Cheaper Home Batteries Program
(request for audit — responded)
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Request for audit
Cheaper Home Batteries Program
Under consideration
Received: Tuesday 18 August 2026
Contact
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The Auditor-General received a follow-up correspondence from the Hon Dan Tehan MP dated 18 August 2026. The Auditor-General’s follow-up response will be published here.
The Auditor-General responded on 19 June 2026 to correspondence from the Hon Dan Tehan MP dated 29 May 2026, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an audit of the Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
Follow-up correspondence from the Hon Dan Tehan MP
Transcript of letter from the Hon Dan Tehan MP
18 August 2026
Dr Caralee McLiesh PSM
Auditor-General
Australian National Audit Office
GPO Box 707
CANBERRA ACT 2601
By email: ag1@anao.gov.au
Dear Dr McLeish
Thank you for your correspondence of 19 June 2026 concerning my request for a performance audit of the Albanese Labor Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program (CHBP).
I am pleased to note that the CHBP is included as a potential audit topic per the Annual Audit Work Program for 2026–27.
Since writing to you in May, further revelations concerning the CHBP have become public:
- On 10 July 2026, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission handed down its report, Inquiry into the National Electricity Market report - June 2026. The report found that, “Consumer reports to the ACCC about household batteries and new energy services have increased by 107 per cent over the past 12 months as the number of systems installed increases rapidly.” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said that there were “gaps” in the current suite of consumer protections for those Australians accessing the Program. The ACCC recommended the establishment of an “overarching consumer duty with supporting electricity-specific protections to ensure products and services are designed and delivered in consumers’ interests.”
- On 13 August 2026, the ABC’s 7.30 program broadcast deeply concerning revelations about the inadequacy of consumer protections relating to the operation of the CHBP. The ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey was interviewed as part of the program and repeated her view that new consumer protections were urgently required.
- On 19 August 2026, The Australian reported on internal documents sent from the Clean Energy Regulator to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy which shows the rollout of basic safety measures months after the CHBP had launched.
I trust you will bear this new information in mind when considering whether to launch a performance audit into the CHBP.
Your sincerely
Dan Tehan
Auditor-General's response
19 June 2026
The Hon Dan Tehan MP
Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
Member for Wannon
Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600
By email: dan.tehan.mp@aph.gov.au
Dear Mr Tehan
Request for a performance audit of the Cheaper Home Batteries Program
Thank you for your correspondence dated 29 May 2026 requesting a performance audit of the Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
I am currently finalising the Australian National Audit Office’s (ANAO’s) Annual Audit Work Program (AAWP) for 2026–27. The AAWP reflects the ANAO’s audit strategy and informs the Parliament, government entities and the public of the planned audit coverage for the Australian Government sector. The 2026–27 AAWP is expected to be published on the ANAO website in early July 2026, and I intend for it to include a potential audit topic on the Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
If I choose to commence this potential audit in the implementation of the AAWP, details will be provided on the ANAO’s Performance audits in progress webpage. The audit would have regard to matters raised in both your correspondence and correspondence received from Senator Dean Smith dated 9 February 2026.
Yours sincerely
Dr Caralee McLiesh PSM
Auditor-General
Correspondence from the Hon Dan Tehan MP
Transcript of letter from the Hon Dan Tehan MP
29 May 2026
Dr Caralee McLiesh PSM
Auditor-General
Australian National Audit Office
GPO Box 707
CANBERRA ACT 2601
By email: ag1@anao.gov.au
Dear Dr McLiesh
I am writing to request that the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) undertake an audit of the Albanese Labor Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program (CHBP).
Since my colleague Senator Dean Smith wrote to you on 9 February 2026 concerning the CHBP, further revelations have come to light.
As you may be aware, approved expenditure for the CHBP has soared from its original funding envelope of $2.3 billion to $8.5 billion over the life of the program, a significant increase confirmed by departmental officials at Budget Estimates on 26 May 2026.
It has also been revealed that the Regulations governing the CHBP were changed earlier this year to allow for the Clean Energy Regulator (the Regulator) to effectively finance the Program. I am concerned that this arrangement could constitute a conflict of interest given the Regulator also administers the CHBP.
In addition, the Regulator’s latest battery inspection results report found that more than 63 per cent of inspected batteries were installed to a “substandard” level of quality. Concerningly, the Regulator has not carried out safety inspections in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.
Clearly, there are multiple, overlapping implementation and operational issues which are affecting the CHBP and I request that these issues be considered carefully when you are considering the ANAO’s 2026-27 Annual Audit Work Program.
Your sincerely
Dan Tehan