Home Electricity Meter And Billing Service

Do you ever get that feeling something may not be 100%, regarding your electricity metering and billing? If so, realise you are not alone. What you need to do as soon as possible,  is to make sure you address the issue, to keep any possible losses to a minimum.

This is where our new HOME ELECTRICITY METER & BILLING SERVICE, can greatly help you. We have designed this service, primarily to eliminate errors and secondly to increase your understanding. We offer this service to all Aussie householders and Strata Managers.

If your electricity usage and costs are requiring immediate attention, or there are questions about metering and billing, we want to hear from you.  We can create an independent report for discussion or submission, to your electricity retailer and Electricity Ombudsman. Acting on your behalf if you so wish.

Some areas of concern we have highlighted to date, on incorrect and confusing electricity bills, have proven,

• Higher than normal electricity bills, after a recent TOU Smart Meter installation.
• Electricity bills not having clarity, nor generated power after Solar PV installation.
• Physical electricity meters, not matching electricity meters on the bill.
• Phantom meters on the electricity bill.
• Incorrect meter data and calculation.

Do not put off acting today, when you feel there is an issue with your electricity costs. It is all to easy with our busy lifestyles, to not have the time to look back into electricity bills, to notice metering or billing mistakes.

Now you have Aussie Home Energy to call for help. Read more about our HOME ELECTRICITY METER & BILLING SERVICE  and the CONTACT US to discuss your needs.

Strata Apartment Living Power Reduction Presentation

Are you living in Strata or apartment living?

Are you involved with Strata Management?

One thing we know for sure, is you will be aware of someone with home electricity cost and usage issues.

As a major home electricity reduction business, we now offer you the option of group based presentations. Where we will help everyone, to  clearly understand how to reduce power in their home.

We charge a small attendance fee per client. All you have to do is to create the group.

For more information on our POWER REDUCTION PRESENTATIONS for Strata & Apartment Living,  contact Aussie Home Energy on 02 8064 3992 today.

See Individual Electrical Appliances On Your Current Cost Monitor

The Current Cost Energy Monitor is a straight forward, easy to use electricity monitor, suitable for all Aussie householders with concerns over rising electricity costs. The Current Cost monitor is easily installed in minutes and has the ability to get electricity usage and costs,

• In your face.
• On your PC.
• On your Smartphone.

As well as being able to monitor the output of your Solar PV, the latest development for this monitor, is Individual Appliance Transmitters.

These transmitters are easily plugged into a standard Aussie wall socket. Where the electricity data is transmitted back to the LCD monitor. A great solution for knowing exactly what power is being used by your,

• Entertainment appliances.
• Beer fridge.
• Oil type heater.
• Garage freezer.
• Children's bedroom.

Move the transmitters easily around your home, to pin-point those high cost appliances. Easily access the usage and cost data 24/7, via your electricity monitor, your PC or Smartphone.

January 2018 : Current Cost home energy monitor users please note MyCurrentCost dashboard was retired 15th January. This alternative free real-time dashboard is a great alternative HOME ENERGY MONITOR dashboard solution, with auto upload support for PVOutput ie solar.

The INDIVIDUAL APPLIANCE MONITORS come in a pack of three and are a great way to expand your Current Cost HOME ELECTRICITY MONITORING SOLUTION.

Are You Just An Electricity Bill Payer?

If you are like most of the Aussie householders we help with home electricity reduction, up to now you may not have had a clue, on how to proceed in reducing your home electricity costs. Meaning up to now you have simply been, just a BILL PAYER!

Aussie Home Energy wants to assist you in moving forward, with the goal of you obtaining a greater understanding of your home electricity costs.

Most community groups we talk to about reducing electricity costs in the home, raise a very limited number of hands, when asked the following questions.

• What is a kilowatt hour?
• What electricity tariff are you on?
• What is a Smart Meter?
• How much is your hot water costing you?
• What kind of electricity meter do you have?
• What is your kWh rate?
• Are you using less or more energy than last year?

Sadly this is the information you NEED TO KNOW! Before you will be in a position where you can truly understand, how to start reducing electricity costs. Without this basic information you will not be able to proceed forwards and will remain being just a BILL PAYER!

Our HOME ELECTRICITY REDUCTION AUDITS make sure 100% you understand everything you need to know, so you can MAXIMISE Home Electricity Reduction Costs.

Call us today on 02 8064 3992 for help.

Home Electricity Reduction Community Meetings

Electricity costs are now a major discussion point, for all householders in Australia. With the recent rise in NSW alone of 15% to 18% and forecasts for further rises, it’s not suprising that many householders are starting to worry!

Worrying about how will they be able to afford these endless rising electricity costs?

Aussie Home Energy can help you and your community, understand how to reduce those rising home electricity bills.

