Lower power bills and generous federal subsidies have lured more than 400,000 households into installing home batteries over the past year. Many buyers now discover the reality is less appealing, as aggressive sales tactics, unreliable systems and absent after-sales support turn the promised savings into frustration. Complaints are piling up fast.
Regulators say the scale of dissatisfaction is stark, with the consumer watchdog reporting solar and battery complaints up 107% year-on-year in the March quarter of 2026. Victoria’s energy safety regulator flags an even steeper jump, noting a 185% rise in issues during the first six months of the federal subsidy programme.
Industry players describe a familiar pattern, pointing to the sector’s long-running boom-and-bust reputation, often dubbed the “solar coaster”. Rapid demand tends to attract opportunistic operators, driving a wave of low-cost offers that look compelling but often cut corners on quality and support.
The mix of subsidies, hype and thin-margin competition is now repeating in the battery market, leaving many households stuck with underperforming systems and limited recourse.
