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- Reclaim Control Over Your Electricity Bill with Amber for Batteries
Are you looking at your electricity bill and wondering if there’s a better way to manage those costs? If you’ve invested in a battery or are considering it, you’re already on the right track to optimising your energy expenses. But here’s a little secret: most battery owners aren’t fully tapping into the potential savings their system could offer. It’s like having a powerful engine but not knowing how to shift out of first gear.
That’s where Amber comes into play. Amber for Batteries believes there’s a smarter way to use energy—a way that puts the control back in your hands, not the big energy companies’. They are all about making your solar battery work harder for you by leveraging the power of wholesale electricity prices to your advantage. Imagine if you could pay what your energy is actually worth, not a penny more. That’s the reality they’re offering.
Let’s go through how this all works and how it can make a massive difference in managing your electricity bills. Ready to take control? Let’s get started.
Understanding your electricity bill can sometimes feel like a real task, right? Let’s break it down and see why getting a battery could be a smart move, but also why simply having one might not be enough to maximise your savings.
Here’s the deal with the current energy market: energy is produced (a lot of it from renewables like solar these days), then it enters the grid, and this is where the traditional energy retailers step in. They buy this energy at wholesale prices, but by the time it reaches you, the consumer, there’s a significant markup.
For example, the wholesale electricity price can be as low as $0.034/kWh in Victoria and up to $0.079/kWh in Queensland. However, the retail price you pay is often much higher, with the 2023-24 cost for wholesale electricity pegged at $159.62 per MWh ($0.15 per kWh), while the retail electricity price per MWh is around $289.50 ($0.29 per kWh).
Why such a big difference? Well, on top of the wholesale price, there are other costs added on, like transmission, distribution, government schemes, and of course, the retailer’s own margins and operation costs. It’s a system that’s been working the same way for years, and let’s be honest, it’s not designed with your wallet in mind.
But here’s where it gets interesting for those of us with solar batteries. With the rise of solar energy, there’s been a record number of 30-minute periods where electricity prices went negative, thanks to strong solar output. This mainly happened in South Australia and Victoria. Yes, negative prices! That means the grid was so flush with renewable energy that they were practically giving it away.
Now, imagine if instead of selling your stored solar energy back to the grid at a flat, low rate, you could take advantage of these price fluctuations. What if you could sell it back when the prices are high and charge your battery when they’re low or even negative? That’s the kind of smart energy management we’re talking about, and it’s not just a pipe dream. It’s very much a reality with the right technology and approach.
So, while having a battery is a step in the right direction, the key to truly optimising your energy costs lies in how you use it. And that’s where we come into the picture. Let’s see how Amber can help you make the most out of your energy setup.
So, now that we’ve laid out the landscape of the current energy market, let’s talk about how Amber is changing the game for battery owners like you.
Amber for Batteries isn’t just another service; it’s a whole new approach to energy consumption. Its developers believe that the power to manage your energy costs should be in your hands, not lost in the complexities of the energy market or hidden behind the high margins of big energy companies.
At its core, Amber gives you direct access to the real-time wholesale price of electricity. Why is this a big deal? Because it means you can finally buy and sell energy based on actual market prices, not the inflated rates that have become the norm. Amber’s customers enjoy access to variable wholesale feed-in tariffs, which can soar to as much as $15 a kWh during peak times. And when the market is flooded with renewable energy, causing prices to plummet, you might even find yourself paying less than $0 kWh for your energy usage.
How does Amber make this possible for battery owners? Through a combination of smart technology and machine learning, Amber for Batteries optimises when your battery charges and discharges. By syncing with the wholesale electricity market, Amber ensures your battery works at peak efficiency. During periods when renewable energy is abundant and prices are low, your battery charges up, storing cheap, green energy. Then, when prices spike, it sells back to the grid, maximising your returns.
This isn’t about setting and forgetting. Amber for Batteries learns from your personal energy usage patterns to tailor its strategy to your specific needs. It’s like having a bespoke energy management system that ensures your battery is always aligned with both the market’s ebbs and flows and your household’s energy demands.
We’re just getting to the best part. Amber for Batteries is designed to be as user-friendly as possible. With the Amber app, you gain insight into the market and your energy usage, allowing you to make informed decisions or adjust settings to suit your preferences. Plus, there’s no lock-in period and no cuts taken from your earnings. Every cent your energy is worth when exported is passed back to you, ensuring you reap the full benefits of your investment.
In essence, Amber for Batteries empowers you to become an active participant in the energy market, rather than a passive payer of bills. It’s about giving you the tools and information you need to make your battery—and by extension, your home—more energy-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly.
Let’s get down to brass tacks—the monetary perks of Amber for Batteries. After all, one of the main reasons you’re considering, or already have, a battery is to save on those pesky electricity bills, right?
Here’s the straightforward scoop: Amber for Batteries is already saving its customers between $300 and $1300 a year on their electricity bills. How? By smartly navigating the wholesale energy market to make the most of their battery’s potential.