Form a local group today. We present to,

• Local housing groups.
• Parent groups.
• Community groups.
• Interest groups.

We are here to offer you and your group, the help you need to reduce all types of home electricity costs. Get the numbers and contact our office on 02 8064 3992. See our COMMUNITY webpage for more detailed information.

40000 Smart Meters Installed Incorrectly Admits US Electricity Retailer

Could it simply be a case of the same problem, the same cause, here in Australia when it comes to the rising number of complaints regarding Smart Meter Electricity Billing Errors?

A US electricity retailer admits to the incorrect installation of over 40000 Smart Meters. Where householders electricity bills rocketed after smart meters were installed. Amazing enough it was not an inquiry that proved the point with reliable data, but a group of University students.



If your starting to question your smart meter billing, or suffering from months of Smart Meter Rage, is it not the time to start MONITORING YOUR HOME ELECTRICITY?

Smart Meter Electricity Billing Explosive Investigation

It will be close to a year ago soon, since Channel 7's Today Tonight program, released an explosive investigation. An investigation uncovering massive mistakes with consumer's electricity bills. Revealing serious flaws, that could have affected and still be affecting a large number of smart meter users, here in Australia.

One could be fooled into a belief that nothing has been done, since this investigation was aired. The NSW Energy Ombudsman is reporting on it's website, a large continuing increase in complaints about smart meter electricity billing in Australia. And we are not alone as the same issues are being aired in the US. So we have the same electricity billing errors, even when different smart meters and electricity retailers are involved. Which surely leaves areas of concern to be focused on such as data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, quality of meter testing, the cost of supplying the meter's raw data and software algorithms for example.

A explosive investigation alright, which shows,

• Serious flaws with Smart Meter billing.
• The Ombudsman identifying a number of systemic billing errors.
• The retailer paying off the customer to go away.
• The retailer being unable to bill the customer correctly.

How much evidence does one need to start a proper inquiry? No wonder the energy bosses may have reason to hide. And more annoying is the report of large forecast profits, from the revenue of the installation of these smart meters.

Questions that everyone should be asking is this, "What did the Ombudsman do at the end of the day? What was the outcome? Why is a electricity user unable to get correct billing of what is supposedly correct data, as reported by the electricity retailer? Let us hope the issue was not just brushed under the carpet.

As users of electricity where we do not seem to have a guarantee that the billing is correct, is it not time for action. Is it not time for Politicians to act, is it not time for an Independent Inquiry. A Smart Meter Independent Inquiry that gets to the true reason for error and holds those responsible.

For more videos on Aussie householders who are unhappy with what one could say, seems to be very systemic smart meter billing errors Australia wide, visit ELECTRICITY SMART METER PROBLEMS VIDEOS.

Aussie Home Energy is a business offering alternative HOME ELECTRICITY MONITORING SOLUTIONS to all  Aussie homes, concerned about possible Smart Meter Electricity Billing Errors.

Smart Meter Electromagnetic Radiation Report

There are many householders in Australia and around the world, reporting sickness due to Smart Meter radiation. A report prepared for the Victorian Department Of Primary Industries, by EMC Technologies Pty Ltd, offers some evidence that Smart Meters are a safe alternative electricity metering option, for all Aussie householders.

Read the detailed SMART METER ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION FIELD SURVEY REPORT.

Electricity Smart Meter Problem Videos Australia

Aussie householders are rebelling in growing numbers, against rising power bills and the new Smart Meters. These meters are often being installed against the householder's will.

The Victorian Government has already been forced to review their new power meter rollout, after residents discovered a shocking rise in their power bills and began fighting back.

Other issues reported in this video collection by Channel Nine's A Current Affair range from,

• Conflicting reports on safety and quality of manufacture.
• Residential electricity bills of over 3 Million Dollars!
• Smart Meters catching fire.
• Sickness due to Smart Meter radiation.

See Current Affair's range of Smart Meter videos at SMART METER REBELLION.

Recording Home Electricity Usage Off Your Meter

Recording daily home electricity meter usage is a must for any householder, with an electricity billing issue.

We have made it easy for you, by creating a form to note down your daily home electricity meter's usage figures.

Use our RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICITY METER RECORDING SHEET for your data. Once you have the necessary information you will be in a position to address the issue further with your electricity retailer or the ELECTRICITY OMBUDSMAN for your State.

Other articles of interest on this blog are, HOW TO READ YOUR MECHANICAL ELECTRICITY METER and HOW TO READ AN ELECTRICITY SMART METER IN AUSTRALIA.

How To Read Your Mechanical Electricity Meter

A familiar question asked by many Aussie householders whilst performing their DIY HOME ELECTRICITY AUDIT is, “How do I read my mechanical type electricity meter?”

