ACT Sustainable Household Scheme Changes July 2026

Three changes to the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme are coming on July 1st 2026. The major one raises the Home Energy Loan cap to $20,000, so if you’ve been putting off a home battery, this helps cover one.

The updates will also tighten EV eligibility and add e-cargo bikes to the scheme. 

One thing that still trips people up: solar panels aren’t covered. The changes to the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme 2026 didn’t bring them back.

What are the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme changes from 1 July 2026?

Three things change on 1 July:

• New participants can borrow up to $20,000, up from $15,000. Existing customers stay capped at $15,000.
• The EV price threshold drops to $60,000, so some dearer models no longer qualify.
• Electric cargo bikes join the scheme from September 2026, with the final rules still being confirmed.

What is the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme?

The ACT Sustainable Household Scheme is a low-cost loan program that helps Canberra households pay for energy-saving upgrades. It offers a 3% fixed rate loan with up to a 10 year repayment term and no upfront fees, so you can spread the cost of a big upgrade over time.

The ACT Sustainable Household Scheme eligible products now include:

• Battery storage
• EV chargers
• Reverse cycle heating and cooling
• Hot water heat pumps
• Electric stovetops
• Ceiling insulation

You apply through an approved installer rather than directly, and you attend a short workshop first. The scheme supports home electrification across Canberra suburbs and the ACT’s plan to reach net zero emissions by 2045.

ACT Sustainable Household Scheme solar exclusion: is solar still covered?

Solar panels are no longer eligible under the standard scheme. They were removed in 2025, so you can no longer borrow for panels the way you once could. If you are wondering why solar panels are excluded from the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme, the short answer is that the scheme has shifted its focus toward storage and electrification, where the grid now needs the most help.

There is one exception. Concession card holders can still access solar support through the ACT Home Energy Support Program, which offers a zero-interest loan of up to $10,000 plus a rebate of up to $5,000. For everyone else, solar panels are excluded, even though batteries that store solar power are firmly in.

Can I still get a battery under the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme?

Yes. Battery storage is one of the most popular upgrades in the scheme, and demand has climbed fast. Battery applications jumped from around 10% of all applications to more than half in a single year.

The old $15,000 cap often forced a compromise on size. The ACT Sustainable Household Scheme $20,000 loan changes that. The extra headroom lets you size a battery to match your evening usage and add an EV charger under the same loan. A Sigenergy SigenStor battery is a strong fit here, and it pairs neatly with a home EV charger for households that drive electric. A Canberra battery storage loan in 2026 can now stretch across both.

How could a battery help your power bill?

Picture a Canberra home charging its battery from rooftop solar through the day, then running the fridge, lights and heating from stored power all evening. That shifts one of your biggest daily loads off the most expensive part of the day.

A battery also keeps the essentials running during a blackout, so a storm no longer means a dark, cold house. Pair the scheme loan with the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program rebate and the upfront cost drops further again.

How do you get started?

The scheme runs through approved installers, not direct applications, and you attend a short workshop first. The simplest path is to have a system designed around your home and budget, then apply with those numbers ready.

Frequently Asked Questions