If you’re based in NSW and connected your home battery to an eligible Virtual Power Plant this year, did you claim your state VPP rebate? Less than 50% of VPP-connected batteries have claimed their state VPP rebate of up to $1,015, leaving millions in eligible VPP rebates unclaimed.

The good news is there is still time to claim yours if you haven’t already. You can jump onto the MAC VPP eligibility checker and start today, and you could have up to $1,015 back in your bank account in less than 10 days.

If you are yet to join a VPP, you can join today and claim your VPP rebate. A VPP is just a feed-in tariff for your battery. You can sell your excess power back to the grid through a VPP connection, then charge your battery back up during the next solar window. A VPP export doesn’t leave your battery on empty. It will typically export around 80% of the stored power, leaving you with enough to get through to the next solar generation window and paying you for your service.

Since 1 July 2026, the NSW Government has introduced updates to its Virtual Power Plant (VPP) rebate, making the program accessible to more battery owners than ever before. The changes expand battery eligibility up to 50kWh and simplify the onboarding process, making it easier to claim your cashback while getting even more value from your battery.

What’s new?

Recent updates to the NSW VPP incentive are designed to help more battery owners participate.

Larger batteries are now eligible

One of the biggest improvements is that batteries with a usable capacity of up to 50kWh are now eligible for the NSW VPP incentive.

Previously, only batteries up to 28kWh qualified. While the incentive is still calculated on the first 28kWh of usable battery capacity, homeowners investing in larger battery systems can now access the program for the first time.

Did you know that the average home battery size in NSW is over 30kWh? That means that if you have a battery over 28kWh and connect to an eligible VPP, you can now claim $1,015 in a cashback rebate.

A simpler customer journey

The onboarding process has also been improved, with more flexibility around when customer nomination forms can be completed.

Previously, homeowners were required to sign the nomination form before certain stages of the onboarding process. Now, the nomination form can be signed up to 90 days after VPP onboarding.

The result is a smoother, simpler experience for homeowners looking to join a participating Virtual Power Plant.

What is a Virtual Power Plant?

A Virtual Power Plant (VPP) connects home batteries through smart software. When electricity demand across the grid is high, participating batteries can export a small amount of stored energy back to the network. In return, homeowners receive financial benefits through government incentives and, depending on their chosen VPP provider, ongoing payments or bill credits.

What Virtual Power Plants are eligible to claim the rebate?

If you have connected your home battery to one of these eligible VPPs, you can jump onto the MAC Trade Services eligibility checker today and claim your cashback:

  • AGL
  • Amber
  • Covau
  • Energy Australia
  • Engie
  • Globird
  • Local Volts
  • Origin
  • Powow
  • ShineHub
  • Voltello
  • Heartbeat
  • 1Komma5

Why this matters

These changes mean more NSW battery owners can now take advantage of the available incentive.

Whether you’re installing a larger battery to power a bigger home, preparing for future energy needs, or simply looking to maximise the value of your excess solar, the updated rules make participation more accessible than ever.

Combined with the Australian Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program, eligible households may be able to significantly reduce the upfront cost of battery ownership while unlocking additional savings through a VPP connection and rebate.

Am I eligible?

You may be eligible if you:

  • Live in New South Wales.
  • Have an eligible battery between 2kWh and 50kWh.
  • Connect your battery to an approved Virtual Power Plant provider.
  • Meet the requirements of the NSW Government’s incentive program.

Please note: if your battery is over 28kWh, you are eligible for the rebate if you joined a VPP from 1 July 2026. VPP connections made prior to 1 July for batteries sized between 28kWh and 50kWh are ineligible to claim the new rebate.

Check your eligibility in minutes

At MAC Trade Services, we’ve made it simple to find out whether your battery qualifies.

Our online eligibility tool lets you check compatible battery models and connect with an approved Virtual Power Plant provider, helping you access the available NSW incentive with minimal paperwork.

👉 Check your eligibility today: mactradeservices.com.au/new-south-wales/virtual-power-plant

👉 Check the full list of changes via our knowledge hub: NSW VPP rebate rule changes from 1 July 2026