Let us now make the exercise of recording this electricity meter's data, easy for you.

Looking at the electricity meter illustrated, you will notice there are five clockwork dials. The electricity meter has the ability to read up to 99999 kilowatt hours of electricity, before going around the clock again. The kilowatt hours are stated as kWh on your bill and are also known as units of electricity. 

 

The first dial on the left records these units in the ten thousandths, the next dial recording one thousandths and so on, down to 1 kilowatt or unit of electricity.

• Starting from the left-hand dial (10,000), record the numbers from left to right.
• Whenever a dial points between numbers, always record the lowest number.

On the electricity meter shown here, you should be seeing a reading of 39803 kilowatt hours. This is your total electricity usage to date. Your electricity bill will show the previous meter reading and the last reading. The difference being your new electricity usage and costs, stated on the bill. 

 

There is an art to reading these mechanical electricity meters. And it is easy to be confused and take an incorrect reading. The secret to this confusion, is to always refer to the dial to the right of the one your reading. 

So where the first dial in our example, reports what looks like the number 4, this is NOT correct! The correct reading is a 3, as the dial is between numbers, even though this is hard to see. Remember we are recording the lowest number. To see the dial is between numbers, can be proven by checking the second dial [1000]. This dial has not quite reached a full revolution. It has passed 9, but not fully reached 0. When it passes 0, only then will it mean the first dial [10000] is at a true count of 4. So to make a correct reading 100% of the time, always check the lesser dial's readings.  Take a look again until you can see 39803 kilowatt hours.

 

Not all electricity meter displays, look like the above example. With some meters, the placement of numbers in each dial, may run in the opposite direction. And not all meters have the number of kWh stated on the dials, as was the case in our example. We added the numbers so as to explain how to read the meter.

Learn more about the types of electricity meters in Australia by visiting our webpage AUSTRALIAN HOME ELECTRICITY SUPPLY GUIDE.

Home Electricity Monitor Features And Benefits For Aussie Homes

When looking for an easy solution to MONITOR YOUR HOME ELECTRICITY USAGE, how do you know what all the latest features and benefits are, of the available current monitors in Australia?

Is is all very easy to be confused, between the differences of how manufacturers list the home electricity monitor's features and benefits.

So what we have decided to do here in this blog post, is to list all of the features and benefits, that are often sought by our home electricity monitor clients, time and time again.

So whether your looking for a monitor with an easy to read LCD information display, or a monitor that outputs it's data to the internet or smart phone, please read on. 

The features and benefits sought by Aussie Home Energy's clients are,

• Easy, simple and quick monitor installation, suitable for all homes and business
• Ability to monitor up to 10 circuits or appliances, suitable for all sizes of home
• Unlimited LCD monitors, meaning monitoring from multiple rooms of the home
• Adjustable clock, kilowatt hour rates and tariffs easily found in Australian homes
• PC connectivity for deep electricity usage & cost analysis
• Home electricity data available online via PC, smartphone or tablet
• Graphical home or business electricity usage and cost analysis
• Easy additional SOLAR PV MONITORING, using the same monitor
• Electricity usage ALERTS on your smartphone
• Easy LCD monitor portability, to allow for fast DIY HOME ELECTRICITY AUDITS
• Renewable energy performance or malfunction ALERTS in real-time!
• HOME ENERGY MONITOR SUPPORT during monitor installation & configuration
• Home electricity data comparison and sharing with other homes

Our choice of HOME ELECTRICITY MONITORS suitable for all Aussie homes, allows for a continued growth on existing platforms, where additional features and benefits are being constantly added. Meaning you will have a monitor, that you find is NOT quickly out of date!

With all of these home energy monitor features and benefits in mind, we know you will be more than satisfied with our AUSSIE HOME ELECTRICITY MONITORING SOLUTIONS, found easily on our website Aussie Home Energy.

Further joining a growing number of home electricity usage alert householders, who are continuing to save, even off continued rising electricity costs in Australia.

Accessing Smart Meter Raw Data To Help Prove Inaccurate Electricity Billing

Over the last six months, an increasing number of clients have called our office, complaining they had a Smart Meter installed and the electricity bill has more than doubled. In some cases tripled! And what is a common trait with all of these clients, is that nothing else seems to have changed. Change enough that is, to account for this large increase in electricity costs. A cost they are being asked to pay, with little discussion and compassion, offered by the electricity retailer.

In most cases we would have to say the client's electricity usage patterns, are very similar to previous patterns, with the only common change being the installation of Solar PV. And for the Solar PV to be installed, the client has had installed a Smart Meter. This Smart Meter very often having a TIME OF USE [TOU] tariff. Which in most cases is not explained at the time of install, nor fully understood enough by the client even at a later date.  Therefore the client is usually not able to make a case, against the electricity retailer. Trying to prove this new tariff, is not the reason for the increase in electricity costs. Going to all the effort of creating a case for incorrect billing, is a very time consuming process and is something most householders, simply do not have the time for.

