Short answer
Adelaide households can get discounts through retailers under South Australia's REPS scheme (amounts vary by retailer) plus federal STCs, and can run a heat pump free from 12pm to 3pm on the Solar Sharer Offer. Adelaide's July mean minimum is 7.6°C, so standard models work in the city, but colder spots need a model that handles frost.
On this page
Adelaide has a slightly different setup from the eastern states. The state discount comes from energy retailers rather than a government rebate, and the free midday window runs an hour later than in Sydney and Brisbane. Both are worth knowing before you get quotes.
| Coldest month mean minimum | 7.6°C (July, Adelaide (West Terrace / Ngayirdapira), BoM station 023000) |
|---|---|
| Warmest month mean maximum | 28.7°C (January) |
| Below the 5°C line energy.gov.au warns about? | No, 2.6°C above it on average |
| CER heat pump zone (postcode 5000) | Zone 3 of 5 (suburbs can differ) |
| CER solar water heater zone | Zone 3 |
Sources: Climate statistics: Adelaide (West Terrace / Ngayirdapira) 023000 (BoM); CER postcode zones. Last checked: November 2026.
What rebates are available in Adelaide?
- REPS (Retailer Energy Productivity Scheme): participating retailers offer free or discounted upgrades, including replacing a water heater (activity WH1). You don't have to be the retailer's customer. The government doesn't publish a dollar figure, because retailers set their own offers (sa.gov.au).
- Federal STCs at the zone 3 figure for Adelaide (5000 to 5214).
- Priority group customers may get further discounts or offers through REPS (Department for Energy and Mining).
Under the REPS rules, heat pumps installed from 1 January 2026 must earn at least 13 STCs in zones 3 and 4, new houses are excluded, and the old water heater must be removed (WH1 specification). Full detail on the SA rebates page.
When is the free power window in Adelaide?
12pm to 3pm, every day, for households with a smart meter who opt into the Solar Sharer Offer, up to 24 kWh (energy.gov.au). NSW and South East Queensland get 11am to 2pm. The window doesn't shift for daylight saving (Energy Made Easy). Set the heat pump's timer to 12pm to 3pm, and make sure it is on the general circuit: appliances on controlled load don't get the free usage.
Do heat pumps cope with Adelaide winters?
In the city, generally yes. West Terrace records a July mean minimum of 7.6°C and a January mean maximum of 28.7°C (BoM), above the 5°C line where energy.gov.au says not all models are designed to work (energy.gov.au). If you live higher up, where frosts are more common, check your postcode's zone and choose a model with a low stated operating temperature on the heat pump alone. See cold climates.
Running a heat pump in the 12pm to 3pm window also means heating in the warmest part of the day, which Your Home says improves efficiency (Your Home).
What should Adelaide buyers ask?
- Which REPS activity is this, and what is the discount in dollars?
- What is the STC discount, separately?
- Does the model earn at least 13 STCs in zones 3 and 4 (needed for REPS)?
- Can the timer be set to 12pm to 3pm, and will it be on the general circuit?
- Is removal of the old heater included (a REPS requirement)?
Compare at least two REPS providers. See the installer checklist and the brand overview.
Sources for this page
- Retailer Energy Productivity Scheme, Government of South Australia (sa.gov.au). Last checked: November 2026.
- Energy saving rebates, Department for Energy and Mining (SA). Last checked: November 2026.
- REPS activity WH1: replace or upgrade water heater (WH1.2026.1), Department for Energy and Mining (SA). Last checked: November 2026.
- Solar Sharer Offer, energy.gov.au (Australian Government). Last checked: November 2026.
- Solar Sharer Offer: what you need to know, Energy Made Easy (Australian Energy Regulator). Last checked: November 2026.
- REPS activity specifications, Department for Energy and Mining (SA). Last checked: November 2026.
- Climate statistics: Adelaide (West Terrace / Ngayirdapira) 023000, Bureau of Meteorology. Last checked: November 2026.
- Hot water systems, energy.gov.au (Australian Government). Last checked: November 2026.
- Hot water systems, Your Home (Australian Government, DCCEEW). Last checked: November 2026.
- Postcode zones for air source heat pumps and solar water heaters (Version 3, 1 January 2020), Clean Energy Regulator. Last checked: November 2026.
Every source used on the site is listed on the sources page.