NSW Home Energy Saver: your guide to the zero-interest loan scheme

The NSW Government just launched the Home Energy Saver program, and if you live in NSW, it could save you thousands on a dedicated home EV charger.  

The scheme offers zero-interest loans of up to $15,000 for energy-saving home upgrades, repayable over 10 years. EV Level 2 chargers are on the eligible products list. Applications are open now through two finance providers, Brighte and Plenti.  

Here's what you need to know.

What is the Home Energy Saver program?

Home Energy Saver is a $557 million NSW Government program designed to make energy-saving upgrades more affordable for households. It has two parts:

1. Zero-interest loans (live now): Borrow up to $15,000 at 0% interest, repaid over up to 10 years. You contribute a $200 minimum towards the purchase, and the loan covers the rest. Available to owner-occupiers and landlords.

2. Targeted discounts (coming later in 2026): Up to $4,000 off eligible upgrades for lower-income households earning under $80,000 combined, or those with an eligible concession card. This part also extends to renters (with landlord approval). Sign up for updates on when the discount opens at energy.nsw.gov.au/home-energy-saver/sign-up.

What upgrades are covered?  

The scheme covers 13 eligible products, including:

• Rooftop solar system

• Residential battery

• Switchboard upgrade

• Heat pump water heater

• Solar water heater

• Reverse cycle air conditioner

• Induction cooktop

• EV Level 2 charger

• DC ceiling fan

• Ceiling insulation

• Draught-proofing

• Double glazing

• NatHERS home energy assessment
  

For EV owners and soon-to-be EV owners, the important one is the EV Level 2 charger. That means a proper wall-mounted smart charger, like the Evnex range, not the portable trickle charger that came in the boot of your car.

Who's eligible for the zero-interest loan?

To qualify for the loan, you need to meet all of these:

• Your property is in NSW

• You own the property (owner-occupier or landlord)

• Your combined household taxable income is $210,000 or less per year

• You're an Australian citizen or permanent resident

• You pass the finance provider's credit assessment

• The property isn't social housing or used for short-stay accommodation (like Airbnb)

The zero-interest loan is managed by two participating finance providers: Brighte and Plenti. You apply through them, not through the NSW Government directly.

Apply via Brighte

Apply via Plenti

Who's eligible for the $4,000 discount?

The discount isn't live yet, but when it opens later in 2026, you'll be eligible if:

• Your combined household income is $80,000 or less per year, or

• You hold an eligible concession card (the program page lists Veteran Gold Card holders, with the full list of eligible concession cards to be confirmed when the discount opens)  

The discount is also available to renters, as long as you have your landlord's permission for the upgrade. Homeowners can only receive one discount per property.

How to get an Evnex charger through the scheme  

The process works through the finance providers' approved installer networks. Here's how to approach it:

1. Visit the Home Energy Saver page and choose either Brighte or Plenti
2. Start your loan application through your chosen provider
3. When selecting your installer and products, request an Evnex charger from the installer you're matched with
4. Your installer will handle the supply, installation, and any electrical work

If you're also planning a switchboard upgrade (which occasionally homes need before adding an EV charger), you can bundle both under the same loan.

Can you combine this with other incentives?

Yes. The NSW Government has confirmed that Home Energy Saver loans can stack with existing federal and state incentives. For example, if you're installing a battery alongside your EV charger, you can apply the federal Cheaper Home Batteries discount first, then use the Home Energy Saver loan to cover the remaining cost.

This is worth keeping in mind if you're planning a bigger upgrade. A solar system, battery, and EV charger installed together gives you the best outcome for long-term energy costs, and the loan can cover the combined total up to $15,000.

What this means for your EV charging costs  

A dedicated home EV charger is already the cheapest way to charge. Home charging typically costs $2 to $5 per 100km, compared to $15 to $30 at public chargers. With a zero-interest loan, you're spreading the upfront cost of the charger and installation over up to 10 years, while saving on charging costs from day one.  

Pair that with solar, and your charging costs could drop close to zero

How solar diversion works?

If you add a smart charger like the Evnex E2 range, you also get features like  

• off-peak scheduling (so you charge when electricity is cheapest)

• solar diversion (so your car soaks up excess solar before it goes back to the grid), and

• overload protection (so your charger and other appliances don't trip your switchboard).

The key details at a glance

What to do next

If you're in NSW and you've been thinking about a home EV charger, this is a good reason to move. Zero-interest finance on a charger and installation doesn't come around often.

For full details on the Home Energy Saver program, visit energy.nsw.govt.au