It appears after a few quick searches on Google, for 'Smart Meter High Electricity Billing', that there are a considerable growing number of homes around Australia, all with the same issue. The issue of inaccurate electricity billing, after a Smart Meter has been installed. Once you do a search for yourself and read a few reports, you will understand why we say Inaccurate Electricity Billing.

In many cases the electricity retailer says the meter is not at fault and what energy is reported on the bill, has in fact been used by the householder. Now whilst we do not want to discuss in depth here, all of the various reasons as to what may be the cause, where these reasons are highlighted by various media sources and online forums, time and time again. It does raise the question of the quality of the tests, to prove the meters in question are actually billing correctly. Testing often, where no other meter is installed in-line with the meter in doubt. It is the electricity distributor who is responsible for testing and replacing faulty electricity meters. A cost, that no doubt someone is not wanting to pay!

A householder choosing to make the decision to install a HOME ELECTRICITY MONITORING SOLUTION, would at least have the tools to analyse and record electricity usage, further taking steps to reduce usage, before finally battling with the idea, there may be an issue with the electricity billing process.

“Just pay the bill”, with little or no explanation from the electricity retailer is a common scenario. There is an increasing number of householders in Australia, starting to question these supposedly SMART meters!

So what can you do when your electricity bill suddenly takes a hike? We would suggest you take the following steps.

• Contact your electricity retailer,  noting the electricity retailer's contact name, id, location of call centre, time and date of call. If you can record the phone call, do so.
• Ask the electricity retailer for a copy of the Smart Meter's raw data. This will be the data the electricity distributor's meter reader obtained by using a 'probe device' from your Smart Meter. Note you will require a copy of the original data as collected by the distributor. The data the electricity retailer may have, may be different in format and compiled from the original electricity distributor's data. This data further should be actual data dump and not in anyway estimated data. This data dump is often termed 'NEM12 data dump'.
• The ELECTRICITY RETAILER will lodge a request with the ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTOR for the data. Remember the outcome of this exercise is to get the raw data, which can be emailed to you. Under no circumstances agree to a meter test or check reading, until you have the data needed, otherwise this may be offered as the end solution. You may have to pay for a meter test or check reading. Your aim is to get your hands on the Smart Meter's raw data. Details on what to do with this data dump, will be detailed later in another blog post.

If the Smart Meter's raw data is not forthcoming within a reasonable time frame or you feel you are being given the run around, then we suggest you simply lodge a complaint with your STATE'S ENERGY OMBUDSMAN. A complaint will be opened by the Ombudsman and all payments for electricity, could be  placed on hold, until a suitable outcome is obtained.

To highlight this issue of supposedly INACCURATE ELECTRICITY BILLING, one case out there in the public domain, has a householder questioning the accuracy of electricity billing. Where it is reported the electricity retailer has billed the householder many times, all with different amounts based on the same collected electricity data. What is more alarming is the electricity retailers data, is further reported as having the householder using more energy than was actually supplied to the home! Now how can that happen logically! It is all to do with software & maths reading collected data, it seems.

The more you research into Smart Meters & High Electricity Bills, the more you realise something is WRONG here! All backed up by the increasing number of complaints to each State's Energy Ombudsman and those inaccurate home electricity bills, householders are more so suffering from all around Australia. No matter what electricity distributor, or retailer householders are dealing with, this issue is getting bigger! 

To learn about optional independent monitoring and analysis of your electricity usage and / or solar pv system's output, visit our ONLINE ELECTRICITY MONITORING page, where we make the task of getting your data online, very easy.

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

Electricity Meter Reading Facts For Aussie Homes

Are you concerned about aspects of your electricity meter's reading, or billing?

If you are not sure of who reads your electricity meter, or when your electricity bill can be estimated, then read on.

Listed are some basic facts about electricity meter reading, for all Aussie householders. The following information was sourced from the Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW.

For contact information of the ENERGY OMBUDSMAN in your State, visit our website.

