The WA Residential Battery Scheme launched on July 1 2025, alongside the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program, delivering subsidised battery storage to Western Australian households. For McKercher Corporation’s retail brands, participation requires scheme-specific accreditation, registration, and compliance criteria that sit on top of existing NETCC and industry requirements.
This post consolidates those requirements into a single reference for staff and industry participants.
The scheme at a glance
The WA Residential Battery Scheme provides rebates and no-interest loans to eligible WA households installing battery energy storage systems. It is administered through Plenti (the scheme’s financial partner) and operates within the Synergy service area for most metropolitan Perth customers.
The scheme complements the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program rather than replacing it. A household can access both the federal STC discount and the WA state rebate, provided the installation meets each program’s eligibility criteria independently.
The federal program sets baseline battery eligibility (5kWh to 100kWh nominal capacity, VPP capability, AS/NZS 5139 compliance). The WA scheme adds state-specific layers on top: retailer accreditation, installer criteria, and Synergy registration requirements.
Retailer accreditation
From 1 July 2025, all vendors must hold NETCC Approved Seller status. This is a firm eligibility gate. Retailers without it cannot register for the scheme, regardless of market position or installation history. McKercher Corporation’s retail brands hold NETCC accreditation, satisfying this requirement.
Beyond NETCC status, retailers must:
1. Pass due diligence checks verifying business standing, insurance, and complaint history.
2. Complete scheme-specific training covering eligibility criteria, customer disclosure obligations, and the rebate application process. Separate from product or installation training.
3. Register with Plenti as an accredited vendor. Plenti has published a Vendor Accreditation Guide covering the no-interest loan component and its financial product distribution standards.
4. Register with Synergy as specified in Synergy’s Installation Handbook. Mandatory for customers in the Synergy service area.
Retailers must ensure every installation uses an installer who independently meets the scheme’s installer criteria. The retailer carries responsibility for installer compliance.
Installer criteria
Installers must hold Grid Connected Battery System (GCBS) accreditation through Solar Accreditation Australia. This is separate from standard solar PV accreditation and specifically covers battery storage design and installation.
The criteria include:
- Current WA electrical contractor’s licence with a WA business address.
- GCBS accreditation via Solar Accreditation Australia.
- Compliance with SAA’s daily installation limit: no more than two SRES-eligible installations per installer per day.
- Full compliance with photographic evidence requirements (in effect from 1 March 2026), including geotagged, time-stamped images of critical labelling, meter boxes, switchboards, and battery systems.
For McKercher Corporation installation teams, GCBS accreditation and photo evidence requirements are already embedded in commissioning procedures. The daily installation limit aligns with existing scheduling protocols for quality-focused delivery.
Interaction with the federal program
The WA scheme and the federal CHBP operate on parallel but distinct eligibility tracks.
Where they align:
- Battery nominal capacity between 5kWh and 100kWh.
- STCs claimable only for the first 50kWh of usable capacity.
- Battery installed with a solar PV system (grid-only storage is not eligible).
- Inverter connected to the battery must be VPP-capable.
- Existing solar PV system must meet state electrical safety requirements.
Where the WA scheme adds requirements:
- NETCC Approved Seller status for the retailer.
- Synergy registration.
- Compliance with Synergy’s DER Functionality Requirements, including CSIP-AUS commissioning from 1 May 2026.
- WA Consumer Protection Act obligations supplementing federal ACL requirements.
STC factor changes from May 2026: The federal program shifts from annual to six-monthly STC factor reductions at a higher rate than the previous schedule. This directly affects the value of the battery STC discount available to customers. Quotes must reflect the STC factor applicable at expected installation date, not at quoting date.
Consumer protection obligations
Energy Policy WA and WA Consumer Protection have issued direct warnings to the industry about compliance with advertising and sales practices.
Key obligations:
- Advertising must match the released scheme information. Do not advertise rebate amounts, loan terms, or eligibility that have not been officially confirmed. “Up to” claims require a reasonable basis.
- No misrepresentation of government involvement. The scheme is government-backed, but sales communications must not imply government endorsement of specific products, retailers, or installers.
- Clear total cost disclosure. The no-interest loan is a financial product subject to responsible lending obligations. Repayment structure, fees, and default consequences must be explained clearly.
- STC discount is not a “government rebate.” Small-scale Technology Certificates are tradeable certificates created under a federal market mechanism. The STC discount at the point of sale reflects the certificate market value assigned by the customer to an agent. This is distinct from the WA state rebate, which is a direct government subsidy. Conflating the two is misleading and a compliance risk under ACL.
McKercher Corporation’s ISO 9001 framework already requires documentation of claims made during the sales process. All scheme-related communications, verbal or written, must align with the current published scheme terms.
Key resources
Resource | Source |
|---|---|
WA Residential Battery Scheme industry information | wa.gov.au |
Plenti Vendor Accreditation Guide | Plenti |
Synergy Installation Handbook | Synergy |
Solar Accreditation Australia GCBS requirements | solaraccreditation.com.au |
CER battery STC calculator | cer.gov.au |
Photographic evidence requirements (March 2026) | Clean Energy Regulator |
What McKercher Corporation is doing
Perth Solar Warehouse and PSW Energy have completed Plenti vendor accreditation and Synergy registration. NETCC Approved Seller status was confirmed ahead of the 1 October 2025 eligibility date.
Internal quoting tools are being updated to reflect May 2026 STC factor changes and to ensure customer-facing documents distinguish between the WA state rebate, the federal STC discount, and any no-interest loan components.
Installation teams hold current GCBS accreditation and have updated commissioning workflows for the March 2026 photographic evidence requirements. CSIP-AUS commissioning capability is being validated ahead of 1 May 2026.
Source: WA Government — Energy Policy WA; Plenti; Synergy; Clean Energy Regulator; Solar Accreditation Australia.
