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32 articles
Network charges are the single largest component of a household electricity bill. Energy Consumers Australia and ACOSS say the AER's draft rate of return decision does not go far enough, with a final call due in December 2026.
Renovation quotes vary so wildly that most people have no idea whether they are being fleeced. This guide gives you a number to start from for the common jobs, what drives the price, and how to hire a tradie who turns up.
The biggest risk in an Australian solar install is not the panel brand, it is whether your installer is still trading when something fails. Here is how to vet for longevity and accreditation, the red flags to walk away from, and the compliance paperwork to demand.
The solar inverter turns DC from your panels into AC for the house, and it is the part most likely to fail first. Here is how string, micro and hybrid inverters differ, which suits your roof, what they cost to replace, and how to choose well in 2026.
Australia has the highest rooftop solar uptake on earth, and 2026 is the cheapest, most heavily subsidised year yet to add panels or a battery. This is the map: costs, rebates, batteries, and the one mistake that costs households the most.
A clear, plain-English guide to house extension cost in Australia: ground floor versus second storey rates, what wet areas add, approvals, and the contingency you will be glad you set aside.
Most Australian homes need somewhere between 15 and 30 panels, depending on power use, roof space and whether a battery is on the cards. Here is a simple way to work out your number, with 2026 panel sizes and a daily output rule of thumb.
Feature Energy
A usable kilowatt-hour of home battery storage costs less in 2026 than at any point in Australian history, and the federal rebate takes roughly 30 per cent off the top. Here is what households are actually paying, and when it pays back.
A granny flat in Australia commonly costs roughly $120,000 to $250,000 or more, depending on size, finish, and whether it is a prefab kit or a custom build on site. Here is what drives the price, and how the rules differ by state.
A clear, plain-English guide to landscaping cost in Australia: the wide range you can expect, the 5 to 10% rule of thumb, soft versus hard landscaping, the real cost drivers, and how phasing the work keeps the budget sane.
A solar feed-in tariff is what your retailer pays you for power you export to the grid. In 2026 that is usually only a few cents per kilowatt-hour, while the power you buy back costs around ten times more. Here is what each state pays, and why the real money is now in using your own solar.
A clear, no-nonsense guide to what it costs to build a house in Australia in 2026: per square metre ranges by build type, realistic totals, and the site costs that quietly sit outside the base price.
Solar in South Australia in 2026 runs on federal rebates now that the state Home Battery Scheme has closed, with roughly $5,000 to $9,000 buying a 6.6kW system after the STC discount. Here is what applies, what the export rules mean, and why a battery pays in the most solar-saturated grid on earth.
The best home battery in Australia is not a brand, it is a fit. Tesla Powerwall, BYD, Sungrow and the rest are all capable; what decides the outcome is sizing it to your evening usage, choosing the right chemistry and coupling, and picking an installer who will still answer the phone in seven years.
Plumbers in Australia commonly charge around $80 to $150 an hour, plus a call-out fee of roughly $70 to $150. Here is what common jobs really cost, why prices vary, and the licensing rules you cannot skip.
Finding a good tradie in Australia comes down to verification, not luck. Confirm the licence, check the insurance, compare written quotes, and get the scope in writing. Here is the full checklist, plus the red flags that should send you running.
A 6.6kW system in Queensland lands around $5,000 to $9,000 installed after the federal STC discount. Here is what that buys in 2026, the honest status of any state battery support, why Ergon and south-east Queensland feed-in rates differ, and what high rooftop penetration does to your export.
Electricians in Australia commonly charge around $80 to $150 per hour, plus a call-out fee of roughly $80 to $150 on top of an hourly or fixed job rate. Here is what drives the number, the common-job price ranges, and why every bit of mains work has to be done by a licensed electrician.
Is solar worth it in Australia in 2026? For most homes with a decent roof, yes, and the payback is fast. But the maths has shifted: the money is now in using your own power during the day, not in selling it back to the grid. Here is when solar pays, when it does not, and what changes the answer.
A retaining wall in Australia is usually priced per square metre of wall face, commonly $200 to $700 plus. Here is what drives the number, why drainage and engineering matter, and when you need council approval.
A 6.6kW system in Perth lands around $5,000 to $9,000 after the federal panel rebate, and WA layers its own Residential Battery Scheme on top of the national battery discount. Here is what solar costs in WA in 2026, what the rebates are worth, and why the DEBS buyback changes the maths.
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program knocks roughly 30% off the installed cost of a home battery, worth about $330 per usable kWh. Here is how it works, who qualifies, and why the value shrinks every year until it ends in 2030.
A deck in Australia is usually priced per square metre, commonly $200 to $550 plus installed depending on the decking. Here is what drives the number, why height and balustrades matter, and when you need council approval.
Painting a house in Australia is usually priced per square metre or per room. Interior work often runs around $15 to $45 per square metre, a whole exterior around $3,500 to $12,000 plus. Here is what drives the number, why preparation dominates the cost, and how to read a quote properly.
A 6.6kW system in Victoria lands around $5,000 to $9,000 after the federal panel rebate, and Solar Victoria has historically added its own offer on top. Here is the 2026 picture: the federal discounts, where Solar Victoria fits, the state feed-in tariff, and why you must confirm the current state offer before you sign.
A NSW household in 2026 does not get a state cash rebate on panels, but it does stack a federal discount of roughly $2,200 to $2,800 on a 6.6kW system with a federal battery rebate and a state PDRS battery incentive. Here is what each is worth and who applies it.
A concrete driveway in Australia commonly runs about $65 to $150 per square metre depending on the finish, with most jobs landing somewhere around $3,000 to $10,000 all up. Here is what sits behind those numbers, and why a quote is the only figure that counts.
A 6.6kW rooftop system typically lands at roughly $5,000 to $9,000 fully installed after the STC rebate. Here is what you actually pay by system size in 2026, what moves the price, and how to get a quote you can trust.
A kitchen renovation is one of the most variable jobs in the house, with costs swinging on cabinetry, benchtop, appliances, and layout. We break down the typical tiers, the real cost drivers, flat-pack versus custom, and how long it all takes.
There are three layers to the Australian solar rebate stack in 2026: a federal discount on panels, a federal discount on batteries, and a patchwork of state schemes on top. Here is what each is worth, who applies it, and why the numbers shrink every year you wait.
Most Australian bathroom renovations land somewhere between 10,000 and 50,000 dollars, depending on scope, fixtures, and whether you move the plumbing. Here is what actually drives the number, and why the only figure that counts is a real quote.
The biggest subsidy stack in the history of Australian residential energy lands in 2026. Most of the bad install decisions being made right now are being made by people who did not know what was on offer.