With Amber, you’re not just storing and using energy; you’re engaging with the energy market in a way that’s designed to benefit you financially. Remember those variable wholesale feed-in tariffs we mentioned? They can reach up to $15 per kWh during peak demand times. This is a stark contrast to the fixed, often lower rates offered by traditional energy retailers. And when energy costs drop to less than $0 kWh due to surplus renewable energy, you’re essentially being paid to charge your battery. It’s a win-win.
But how does this work in practice? Amber’s smart technology and machine learning capabilities allow your battery to automatically charge when energy prices are at their lowest—often overnight when demand is low. Then, when prices peak, usually during the day when demand surges, your battery sells its stored energy back to the grid at these higher rates. This dynamic buying low and selling high strategy is what drives your savings.
Moreover, with Amber, you keep 100% of the feed-in tariff your energy earns when it’s sold back to the grid. Unlike some providers who take a cut, Amber passes every cent directly back to you. And with bonus feed-in tariffs of 27c in Ausgrid and 13.5c in Essential Energy areas, there’s additional potential to boost your savings.
The beauty of Amber for Batteries is that it offers you independence from traditional energy retailers and their often unpredictable pricing. You’re not locked into any contracts, and you have the flexibility to control your battery’s charge and discharge settings manually if you prefer. This level of control and transparency is designed to not just save you money but also give you peace of mind knowing you’re making the most out of your investment.
Let’s talk about real-world success with Amber for Batteries through the lens of someone just like you—let’s call him Ozzie Everyman. Ozzie Everyman’s story isn’t just a hypothetical; it’s a snapshot of the tangible benefits Amber customers are enjoying every day.
Ozzie Everyman, like many of you, was looking for ways to cut down on his electricity bills without having to compromise on his lifestyle. He had a battery installed but wasn’t quite seeing the savings he expected. That changed when he switched to Amber for Batteries.
Overnight, Amber’s SmartShift™ technology anticipated high household usage for the upcoming morning, not just in Ozzie Everyman’s home but across the grid. By charging his battery overnight when the prices were at their lowest, often less than $0 kWh thanks to surplus renewable energy, Ozzie Everyman was prepping to cover his morning energy use without drawing expensive power from the grid.
Morning rolls around, and Ozzie Everyman’s battery is fully charged. Amber’s SmartShift™ predicts a high feed-in tariff (FiT) for the morning peak. Ozzie Everyman starts selling back to the grid at an impressive 61¢/kWh, significantly higher than standard rates. Not only does this cover his morning energy use, but he’s also making a profit. Amber has made room in Ozzie Everyman’s battery to store excess solar generation for later, optimizing his energy storage and sales.
By the afternoon, when solar generation is peaking and wholesale prices are low, SmartShift™ shifts strategy. It charges Ozzie Everyman’s battery from his solar panels, readying for a spike in prices later in the day. This ensures Ozzie Everyman’s battery is fully utilised, storing energy when it’s cheapest and preparing to sell when prices rise.
Evening comes, and demand on the grid increases as solar generation drops off. Fossil fuels usually kick in, driving prices up. Ozzie Everyman’s battery, now fully charged with cheap solar energy, begins selling back to the grid at peak prices. Amber’s SmartShift™ plans this cycle meticulously, ensuring Ozzie Everyman’s battery sells at the best possible time. Once prices are forecasted to drop, the focus shifts to preserving battery energy for personal use, maximising Ozzie Everyman’s savings and contribution to a greener grid.
Ozzie Everyman’s story is a practical example of how Amber for Batteries harnesses the power of the wholesale energy market to benefit you directly. It’s not just about saving money (though that’s a significant part), it’s about actively participating in a cleaner energy future. Ozzie Everyman’s battery setup, optimised by Amber, not only reduces his bills but also maximises his system’s efficiency and supports the grid with green energy when it’s needed most.
And remember, Ozzie Everyman’s success story could be yours. Amber for Batteries is compatible with a range of battery systems, making it accessible for many homeowners looking to make the most out of their solar investment. Let’s explore how you can get started with Amber.
Setting up Amber for Batteries is a straightforward process, and the good news is, it’s likely compatible with your current system. Here at Solar Run, we’re passionate about helping our customers make the most of their solar investments. That’s why we recommend Amber for Batteries to those looking to enhance their energy savings and gain more control over their electricity bills.
Before we dive into how you can join the Amber revolution, let’s take a quick look at the types of solar battery systems that are compatible with Amber for Batteries:
If you have one of these systems, or you’re considering upgrading to a smart battery setup, Amber for Batteries could be the perfect match for your energy needs.
At Solar Run, we believe in empowering our customers with the tools and technologies that can make a real difference in their lives. Amber for Batteries is one such tool, offering a level of control and savings that was previously out of reach for many homeowners.
If you’re ready to take the next step towards optimising your solar system and slashing your electricity bills, reach out to us. We’re here to guide you through the process, from compatibility checks to installation and beyond. Let’s make your solar system work smarter, not harder.
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