Posts By Ronald Brakels, Author & Fact-Checker At SolarQuotes

About Ronald Brakels

Joining SolarQuotes in 2015, Ronald has a knack for reading those tediously long documents put out by solar manufacturers and translating their contents into something consumers might find interesting. Master of heavily researched deep-dive blog posts, his relentless consumer advocacy has ruffled more than a few manufacturer's feathers over the years. Read Ronald's full bio.

Hang Up For Good On Solar Telemarketers Interrupting Dinner

A disconnected phoneWhile I don’t consider myself particularly wicked, I still get little rest.  For example, on Friday night, I was relaxing with my family in sub-tropical Queensland when we were interrupted by a solar telemarketer who so blatantly breached industry standards I put the police onto him.

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VPPs Have Pros & Cons — But Watch Out For The Cons!

terms and conditions for a app

Thanks to the federal battery rebate and multiple state incentives, many new battery owners will soon be wondering if they should join a Virtual Power Plant (VPP).  While the pros can make it worthwhile, you have to look out for a huge list of cons before signing up.

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Should You Take The Battery Rebate Bait And Join A VPP?

Charing solar batteries from the mains grid

Today’s a big day for Virtual Power Plants (VPPs): a federal rebate for VPP-capable batteries is coming online, while two states are offering incentives that require joining one.  So why are multiple layers of government teaming up to tempt you into handing over control of your battery to a VPP operator, and should you take the bait?

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Fact Check: Actually, We Can Heat Homes Just Fine Without ‘Efficient’ Gas

A dial pointing to the right above the word 'false'

The “Australians for Natural Gas” group has today been reported to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for allegedly misleading claims. I’ve looked into this group and found it is spreading a number of false messages on social media, including that gas is an “efficient” source of power and that Australians would struggle to feed themselves or heat their homes without it.

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Fact Check: No, Mum, Nuclear Won’t Reduce Costs By 25%

A dial pointing to the right above the word 'false'

A group called “Mums for Nuclear” has spent a lot of money on newspaper and online ads in the lead-up to the federal election, claiming that “Nuclear energy in the mix with renewables reduces cost by 25%“. I’ve investigated this claim and found it to be false.  Hopefully, this will prompt all groups that have made unrealistic claims about nuclear affordability to take them back and spark a chain retraction.

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How Getting Off Gas Will Save You Money

Money is burned over a gas stovetop

There’s a lot of conflicting claims out there about whether getting off gas is worth it financially. I’ve taken a deeper look at how much money Australian households could actually save by quitting gas, and the amount will make your head spin worse than a leaky stovetop.

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Revolutionary New Finnish Hot Water System Rocks

Finnish company Peikkovoima held its Australian launch of a revolutionary new form of home hot water in Adelaide last night.  Using a process called geological decomposition, the company promises their system will provide household hot water in a way that’s environmentally benign and affordable.

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Power Price Hikes Make Batteries Pay In NSW

Sydney at nightThe bad news is out.  Grid electricity price hikes are coming and likely to hit hardest in NSW, where bills are set to spike by up to 8.9%. With more financial pressure looming, many NSW homeowners are asking: “Is now the time to get solar and a battery?”

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Hot Water Heat Pump Warranties Ranked From Best To Worst

A picture of a heat pump warranty book cover

Hot water heat pump systems are great for saving energy, but there’s a major problem dogging them like an overly friendly labrador that has been rolling in fish guts.  Most warranties stink!  I can only think of four brands commonly sold in Australia with warranties I consider close to acceptable.

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Gas Companies Want To Charge You To Quit Gas: How To Avoid $1000 Fees

A person switching off gasSwitching from gas to an all-electric home can save hundreds of dollars a year, but if you’re not careful you risk copping some hefty fees. There’s one big decision to make that determines how much you will be out of pocket: should you abolish your gas connection or just disconnect it?

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