How to apply for the NSW Home Energy Saver loan

• Borrow up to $15,000 per property.
• 0% interest, paid back over up to 10 years.
• Funded by the NSW Government and lent by two finance companies: Brighte and Plenti.
• Applications for the loan are open now.

You may be able to get a loan if all of these are true:

• The home is in NSW.
• You own it. You can live in it or rent it out.
• You are an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
• Your household's combined taxable income is $210,000 a year or less.
• You pass the lender's credit check, which looks at whether you can afford the repayments.

You cannot get a loan if:

• The home is social or community housing, or used for short stay rentals like holiday lets.
• The property has already used the full $15,000 through the loan.

The guidelines do not limit the type of home, and strata units can qualify. If you live in a strata building, you need your owners corporation to agree to the work. If you are a landlord, your tenant must agree to it. Renters cannot get the loan.

The guidelines list these upgrades:

• Rooftop solar panels
• A home battery (your home must also have solar)
• A heat pump hot water system, or an electric boosted solar hot water system
• A reverse cycle air conditioner (heats and cools)
• Ceiling insulation (not wall or underfloor insulation)
• Double glazed windows or doors, or secondary glazing added to existing windows
• An induction cooktop replacing a gas or electric cooktop
• Draught proofing doors, windows, chimneys and exhaust fans, and external blinds on windows or doors
• Ceiling fans
• A Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charger
• A switchboard upgrade, when another upgrade on this list needs it
• A NatHERS home energy assessment (a star rating for an existing home)

Each upgrade has to meet minimum standards. For example, ceiling insulation must be at least R3, R3.5 or R5 depending on your climate zone, and blow in or loose fill insulation is not allowed. Your supplier checks these for you.

Not every lender offers every upgrade yet. On 7 October 2026, Brighte listed solar, batteries, EV chargers, heat pump hot water, air conditioners, double glazing and induction cooktops, with insulation, draught proofing and ceiling fans coming soon. Plenti listed solar, batteries, inverters and switchboard upgrades. Check with the lender for the upgrade you want.

The loan does not cover window film, wall or underfloor insulation, curtains, or LED lights.

1. Pick your upgrade. Work out what will make the biggest difference to your bills and comfort. Our home check shows typical costs and savings for your area.
2. Choose a lender. Go to Brighte or Plenti. You do not apply to the NSW Government directly.
3. Get quotes from the lender's approved suppliers. Only suppliers on your lender's list can do the work. Brighte lists them on its marketplace and Plenti has a vendor directory. Each quote must be itemised and show the product, installation, the loan amount and any other rebates taken off. Some suppliers ask for a deposit.
4. Tell the supplier you want to go ahead. They will send you a link from the lender, already filled in with the product and price.
5. Fill in the loan application. You will need proof that you own the property, your household income, and details for the lender's affordability check. The loan agreement also asks for your National Meter Identifier (NMI), a 10 or 11 digit number on the first page of your power bill. Add strata approval or your tenant's consent if they apply.
6. Accept the loan and sign the installation agreement. If you are approved, you sign a loan agreement with the lender and a separate installation agreement with the supplier. Read both carefully. The NSW Government is not part of either contract.
7. Get it installed. Someone aged 18 or over needs to be home. Most upgrades need an electrical safety check first.
8. Confirm the work is done. The lender asks you to confirm the upgrade is installed and working, then pays the supplier for you. Your repayments start after this.

• 0% interest, over up to 10 years. Your term and repayment schedule are in your loan agreement.
• Repayments start once your installation is finished.
• Brighte: no establishment or account keeping fees, no fee for paying early, and a $4.99 late fee (capped at $49.90 a year).
• Plenti: no upfront or monthly fees, and a $2 weekly fee on overdue repayments (capped at $120 a year). Check with Plenti about paying early.

You do not have to choose between the loan and other rebates. The guidelines say your supplier must apply every federal and NSW incentive you are eligible for before the loan, so you only borrow what is left. These include:

• STCs (small scale technology certificates), the federal discount on solar, heat pump and solar hot water, and batteries.
• Cheaper Home Batteries, the federal battery discount, which is paid as STCs. See the Clean Energy Regulator.
• NSW Energy Savings Scheme (ESS) and Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS) discounts, for things like heat pumps, air conditioners and batteries.

Your supplier can help with the forms for these. Check your quote shows each one taken off.

The NSW Government is also bringing in a discount of up to $4,000 on the same upgrades. It is delivered by Creditex and is not open yet. You may be eligible if:

• You own the home, or you are a tenant named on the lease (with your landlord's approval), and
• Your household earns up to $80,000 a year, or someone in your household holds a Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Veteran Gold Card.

You must pay at least $200 yourself towards an upgrade that gets the discount. You can get the discount and the loan together. If you want both, the NSW Government recommends waiting and applying for the discount first. Sign up for an email when it opens. Check the discount guidelines when they are published, as the details may change.

Is the Home Energy Saver loan really zero interest?

Yes. The NSW Government funds the loan and you pay 0% interest. Brighte says there is no establishment fee and no account keeping fee. Both Brighte and Plenti can charge a fee if you miss a repayment.

How much can I borrow?

Up to $15,000 per property, in total. Once a property has had $15,000 of upgrades through the loan, it cannot get more. Brighte's smallest loan is $2,000. Check with Plenti for its minimum.

How long do I have to pay it back?

Up to 10 years. Your exact term and how often you pay are set in your loan agreement with Brighte or Plenti. Repayments start once your upgrade is installed.

Can I pay the loan off early?

Brighte says you can repay early at any time with no early repayment fee. Plenti's page does not say, so check with Plenti before you sign.

Can landlords get the loan?

Yes. You must own the property, either living in it or renting it out. Landlords must confirm their tenant agrees to the upgrade. The loan cannot be used on social or community housing, or on short stay rentals.

Can renters get the loan?

No. The loan is only for property owners. Renters may be able to get the Home Energy Saver discount when it opens, with their landlord's approval.

I live in a unit. Can I still apply?

Yes, if you meet the other rules. You will need written agreement from your strata or owners corporation, and you are responsible for getting it.

Can I use the loan with other rebates?

Yes. The guidelines say your supplier must apply any federal and NSW incentives first, such as STCs for solar, hot water and batteries, and NSW Energy Savings Scheme and Peak Demand Reduction Scheme discounts. The loan then covers what is left.

What is the Home Energy Saver discount?

A separate discount of up to $4,000 for households earning up to $80,000 a year, or with a Health Care Card, Low Income Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Veteran Gold Card. It is coming soon. If you want both the discount and the loan, the NSW Government recommends waiting and applying for the discount first.

Can the loan pay for extra work my home needs first?

No. The loan only covers the upgrade and its installation. If your home needs other work to get ready, ask for it to be quoted separately.

Questions about your application go to your lender. Questions about the installation go to your supplier. If you think a company is acting dishonestly, call NSW Fair Trading on 13 32 20. Note that suppliers in the program are not allowed to door knock or cold call.