NSW Home Energy Saver Program 2026: Loans, Discounts and Eligibility Explained

The NSW Government has introduced the Home Energy Saver Program to help households reduce energy bills and make home energy upgrades more affordable.

The program is designed to support eligible NSW homeowners who want to improve their home with energy-saving upgrades such as solar panels, battery storage, heat pump hot water systems, reverse-cycle air conditioning, insulation, EV chargers and more.

There are two main types of financial support available:

1. A zero-interest loan of up to $15,000

2. An upfront discount of up to $4,000

These are two separate parts of the program. Some households may be eligible for one, while others may be eligible for both.

What is the NSW Home Energy Saver Program?

The Home Energy Saver Program helps NSW households lower electricity bills, improve home comfort and make better use of clean energy.

For many homeowners, the biggest challenge with solar, batteries or other energy-efficient upgrades is the upfront cost. This program helps reduce that pressure by allowing eligible households to upgrade their home now and repay the cost over time.

The program can support a wide range of upgrades, including solar power, battery storage, efficient hot water systems, insulation and other home energy improvements.

Zero-Interest Loans of up to $15,000

The main part of the program is the zero-interest loan.

Eligible households may be able to apply for a loan of up to $15,000 to help pay for approved energy-saving upgrades.

This means you may be able to install solar, batteries or other eligible systems without paying the full amount upfront.

The loan can help cover upgrades such as:

Solar panel systems

The loan is designed to make energy upgrades more affordable by spreading the cost over time.

Who Can Apply for the Loan?

To qualify for the zero-interest loan, applicants need to meet the main eligibility requirements.

You may be eligible if:

Your property is located in NSW

You are an Australian citizen or permanent resident

Your combined taxable household income is up to $210,000 per year

You own the property as an owner-occupier or landlord

The upgrade uses an approved eligible technology

The program is mainly for privately owned residential properties. Social housing, community housing and short-stay accommodation properties are not eligible.

Upfront Discounts of up to $4,000

The program also includes upfront discounts of up to $4,000.

This discount is separate from the loan.

The discount is expected to be more targeted toward lower-income households and eligible concession card holders.

You may be eligible for a discount if:

Your household income is up to $80,000 per year

or

Someone in your household holds an eligible concession card

The discount can reduce the cost of your upgrade before the loan is applied.

Can You Get Both the Discount and the Loan?

Yes, some households may be eligible for both.

This is an important point.

If you qualify for the $4,000 discount, you may also be eligible for a zero-interest loan of up to $15,000, as long as your taxable household income is up to $210,000 per year.

If you want to apply for both the discount and the loan on the same purchase, it is recommended that you wait and apply for the discount first.

This is because the discount may reduce the total amount you need to borrow.

Eligible Energy Upgrades

The Home Energy Saver Program supports many different home energy upgrades.

Eligible upgrades include:

Solar PV systems

This means the program is not just for solar panels. It can help homeowners plan a complete home energy upgrade.

Finance Providers: Plenti and Brighte

The two finance providers for the program are:

Plenti

Brighte

These finance providers manage the loan application process. They assess eligibility and arrange payment to approved suppliers once the installation is completed.

How to Apply

The application process is simple, but it is important to follow the correct steps.

First, check whether you are eligible. Then decide which energy upgrade is right for your home.

Next, contact an approved supplier and request a quote. Once you choose your upgrade, the approved supplier will provide a referral so you can apply for the loan through one of the finance providers.

If your application is approved, you accept the loan agreement, complete the installation and begin repayments after the upgrade has been installed and confirmed.

You should apply before installation begins, because only approved upgrades completed through the correct program process will qualify.

Tips Before You Apply

Check if you can get a discount and a loan

If you’re eligible for a discount, you may also be eligible for a zero-interest loan of up to $15,000 if you have a taxable household income of up to $210,000 a year.

If you would like to apply for a discount and loan on the same purchase, it is recommended you wait and apply for the discount first.

There are two finance providers:

Plenti

Brighte

Final Summary

The NSW Home Energy Saver Program gives eligible NSW households a practical way to reduce the upfront cost of home energy upgrades.

With zero-interest loans of up to $15,000 and upfront discounts of up to $4,000, the program can help make solar, batteries, heat pump hot water, insulation, EV chargers and other upgrades more affordable.

For NSW homeowners, this could be a great opportunity to lower energy bills, improve home comfort and prepare for a cleaner energy future.