Energy
Community Batteries: The 'Street Storage' Solution
Can't afford a Tesla Powerwall? You might be able to rent space in a 'Community Battery' installed on your street corner.
Not everyone has $12,000 for a home battery. Enter the "Community Battery"—a refrigerator-sized storage unit installed on the nature strip that serves 50-100 homes. It's the Airbnb of energy storage.
How It Works
During the day, your excess solar flows into the community battery (instead of the grid). At night, you draw that power back for free (or a very low fee). You pay a small "subscription" to participate, often around $15/month.
Why It's Trending
The federal government's "Community Batteries for Household Solar" program has rolled out 400 of these across Australia in 2025-2026. It solves the voltage issues in the grid caused by too much solar export and gives renters/apartment owners a way to participate in the storage game.
Is One Available in Your Area Yet?
The rollout is real but still patchy. Community batteries are funded through a mix of ARENA grants, state programs, and network business trials, and they're being installed suburb-by-suburb rather than everywhere at once. Before assuming you can join one, check your local network distributor's website (or ask your retailer) for a community battery register — most publish a map of confirmed and planned sites. If there isn't one near you yet, it's worth registering interest anyway, since new sites are being announced regularly.
The Trade-off Most People Miss: No Blackout Backup
This is the single biggest difference between a community battery and a home battery, and it's easy to overlook because both get marketed as "battery storage." A home battery sitting in your garage can power your fridge and lights during a grid outage. A community battery cannot — it's connected to the same grid as everyone else, so when the grid goes down, so does your access to it. If backup power during outages is your main motivation, a community battery doesn't solve that problem; it's purely a way to get a better return on solar you're already exporting, at a much lower cost than buying your own battery outright.
For renters and apartment owners without their own roof space, though, it's still the only realistic way to participate in battery storage economics at all — and at roughly $15/month, the entry cost is a fraction of a home battery's price tag.
Checklist for Action
- Audit your current bills: Gather your last 12 months of statements for Energy.
- Compare the market: Use SaveNest's comparison tools to identify the top 3 cheapest providers in your area.
- Check for loyalty taxes: Call your current provider and ask them to match the best offer you found online.
- Verify concessions: Ensure you are receiving all state and federal rebates you are entitled to.
- Set a reminder: Mark your calendar for a 6-month review to ensures you stay on the best plan.
- Share the savings: Tell a friend or family member how much you saved to help them avoid the 'lazy tax' too.
Related Guides
Ready to see how much you could save?
Compare Electricity Plans →
