Shock Horror! Australian Electricity Retailer Does Dodgy Stuff!
On Friday I was sitting at home staring at a computer screen, as is my habit on beautiful spring days, when there was a knock on my door. I wasn’t expecting anyone so I called out “Cho-to ma-te!”1 so I could pretend not to speak English if it turned out to be the police. When I opened the door I saw it was a salesperson from the energy retailer Alinta. [Read more…]
The South Australian Battery Subsidy / Rebate / Scheme Is Now Under Way – Here’s What You Need To Know
When I first wrote about South Australia’s battery subsidy not all the details were available to me. But now the Home Battery Scheme website is up and running I still don’t have all the details. However — and this is the important point — I have more details than I had before. [Read more…]
Amber Electric review: low prices and moderate solar feed-in tariff, but could be the best retailer for battery owners.
As I’m sure you’re aware, in this country we pay through the nose for grid power. Electricity bills are so high I’m surprised the police aren’t required to random drug test them. [Read more…]
Do batteries save money with time-of-use tariffs?
Home battery systems continue to fall in price — with an exception or two — and we are getting closer to the day when they will save a typical household money without subsidy or being part of a Virtual Power Plant.
But there is one thing that almost gets batteries to pay for themselves right now: the ridiculously expensive peak rates some time-of-use electricity tariffs charge.  But, without a subsidy, time-of-use tariffs and batteries will only save money for a few exceptional households. [Read more…]
SonnenFlat — good if you already have a Sonnen battery but maybe not good enough to buy a Sonnen battery.
Update Feb 2, 2025: Sonnen Flat ended June 2024 and so is no longer available.
I think the German home energy storage company, Sonnen, must be having an exciting time in Australia at the moment: [Read more…]
Sick of unwanted solar phone calls? Then read our handy guide to dealing with this scourge of modern Australia.
Have you ever settled down to enjoy a particularly intense episode of My Little Pony1 when you were rudely interrupted by a cold-hearted cold caller trying to sell you a potentially shoddy and possibly overpriced solar power system? If so, you are not alone. Lots of grown men watch My Little Pony. Also, plenty of people get called by dodgy solar marketers. [Read more…]
Wanna buy a Powerwall 2? Then it may cost you a couple of grand more than it did last week.
Only 8 months after increasing the price of the Powerwall 2 in February, Tesla is about to bump it up again. This time by a much heftier amount. [Read more…]
Is cracked silicon a defect that should be covered under the Product Warranty? Or is a crack only a defect if if affects performance?
When it comes to solar panel manufacturers, SunPower is basically royalty. At 33 years old I can’t think of any solar panel focused company that’s survived longer. It was founded in 1985 by Richard Swanson who is a solar panel genius. By that I mean he’s been an important figure in field of solar photovoltaics and not that he’s a talking solar panel or something. [Read more…]
Sonnen updates their battery systems: outdoor enclosure, backup option and lower pricing now available.
Sonnen claim to be the first company to successfully market on-grid home battery systems. Founded in Germany in 2010, they have sold systems to Australians for two years now. Their 9th generation of home batteries — known as the sonnenBatterie Eco 9.43 — have been on sale in Oz since the 16th of August. [Read more…]
Wahey! In SA it is possible to save money with batteries – thanks to the battery rebate.
For a long time now Australia has been drawing closer to the day when home batteries will pay for themselves.  With the announcement of  South Australia’s battery subsidy scheme we know that day will soon come — unless the scheme’s lack of competition prevents battery prices from falling enough. [Read more…]
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