The Tesla Energy Plan is winding up in Australia and participating Powerwall batteries will be disconnected from the company’s Virtual Power Plant. Here’s what affected Powerwall owners need to know.
When Is The Tesla Energy Plan Ending?
The Tesla Energy Plan hasn’t been accepting new customers for some time, and it will be ending for good for current customers on 30 September 2025. Participating Powerwall batteries will also be removed from the Tesla Virtual Power Plant on or sometime after that date.
The Plan was a partnership between Tesla and Energy Locals. Participants can stay with Energy Locals and select a new market offer, or choose an electricity plan from another retailer. If customers don’t make a choice by 30 September 2025, they’ll be automatically switched over to Energy Locals’ Standing Offer.
Tesla is recommending affected Powerwall owners get familiar with all their battery’s settings as they will have full control over their system once it is removed from the VPP. For any questions relating to *Powerwall* operation, there’s online documentation to refer to and couple of contact points have been provided:
- Phone: 1800 686 705 (when prompted, press Key 5, then Key 1, then Key 6)
- Email: [email protected]
As for the Energy Locals side of things (billing, account management and plan changes):
- Phone: 1300 693 637
- Email: [email protected]
Looking For Another VPP Program?
If you’re going to be on the hunt for a new Virtual Power Plant service provider, check out SolarQuotes’ VPP comparison table that compares all the programs currently available in Australia side-by-side. Among those supporting Powerwall are:
- AGL’s ‘Bring Your Own Battery’
- Amber Electric’s Amber for Batteries
- Engie’s VPP Advantage
- Origin Loop (note: SolarQuotes is owned by Origin Energy)
Another potential option is participation in a Virtual Energy Network (VEN). In a VEN, energy producers such as solar/battery system owners and consumers are connected through an online platform that enables them to share or trade energy (peer-to-peer trading).
Another Electricity Plan In The Works
Tesla says it is currently developing the next generation of Tesla Energy offers, but doesn’t provide further information on the nature of these. Another email sent out by the company was looking for feedback from current Energy Plan customers to “help shape a new and exciting electricity plan coming soon to Australia”.
It’s interesting that the current plan has been ended without the new offering ready to go, and when that will be is anyone’s guess.
A Very Brief Tesla VPP/Energy Plan History
The Tesla Energy Plan and VPP was available in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, South East Queensland (Energex service area) and the Australian Capital Territory. The VPP initially launched in South Australia in 2018 to eligible SA Housing Trust households, and the Tesla Energy Plan to others in 2021.
The Plan connected a home Powerwall and solar system to the company’s Virtual Power Plant. The company’s tech monitored a household’s solar and mains grid electricity consumption behaviour to help ensure the home was powered by the most cost-effective energy source at any point in time. Batteries were also tapped to supply energy to the grid to provide grid stability services, but a minimum 20% backup reserve was maintained during such events in case there was a grid outage.
Energy Plan participants were offered a Time-of-Use (ToU) electricity plan, received extended warranty (up to 5 additional years), and ‘grid support credits’ worth up to $220 annually. Initially, there was also a significant discount on the purchase of Powerwall battery under the Plan.
The company’s announcement follows news in early July that “Big 3” gentailer AGL had acquired South Australia’s Virtual Power Plant from Tesla; but just the aspect that is focused on Housing SA homes as I understand it.
About Michael Bloch
RSS - Posts
Speak Your Mind