Search Results for: nsw

Quitting Petrol For An EV: Do You Need A Home Charger?

A home EV charger

An Ocular home EV charger installed by Smooth Current Electrical Pty Ltd.

Thanks to the Iran war petrol prices just keep on rising, along with the number of petrol stations running out of fuel. The worsening fuel shortage has many Australians looking for the first time at making the switch over to an electric vehicle.

Aside from what car to buy, the other big decision prospective EV owners need to consider is whether to get a home charger: do they actually need the EV equivalent of a petrol station installed in their own driveway?

[Read more…]

3 Ways Smart People Still Get Home Batteries Wrong

A man with a clipboard next to a battery rebate signThe government’s decision to taper the battery rebate every six months feels like it’s been borrowed straight from a hard-sell playbook. There’s nothing like a rolling “price goes up soon!” to push people toward a decision before they’ve properly thought it through.

[Read more…]

Energy Regulator Details Free Daytime Power Offer

Solar Sharer Offer ExplainerLate last week, the Australian Energy Regulator went and shoved a Default Market Offer document onto the internet.  But don’t worry — that’s normal behaviour for an Energy Regulator around this time of year.  The important thing is, it came with information on the Solar Sharer Offer that will make 3 hours of free daytime electricity available in NSW, SA, and South East Queensland to anyone with a smart meter who wants it, from July 1.

[Read more…]

Commercial Solar: When It’s Brilliant And When It’s Useless

Commercial solarThis week I found myself involved in two commercial solar projects. One will almost certainly print money for decades. The other looked promising at first glance but fell apart the moment we climbed onto the roof.

[Read more…]

Finally, Tesla Powerwall 3 Is Talking To Its Father

In a move widely wished and wildly anticipated, Tesla have finally answered the question all Powerwall 2 owners have been asking since August 2024: surely the new Powerwall 3 is compatible with the Powerwall 2? Well yes, it is now, almost.

[Read more…]

Huawei Battery Expansion? Talk To iStore Before Its Too Late


Do you own a Huawei hybrid solar inverter? Are you thinking of adding or expanding your battery?

This is a call for the 40,000 odd Huawei customers who probably don’t know they need to talk to iStore.

[Read more…]

Are VPP Payments Worth The Wear On Your Battery?

A battery relaxing in a hammockVirtual Power Plants (VPPs) are often marketed as “easy money” for battery owners: let your battery support the grid during peak periods and receive a small payment. Sounds simple, right?

[Read more…]

Don’t Bet The House On Cheap Batteries – We’ll All Pay Twice


After 17+ years experiencing the ebb and flow of the solar industry, the sheer number of new battery brands available right now is mind boggling.

To me the only thing more confusing is this; why do people peg their expectations so low when they see a rock bottom price?

[Read more…]

The Air Con Efficiency Rating You Should Really Care About

Air conditioner energy rating labels - Australia

Pop quiz!  What’s more important when it comes to buying an air conditioner?

  • (a) Cooling efficiency
  • (b) Heating efficiency
  • (c) Purple monkey dishwasher

[Read more…]

Gas Connections Are About To Get A Whole Lot More Expensive

The gas death spiral is accelerating so fast that the dwindling number of Australians still tethered to gas must be feeling dizzy (or perhaps that’s just the methane seeping in from those leaky cooktops). The number of households on gas continues to decline, with new costs set to be foisted on those who remain connected.

[Read more…]

Get the latest solar, battery and EV charger news straight to your inbox every Tuesday