Feeling the pinch every time the electricity bill hits your inbox? Join the club. If you’re anything like me, the only thing scarier than opening your bill is trying to make sense of it.
Here’s what I’ve learned: making your own solar energy (around $0.03 per kWh) and storing it in a battery can slash your reliance on expensive grid power (up to $0.50 per kWh at peak times). And just installing solar panels and a battery can cut your electricity bill by as much as 80%, according to the Clean Energy Council.
Let’s face it, many of our home appliances aren’t exactly top-of-the-line efficiency machines. Got an air conditioner older than your kids? Replacing it with an energy-efficient model will save you money, especially now with available discounts. Same goes for swapping your old gas hot water system for a heat pump model, instantly cutting your bills by around 25%. Even switching to induction cooking and reverse-cycle AC easily puts $400 back in your pocket every year.
Right now, electrifying your home is easier than ever thanks to handy Government incentives. The Household Energy Saving Upgrades scheme lets you access upfront discounts directly through approved installers – with no tedious rebate forms required. Think of it as a discount coupon for your house that saves you money every year.
Batteries are a perfect way to save money. The Federal Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program just kicked in from 1 July, notching you up around 30% of savings. Once your battery is connected, you can also sell excess stored energy back to the grid to earn extra cash – kind of like renting your guest room out on Airbnb for extra income, without ever seeing a stranger. Your app will measure how much you are earning every day from the power of the sun and batteries.
Live in an apartment? No worries. Owners’ corporations can apply now for funding covering half the costs to install shared solar systems. Domain.com.au says this adds $114,000 to your property value and you also access ongoing bill savings. Need help convincing your strata? Give the Council a call for some backup.
Still need convincing? Take David, a dad from Balgowlah. After fully electrifying – solar panels, battery, induction cooking, reverse-cycle AC, heat pump hot water, even an electric vehicle – he flipped his nearly $10,000 annual energy cost into a $1,220 yearly income from savings and selling power back. Over 15 years, that adds up to $167,250 saved and 210 tons less CO2 in the atmosphere. Suddenly, my electricity bill shame is very real…
If diving fully into electrification feels daunting, there’s great community support available from local groups. Clean Energy for Eternity has partnered with the Northern Beaches Council and is providing trained community “Solar Ambassadors” if you need help getting started or reviewing quotes. Zero Emissions Solutions and My Energy Guide have great information resources, and Go Solar Mackellar is running regular Kitchen Table Conversations to learn more in a social setting.
With federal incentives, local support and attractive financing, now’s a perfect time to get started. So, take that first step, contact one of your local community groups for help, find an accredited installer, grab those discounts, and start saving. Trust me, your future self (and your wallet) will thank you.
Keen to save money by rethinking your energy use?
Check out Rewiring Australia, a non-profit, independent, non-partisan organisation dedicated to empirically demonstrating and communicating the cost savings, emissions reductions, and energy system benefits of electrification.