The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) is ramping up its oversight of the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, signalling a zero-tolerance approach to non-compliance.
With over 1,000 inspections already completed under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), the regulator is introducing strict new safeguards to protect consumers and emergency responders.
Starting March 1, installers must meet rigorous new photo documentation requirements. These include providing geotagged and timestamped images of critical labelling, addressing persistent issues with system identification.
These measures ensure that future tradespeople and firefighters can safely navigate high-voltage battery environments.
To manage the surge in data, the CER will deploy sophisticated artificial intelligence to vet installation claims. This technology will verify that all labelling and onsite photos meet the new standards before any small-scale technology certificates (STCs) are issued.
CER Executive General Manager Carl Binning said: “I’m putting installers on notice that unsafe and non-compliant work will be identified, and we won’t hesitate to use our compliance powers.
He noted that installers responsible for unsafe or non-compliant work face immediate removal from the SRES.
Furthermore, failure to provide the required photographic evidence will result in delayed or rejected claims.
“The message to installers is do it once and do it well. Installers are required to return to site to rectify non-compliant work, and failure to provide the required photos will result in claims for small-scale technology certificates being delayed or rejected.”
The crackdown comes as more households take up solar batteries.
Since the program’s launch on July 1, 2025, nearly 250,000 households and businesses have installed batteries, totalling six gigawatt hours (GWh) of storage.
Demand is expected to spike further before May 1, when the installation discount undergoes a scheduled adjustment based on battery size.