Friday, April 22, 2016

Reducing Solar Net Metered Export When Paid 4 To 6 Cents

Did you know each kW of solar power exported back to the grid in NSW, is only going to show you a financial return of $85 per year, when exported @ only 6 cents! 

This is based on the Clean Energy Council's figures for averaged solar power over the year being 3.9 kW, for each 1 kW of solar panel. Hardly enough to justify any investment! 

Importantly in a net metered environment you make more money by offsetting imported power costs.

Our research is currently showing, there may be a drop to 4 cents at the start of 2017 for each exported kW, [we are already seeing 5 cents in electricity retailer's current offers]. It appears there is no minimum limit set by the Government as to what electricity retailers can offer!

Each exported kW then will only be worth $56 @ 4 cents. 

Now this same amount of power which over the year is 1423.5 kW, if you consumed it and offset your imported power at 25 cents, would be worth $355 off your electricity costs!

So how do you reduce the exported power under your roof? Well you need to pay attention to activating appliances whilst the sun is shining. This can be done by:


  • Manually turning the appliances on
  • Programming the appliance
  • Adding a timer
  • Using a smart switch to turn the appliance on when exported power is detected


The main issue for any net metered household, is how do you know if you are importing or exporting at any time? Well you don't unless you are camped out in the powerbox! The only way to know if your exporting  / importing in realtime, is to install energy monitoring on your consumption and solar power circuits.

Once you have that missing data, then of course you can see what your generating and make an educated decision on what appliances to turn on to use the power, offsetting imported power.

The secret is to use as much of the solar power and import as little as possible, thus keeping your costs to a minimum.

Of course not everyone has the time to work all this out. You may be able to program the air conditioner or add a timer to the tumble dryer. But what happens if those appliances turn on when under a cloud and your not home? Of course your now importing and unable to do anything about it.

So here is the solution!

Why not install a smart switch into any 10A socket of your home, whereby the appliance plugged into it, will turn on when exported power is detected. And amazingly turn off when exported power stops.

No it's not rocket science it is an easy solution that we are working on.

If this Solar Export Reduction Solution appeals to you we want to hear from you. 

Please email our office with the subject 'Solar Export Reduction Solution' and we will keep you updated on developments.

We reckon such suitable appliances would be:


  • Tumble dryer
  • Washing machine
  • Portable air conditioner
  • Electric heater
  • Heated towel rail
  • Storage heater
  • Air to air heat source pump
  • Samll immersion heater
  • Electric slow cooker
  • Water pumping
  • Charging electronics
  • Golf buggy
  • Electric car
  • Hot tub
  • Pool pump
  • Auto pool cleaner
  • Water pumping



Appliances would have to be capable of being turned on / off and not have a manual switch needed for activation. Currently the rating for a 10A socket is 2.4 kW.

Visit SMART SOLAR POWER for all the information on this exciting new home energy monitoring addition.


Excess Power Diversion


This blog post brought to you by Aussie Home Energy, a major player in the HOME ELECTRICITY SAVING SERVICE industry in Australia.

Get Ready For The End Of NSW Solar Bonus Scheme 30/12/16

130,000 Gross metered householders in NSW are about to switch to Net metering at the end of the year, when the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme finally comes to an end on 31/12/16. 

Meaning households receiving 60 / 20 cents per generated kW fed back to the grid, will have to make changes.

Some savvy householders are already researching their options and making any required adjustments.

Let us hope everyone does their homework well before the end of the scheme on the 31st December 2016. 

Everyone meaning distributors, retailers and householders, so as to reduce any unwanted bottlenecks from occurring. 

It will certainly pay to be at the front of the wave for meter changeover requests!

According to our research it looks like:


  • NO NSW SBS Gross metered household [as from 1st January 2017] will receive a cent for exported power, unless they have made changes to their metering




Making changes prior to 31st December 2016 is going to be the best idea! Changes such as these found listed on our NET FIT METERING page.

This blog post brought to you by Aussie Home Energy, a major player in the HOME ELECTRICITY SAVING SERVICE industry in Australia

Alternative Uses For 50W Of 24/7 Wasted Standby Power?

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