• An ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTOR is responsible for the testing / replacement of your electricity meter.
• The distributor reads the meter and then forwards the information to the ELECTRICITY RETAILER.
• According to the Electricity Supply Act 1995 (Section 55) & Gas Supply Act 1996 (Section 56) an electricity distributor has the right to enter a customer's property, to read the meter without prior notice or consent. 
• The electricity distributor can estimate any period of up to 6 months between readings. Regulation states there must be a reading, at least every six months. The estimated reading must be noted as 'estimated' and clearly shown on the electricity bill.
•  The householder has the choice of paying the estimated amount, or an amount determined by the electricity retailer. After a customer receives an account based on an estimated reading, a retailer may agree to accept a customer’s reading of their own meter. This will be considered an actual read. 
• Where access is constantly an issue for the purpose of reading the meter, a request for a 'special reading', can be made. The householder may be charged for this service. This same service can be used in the case of questionable meter readings.
• The difference a meter can vary for under or over billing, is no more than 2%.
• Historical billing data can be asked by the householder without charge, for periods of up to 2 years.

Visit our AUSSIE HOME ELECTRICITY webpage to learn more about your home's power supply, metering and billing.

16.5% Off The Electricity Bill Why You Should Always Read The Fine Print

Whilst any discount on electricity charges, is part of the solution for reducing home electricity costs, it is not the end solution! If your quest for lower home electricity bills stops here, you will remain being just a BILL PAYER!

Importantly we want you to understand all their is about home electricity usage, billing and costs. Knowledge is POWER remember, in being able to understand how to reduce the electricity bill and keep those costs minimised!

Many homes having 7%, 10% or 12% discounted electricity rates, do little more in their quest to reduce the electricity bill!

Being aware of the electricity retailers terms and conditions with any discounted electricity offer, be it for home or business, is the first priority. You may discuss with the electricity retailer:

•     Contract term & early termination fees.
•     Being able to switch back to the old tariff.
•     What is the discount off exactly?
•     Increases to current service charge rates.

It always pays to do the homework 100% of the time and importantly,

ALWAYS READ THE TERMS & CONDITIONS.

Watch the ABC Media Watch Program's video on WHY YOU SHOULD ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINT.

10 Reasons Aussie Householders Install Home Electricity Monitoring

Home electricity monitoring is a great electricity minimisation tool, used by many Aussie householder's, as one of their home electricity reduction methods.

If you too are trying to reduce your home's electricity costs and feel you are not achieving all you can, then why not take a minute to understand why these home electricity monitors, are being used by so many other householders in Australia. Used primarily in their quest to gain control again of rising electricity bills.

There are many reasons Aussie householders install home electricity monitoring, we list here the TOP 10. 

Are you missing out on electricity savings, by not monitoring your home?

• Your electricity bill is out of control! You have no idea why and want to know FAST!
• You want to keep an eye on your Solar PV, which can now easily be seen 24/7 easily from within the comfort of your home!
• Your electricity usage in the home or business, needs to be analysed & monitored
• You want access to your electricity data, when away from your home.
• You are looking to perform your own DIY HOME ELECTRICITY AUDIT to learn more
• You require ELECTRICITY USAGE ALERTS via SMS or the net! See our SOFTWARE page for details
• Your home is split into two sections, whilst on one electricity meter. For example a rented apartment, where you want to know the tenant's power usage
• You want to monitor separate circuits, such as air conditioners & pool pumps
• You want to itemise data for electrical usage awareness, as part of your family electricity reduction program
• You want to minimise electricity use, to offset the FORECAST ELECTRICITY PRICES

You too can choose to install home electricity monitoring as part of your home electricity reduction solution. Visit our CHOOSING YOUR POWER MONITOR page.


Knowledge is POWER in the search for CHEAPER HOME ELECTRICITY COSTS.

How To Read An Electricity Smart Meter In Australia

A common question from many Aussie householders is, “How do you read the newly installed smart meters?"

Firstly we need to point out that there are many different makes and models of Smart Meter, offered by electricity providers in Australia. 

Secondly these meters are software programmable by the distributor or third party. Thus this results in many variations.

The time of day, peak / shoulder / off-peak / controlled load [hot water] data and generated solar power, is simply stored in the Smart Meter registers. These registers are basically a software location in the meter.

And in most cases you can access some of this data. What data is accessible via a 'Scroll Button' on the front of the smart meter is determined by how the meter is programmed.

We will use as an example a Landis & Gyr Model E350 Type U1200. This meter has been programmed for a TIME OF USE (TOU) tariff. The meter also enabled to monitor the exported power [gross or net feed in tariff] from the SOLAR PV.

To access the data stored in the smart meter's registers you will need to scroll through the registers one by one, using the SCROLL button. Often the LCD screen will move through the same fields of data, every few seconds on auto pilot, meaning you do not have to press anything.

In this example the registers of the Landis & Gyr E350 display the following:

• 01 - Time
• 02 - Date
• 03 - kWh Imported Total Power
• 04 - kWh Imported Peak Power
• 06 - kWh Imported Off Peak Power
• 13 - kWh Total Exported Power
• 14 - kWh Total Exported Peak Power
• 16 - kWh Total Exported Off Peak Power

Whilst software registers differ from meter to meter, as in installation to installation, there is a pattern where the first three registers often display the same basic information. In some cases these first three registers often being the only one's accessible via the 'Scroll Button', more so when solar power is not installed.

For example:

• 01 - d25/08/12
• 02 - t16:07:02
• 03 - 50401.5 kWh

Smart Meters have an internal time of day clock and are able to compute the power used, during different time based tariff rates. This information is not always fully accessible via the front panel of the meter. The meter reader accesses the data via a remote handheld device and then uploads this data to the electricity retailer at the end of the day. 

You can get access to this data file, by requesting it from your electricity retailer. There is a lot of data in this data file as in most cases as there is an entry for every half hour over ninety days. And that is 4368 entries! Best to input into a spreadsheet.

If you are one of the many householders around Australia having issues with the reading / billing from these Smart Meters, we would suggest you start logging the data in register 3 once every day. Meaning you know your imported power. 

More information can be found on our website's ELECTRICITY pages. Where we have a form, especially designed to help you keep a record of the data.

To learn about optional independent energy monitoring and analysis of your electricity usage and / or solar pv system's output, visit our ONLINE ELECTRICITY MONITORING page. You will soon realise you can get your data online, very easily.

Updated October 2016 - This blog post brought to you by Aussie Home Energy, a major player in the HOME ELECTRICITY REDUCTION SERVICE industry in Australia.

Identifying Your Electricity Smart Meter In Australia

Questions asked by many of our HOME ELECTRICITY AUDIT clients, often relate to the type or model of Smart Meter installed at their home.

There are many different types of Smart Meter available in Australia. If you want to know more about how to read the Smart Meter, then identifying the meter is crucial. We have come across a list of many of the approved Smart Meters in Australia, hosted on the National Measurement Institute's website.

Visit the NATIONAL MEASUREMENT INSTITUTE'S website, to see the extensive list of approved / cancelled / expired meters, with pictures for easy identification information.


To learn about optional independent monitoring and analysis of your electricity usage and / or solar pv system's output, visit our ONLINE ELECTRICITY MONITORING page, where we make the task of getting your data online, very easy.

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

Monitoring Your Home Electricity Usage Online

Knowing your home electricity usage at all times, is a sure way of tackling electricity cost minimisation head on! More and more Aussie households are installing a HOME ELECTRICITY MONITOR, to track home electricity usage 24/7.

Whilst you cannot get a better Home Electricity Reduction Tool, other than electricity usage and costs 'in your face', so to say. How do you follow, what is happening when you are not at home?

The easy solution is have electricity data uploaded to an ELECTRICITY MONITORING WEB PORTAL automatically, from the monitor. Whilst these web portals may differ in the way they receive data and the acceptable formats, what they do have in common is, the fact you can now see your home's electricity data 24/7, from anywhere via the net. Meaning, it can be analysed on any computer, tablet or mobile phone!

With the added features of power alerts, SMS notifications and detailed analysis, it is a great move forward to see many householders go from being just bill payers, to electricity usage and cost experts, almost overnight.

So what are you going to do about your rising electricity concerns? Are you going to remain being a bill payer, or take the step and join a group of Aussie homes who are learning to make educated savings on electricity prices.


To learn about optional independent monitoring and analysis of your electricity usage and / or solar pv system's output, visit our ONLINE ELECTRICITY MONITORING page, where we make the task of getting your data online, very easy.

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

Sizing A Solar PV System To Accurately Offset Electricity Usage

Sizing a Solar PV System accurately for the purpose of electricity offsetting, is not easy. Whilst there may be a few guessing techniques used by some solar providers, to work out how much power your household is using during the day, a simple accurate solution is to install a HOME ELECTRICITY MONITOR.

In a situation where there is no Gross FIT & the Net FIT is only a few cents return per kW generated, most householders are under the belief that a solar system on the roof, has little benefit. Could this be due to many of the negative media articles? What if you are not aware, by installing a solar system you could be saving big dollars off your electricity bill? So how do you workout what size solar pv system you need, and what are those forecast electricity savings?

Firstly you need to think about the idea of installing a home electricity monitor in your home. A monitor that is not just going to show you how much power your using in the day, when the sun is shining. But a monitor that supplies information, allowing you to cut electricity usage and costs, even before your solar pv system is installed. And you will not be generating power to support waste underneath the roof, as too many households are!

A monitor further makes sure your new solar pv system, is tailored accurately to your home's electricity usage. As offsetting the power you would normally purchase, is where you are going to make money. You will be maximising electricity savings only, whilst not pumping excess electricity back into the grid, where there is little or NO RETURN! This same monitor can further report on the generated power of your solar system and instantly report to notify you of any problems with generated solar output.

