Jun 16, 2026 – 11.59pmThe Minns government will offer zero-interest loans of up to $15,000 for households that install power-saving technologies, including batteries, solar and insulation, under a NSW government plan to slash bills and boost the clean energy rollout.The 10-year loans will apply to a wide range of household energy upgrades such as draught-proofing, reverse-cycle air conditioning, ceiling fans and switchboard upgrades, which reduce power bills and the strain on the grid by using electricity more efficiently.NSW will offer $15,000 zero interest loans to households that install solar and batteries. Bryan CookThe loans will be available from Wednesday, but will be restricted to households earning less than $210,000 a year, as part of a $557 million package to be included in the state budget on June 23.A separate scheme will also offer direct $4000 subsidies for households earning less than $80,000.Australia’s uptake of consumer energy resources such as solar and batteries is among the highest in the world, with more than 400,000 homes taking advantage of a federal battery subsidy scheme over the past 12 months.The energy regulator last month said the huge growth of batteries has contributed to a 12 per cent fall in the wholesale price of power in the first three months of the year.The NSW rebates, which the government expects to be taken up by more than 32,000 homes, can be combined with federal subsidies, potentially reducing the upfront installation costs to zero for some average-sized systems.NSW Premier Chris Minns said the loans would provide practical help for families facing cost-of-living challenges.“For many households, the upfront cost of these upgrades has simply been too high,” he said. “We’re stepping in to help where we can, so more families can access technology that lowers their bills and makes their homes more comfortable.”More than 4 million households have installed solar panels on their rooftops over the past 20 years, which has transformed the national electricity grid and expedited the closure of several coal-fired power stations.Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen last week backed a new push to electrify 35 per cent of the world’s energy use by 2035, as part of his United Nations role as the world’s top climate negotiator.Just over half of all standalone homes in NSW are equipped with rooftop solar panels, and 13,000 new batteries are installed each month, the state government said.The zero-interest loans will be a centrepiece of next week’s NSW state budget.David McElrea, chief executive of the Smart Energy Council, which lobbies on behalf of the solar and battery industry, said the program was a win for households looking to take control of their energy bills.“Helping lower-income earners and renters to overcome the cost barrier to modernising their homes with smart solar, batteries, efficient cooling and heating is the fastest way to permanently drive down household expenses while building a more resilient grid.”Ryan Cropp is an energy and climate reporter at The Australian Financial Review based in the Canberra bureau.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles