Have questions about battery systems or want personalised advice for your home?
Contact Us →Have questions about battery systems or want personalised advice for your home?
Contact Us →Loading live prices...
No rooftop solar needed. Charge overnight at ~18c/kWh, use during peak hours when rates hit 45c/kWh.
Based on 13.5kWh battery • VIC1 grid region • 98% apartments in Docklands
The Honest Answer
With 98% of Docklands residents living in apartments, we need to be upfront: individual battery installation is challenging for most apartment dwellers.
→Embedded networks mean many apartments can't choose their electricity retailer, limiting arbitrage benefits
→Body corporate approval is required and often difficult to obtain
→Physical space for battery installation is limited in high-rise buildings
The arbitrage concept shown above does work—but typically only for those in freestanding houses or townhouses with their own electricity meter and retailer choice.
ABS Census 2021
Most Docklands residents live in apartments, so we've tailored this guide for apartment battery options.
If you're in the 2% living in a townhouse or detached dwelling, your installation options may be different—standard solar + battery guidance applies.
Many newer apartment buildings in Docklands use embedded networks—a private electricity arrangement where:
If you're in an embedded network, you typically cannot choose your own electricity retailer. This means you can't access competitive time-of-use plans that make battery arbitrage worthwhile.
Over 500,000 Australian households are in embedded networks. Check your electricity bill—if it's from your body corporate or a company like WINconnect, Active Utilities, or Embedded Networks Australia, you're likely in one.
Battery storage makes much more sense for freestanding homes with their own meter and solar potential. If you have friends or family who own a house, share BatteryIQ with them—they could save thousands.
Here's what you need to know
You'll need approval from your owners corporation or strata committee. This typically involves a formal application and may require a vote at a general meeting.
Most apartment batteries go in the laundry, on a balcony (if structurally suitable), or in a storage cage. Living areas, bedrooms, and kitchens are not permitted.
Australian standards require 600mm clearance from doors, windows, and appliances. In smaller apartments, this can limit options to the laundry.
Apartments may need non-combustible backing material (cement sheet or brick) if installing near shared walls. Your installer will assess requirements.
For Docklands apartment buildings
Many high-rise residents find shared building systems more practical than individual battery installations. Solar panels on the common rooftop power common areas and can be distributed to individual units.
Interested in exploring shared building solutions for your strata?
Talk to our teamIf you're in a house or townhouse in Docklands, batteries could save you $1,500-3,000/year.
Check Your SavingsDespite the challenges, some Docklands residents can make batteries work:
If you're one of the 2% of Docklands residents in a freestanding house or townhouse, battery storage is likely a great investment—especially with rooftop solar.CitiPower serves this area with competitive feed-in tariffs, and the federal rebate currently covers up to $4,500 for a typical home battery.
Calculate your ROICheaper Home Batteries Program (Jan-Apr 2026):
Victoria's Solar Homes battery rebate and interest-free loans are no longer available. Victorians can access the federal rebate.
| Battery Size | Federal Rebate | State Rebate | Total Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10kWh | ~$3,360 | $0 | ~$3,360 |
| 13.5kWh (Powerwall) | ~$4,536 | $0 | ~$4,536 |
| 15kWh | ~$5,040 | $0 | ~$5,040 |
| 20kWh | ~$6,720 | $0 | ~$6,720 |
Rebate estimates based on Jan-Apr 2026 STC rates (~$336/kWh). Rates reduce from May 2026.
While batteries are tricky for most Docklands apartments, friends or family in houses could save thousands. Share BatteryIQ with them.
It's challenging for most. You'll need: (1) to NOT be in an embedded network (many Docklands buildings are), (2) body corporate approval, (3) suitable space like a laundry or storage cage. For the majority of high-rise residents, individual battery installation isn't practical. If you're in a house or townhouse (2% of Docklands), you have far more options.
An embedded network is where your building has one grid connection and the body corporate or a third party on-sells electricity to residents. Check your bill—if it's from your body corporate or companies like WINconnect or Active Utilities (not Origin, AGL, EnergyAustralia etc), you're likely in one. This limits your ability to choose retailers with good time-of-use rates for battery arbitrage.
Three main reasons: (1) Embedded networks prevent choosing electricity retailers, so you can't access the competitive time-of-use plans that make arbitrage worthwhile. (2) Body corporate approval is required and often difficult. (3) Physical space is limited in apartments. The arbitrage savings shown on this page work for houses with their own meter.
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program offers ~$336/kWh (approx $4,536 for a 13.5kWh battery) in January 2026. Victoria has no state rebate currently. However, you need to be able to actually install a battery to claim it—check your building situation first.
The 2% of Docklands residents in freestanding houses or townhouses with their own electricity meter and retailer choice. Also some low-rise apartment buildings that aren't in embedded networks and have supportive body corporates. If you're unsure, check your electricity bill for who your retailer is.
If you know someone in a house who could benefit from understanding battery ROI, share BatteryIQ with them. For your own situation, focus on finding the best electricity plan available through your embedded network, or advocate at your next AGM for shared building solar/battery solutions.
Battery savings vary based on your usage, tariff, and property type. Our guides cover everything you need to make an informed decision.
How the Cheaper Home Batteries Program works and how to claim up to $16,800.
Body corporate approval, installation options, and shared building solutions.
Tesla Powerwall 3, BYD, Sungrow, Enphase compared. Updated costs and payback periods.
Find the best tariffs and feed-in rates for battery owners in Docklands.
Your battery's ROI isn't locked in at installation. It depends on your energy plan today, next year, and for the life of your battery. We don't just install—we optimise.
If you're not in an embedded network and have body corporate support, it might still work. Check your specific situation.
Check My Situation AnywayWe'll be honest if it doesn't make sense for you.
Content reviewed by Battery IQ Energy Analysts | Data sources: AEMO, Bureau of Meteorology, DCCEEW
Last updated: January 2026