To learn more about how you go about tailoring your new solar pv system, to maximise electricity usage reduction and costs, you need to visit Aussie Home Energy's webpage on OFFSETTING YOUR ELECTRICITY COSTS, with a Solar PV System. Where you will find all the information you need to know.

Performing A DIY Home Electricity Audit With Your Current Cost Monitor

OK, so you have already made the move to gain the upperhand on electricity costs, by purchasing a HOME ELECTRICITY MONITOR. Even though you are now being informed of electricity usage and costs in real-time, ask yourself this. “Do you really know how much power each appliance uses and what's the cost of this power per appliance?”

If the answer is NO, then maybe you should think about performing a DIY Electricity Audit of your home. Afterall you have the main tool for this exercise, YES the monitor.

To perform an audit of your home's appliances you will need to record the standby power, the operational power and the electricity costs for all of your appliances. Householders who perform an electricity audit of their home, have a better understanding of where electricity usage occurs and how this relates to electricity costs. Once the task of the home electricity audit has been achieved, the monitor becomes the tool to keep the educated householder on track, with their home electricity minimisation program.

To make this task of performing your DIY HOME ELECTRICITY AUDIT easy, Aussie Home Energy has bundled together everything you need.

The Aussie Home Energy DIY Electricity Audit for householders with a Current Cost monitor includes:

• Instruction Booklet on how to perform a DIY Electricity Audit.
• DIY Electricity Audit Forms.
• DIY Electricity Audit Spreadsheet.
• Portable Battery Power Supply for room to room auditing. [Compatible with your Current Cost ENVI/R].

You have already invested in the purchase of your electricity monitor and most likely only just scraped the surface of home electricity savings. Ask yourself what else could you be saving? The fact is you will never know, until you perform an electricity audit. 

If you are generating electricity via renewable sources, have you reduced the waste under the roof? There is no point generating power above the roof, to partially support waste underneath it! Afterall is that not eating away at your investment?

So why not visit Aussie Home Energy's website or call their office and get your DIY HOME ELECTRICITY AUDIT started today.

150 Metre Plus Solar PV Array Monitoring Solution

Are you looking for an affordable solution to monitoring your solar array?

What about the task of solar monitoring, when the distance of the array is greater than 150 metres from the home?

Well Aussie Home Energy has various solutions for monitoring your solar pv!

We have been able to extend the range of the monitor's transmitter to well over 200 metres. Whilst we did actually receive a signal via line of sight at around 265 metres, we have found the signal to be 100% reliable at 150 to 200 metres.

Householders generating power via solar pv are waking up the idea that it makes sense to monitor the output of the solar array at all times. Often the monitoring solution offered with the solar pv system, is costly. Therefore we decided to create a suitable alternative which fits into an Aussie home's budget. This solar pv monitoring solution, only available from Aussie Home Energy will eliminate,

• The issue of not knowing whether all of your panels are active.
• Reduced output from your array for whatever reason.
• The problem of the inverter being off-line.

Problems such as this are often not being discovered until the weekends by householders, or in some cases when the electricity bill arrives! A lot of Aussie homes with solar pv are not keeping an eye on their system's output! Therefore it makes sense to discover our SOLAR PV MONITORING SOLUTIONS where you will know at a glance 24/7,

• What you solar pv system is generating at any one time.
• If you are meeting your planned ROI.
• What your solar pv array in generating, when it is over 150 metres from your home.

To learn more about this great EXTENDED RANGE TRANSMITTER or for other AUSSIE SOLAR PV MONITORING SOLUTIONS contact Aussie Home Energy today.

Aussie Home Electricity Monitoring Network With Mobile Apps

Do you want to get on top of your home electricity usage & costs? A proven method is to install HOME ELECTRICITY MONITORING.

What about where you can opt for the next level, where you see all your data live with history, no matter where you are on your mobile, PC or tablet.

Easily have the data you need with you 24/7, allowing you to make cost cutting decisions in real-time! If this interests you, please email us with your details and the subject header of Home Electricity Monitoring Network. Visit our CONTACT US page for email details.

This is your chance to join an Aussie Home Energy Monitoring network, of householders interested in electricity reduction solutions.

Knowledge is POWER!

Comparing Time Of Use Electricity With A Fixed Rate Tariff

Did you know a Time Of Use electricity tariff known as TOU, has similar charges [in total] over a weekly period to a fixed rate tariff?

The secret to making a TOU tariff work for your household, is knowing when you're using electricity and how much you're using at anytime. You can do this 100% of the time by MONITORING HOME ELECTRICITY.

If you do not know your electricity usage & costs, then you run a very good risk of the TOU tariff costing you more. This is because peak electricity is high in cost, for example at 45 cents per kWh unit. The secret is to offset those high costs in the peak period, by using more in the off-peak / shoulder periods.

