Homeowners take desperate measures to slash bills as electricity costs surge

Sydney households are increasingly turning to home batteries to combat soaring electricity costs, as expired government rebates leave families facing hundreds of dollars in additional annual expenses. New research from Green.com.au using ABS Energy Account data reveals government rebates paid 22.4 per cent of household electricity bills in 2024 to 2025, more than double the share a year earlier, at a cost of $5.5 billion. Universal rebates ended in December 2025, and the average home now pays an estimated $580 a year more than in 2024-25. The findings showed electricity prices rose 12.8 per cent in the year to September 2026, which the ABS attributed largely to the end of Commonwealth rebates. Energy solutions provider VoltX has seen a sharp 350 per cent increase in households inquiring about a home battery installation before the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program discount falls by 16 per cent (or around $900) from January 2027. For Horsley Park resident David Sellen, investing in home batteries has transformed his electricity bill. With up to 12 people in the home when extended family visits, his bills had been sky high at nearly $4000 a year. MORE: Landlord hits tenant with ...