Search Results for: queensland

Too Much Of A Good Thing: Dynamic Solar Connections Explained

Solar panels and power lines

Solar panels installed by Limitless Energy.

When Australian households first started installing solar, there were almost no restrictions on how much energy they could export back to the grid, and they received up to 60c per kWh for exporting it. Fast forward to today, and we have millions of rooftop solar systems meeting more than 13% of the country’s electricity demand. [Read more…]

When A Battery Company Sues Its Critics, It Tells You Everything

We’ve been running this website for 16 years. In that time, we’ve published tens of thousands of reviews and written plenty of posts about installers and manufacturers. Shock horror, some have been critical. [Read more…]

The Risk Behind ‘Upgradeable’ Battery Leases

Shinehub batteryA Queensland homeowner got a solar-battery system under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) through ShineHub, expecting it could be expanded later. Just a couple of years into a 10 year contract, the homeowner says he was told to throw away his battery and inverter and start again if he wanted more capacity — even though the system still worked. [Read more…]

Australian Refinery Plan To Ease Fuel Crisis

A refinery

Common sense says refineries process oil, not make it, so more Australian refining capacity would be useless in the current oil shortage.  But common sense isn’t always right.  Here’s how the federal government’s New Australian Refinery Plan, announced April 1, will help the nation power through the fuel crisis.

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Victoria Announces ‘Midday Power Saver’ With 3 Hours Free Power

Victoria midday power saver

Victoria will roll out its own version of “free daytime power” from October 1, becoming the latest state to introduce free electricity during the middle of the day. [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.

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The Real Reason Behind The Long Wait On Battery Installs

Home battery lead times

The Cheaper Home Batteries Program is still booming, but long waits for installation are persisting — and it’s not because of battery stock shortages. Installers tell SolarQuotes the main bottleneck is having enough accredited workers to fit them. Inspections and approvals play a smaller role; the real limiter is installer capacity.

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‘Substandard’ Battery Installs Trigger Inspection Blitz

A battery filled with labelsSolar battery installers will face new requirements starting in March, as Clean Energy Regulator (CER) inspections ramp up amid a surging home battery market. Nearly two-thirds of home batteries inspected to date have fallen foul of the regulator (usually related to labelling issues), with 0.9% found to be unsafe.

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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.

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