparison service SolarQuotes, owned by Origin Energy, reported a jump in battery inquiries in the lead-up to the scheme.
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'The volume for May was 400 per cent higher than the previous month, and about two-thirds of all quote requests are now for home batteries,' said Chris Zondanos, Origin general manager electrification.
The scheme is limited to homes with solar panels, but householders without are eligible for the discount if they install panels and a battery at the same time.
Scope for uptake is huge. Solar panels already soak up the sun on 4 million of the nation's 11 million homes. But just 250,000 have batteries.
Battery installation company 1komma5 provided the discount to customers before the scheme kicked in. It can now claim the money back from the government.
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