The available hours in a total week total 168 hours. In this example we are going to explain the cost for a 1kW appliance, on the TOU tariff. The table shows a TOU tariff made up from three different time based rates. Each rate accounts for a different number of hours per week.

The total cost for the 1kW appliance operating on this TOU tariff is $33.61 per week. A comparable hourly rate for the same total time, works out to be 20 cents per kWh.

You may be interested to know:

• 25 cents per kWh = $42 per week
• 30 cents per kWh = $50 per week

So to make the TOU tariff work for you, you need to understand your home electricity usage 100%. If you do not, you may use more of the peak hours, thus costing you a lot more when costs are high at this prime time of the day!

Whilst expensive high peak electricity only accounts for 18% of the total time during the week, it happens to coincide with those times when you want to entertain, eat ,wash and clean. So it is difficult not to use this high cost power. To offset this high costing power you will need to shift more power usage to the less costing tariffs, shoulder and off-peak.

As mentioned already, a great way to learn about your home electricity usage at any one time is to install a HOME ELECTRICITY MONITOR. A monitor will allow you to reduce and analyse electricity usage and costs, before deciding change to a different electricity tariff.

The last thing you want to happen, is to run the risk of making the wrong choice. An incorrect choice that could cost you dearly. Furthermore it may cost you, to switch back when you break any contract you may have entered into! Remember it pays to do the homework first 100% of the time!

Typical times of the day for TOU tariff changes, have not been discussed in this article. Visit our ELECTRICITY GUIDES page to download your copy of our TOU Table. Stick in on the front door of your fridge to keep everyone in your home up to date!

Australian Home Electricity Usage Versus Cost Analysis

Whilst an Australian electricity provider may like to show you, the electricity usage breakdown on the bill, make sure you understand the cost breakdown as well. The usage breakdown is often supplied by the provider, with no cost breakdown.

Seeing low usage for peak electricity, may make you think you are doing well, trying to keep electricity costs down. This can be a false sense of security though! We have worked out the cost breakdown for you, to show you how only a small increase in peak electricity usage can make a big difference to the quarterly electricity bill!

As you can see the shoulder usage is similar to the shoulder costs as a percentage and as much of this as possible should be shifted to off-peak use. The low off-peak tariff, whilst having 40% usage rating, actually costs you little at 23% of the bill. Whereas the peak electricity usage whilst low at 13%, is actually costing you 31% of the bill. Remember it is possible to save a lot off the electricity bill by reducing peak electricity usage. Converting more usage during the shoulder or peak periods, to off-peak will further save you.

More information on this usage versus cost analysis, can be found on our HOME ELECTRICITY INFORMATION AUSTRALIA webpage.

How To Save Off Australian Electricity Costs

Knowing a bit more about the basics of electricity charges and billing, is not out of reach of the average Aussie householder and will help you to save.

If you have fifteen minutes to spare and want to learn more about how to to save off your home electricity costs, we recommend you visit our AUSSIE HOME ELECTRICITY INFORMATION webpage.

And if you need more information, then we are only a phone call away. Only fifteen minutes of your time for a possible big return!

Could Big Business Be Paid To Reduce Electricity Output?

When the demand for peak electricity occurs, it can be very expensive for the electricity provider to meet this demand, in the short term.

Could we not pay large power users, to cut consumption during this time of demand?

The idea being here, to form a group of large peak demand businesses, whom are paid a fee. A fee to cut back their need for peak time electricity. Let us say on short term notice.

A large percentage of power is known to be generated to meet this small percentage, of large demand users.

Getting these businesses together and as a group reducing the overall demand considerably, has to be a move forward.

Where the electricity provider is then able to meet other demands on the grid satisfactorily at less cost. Where those big businesses with high demand are paid to save. Where funds received are put towards increasing efficiency and reducing the overall energy used at all times.

How To Save 12% & More Off Your Aussie Home Electricity Bill

If you are not aware of some of the current electricity offers available in Australia, you can quite easily obtain a 12% saving, off the costs of regulated electricity prices. Remember this 12% reduction is not off the total electricity bill, only the energy used. You will still have to pay for added services and costs, along with GST.

So for example, if you are on a 25 cent per kilo watt hour tariff, your new rate after the 12% discount is, 22 cents.

The average house in Australia is said to use, around 25 kilo watt hours of electricity per day. During a quarterly billing cycle, this adds up to 2281 in total.

To use the same rate, you would be looking at a cost of $570 before the 12% reduction. With the 12% reduction, you will pay only $502. Now that is a great saving! A saving that can easily be made, by doing little homework and making a few phone calls. With forecast electricity rises, it makes sense to try and offset as much of these rises as possible.

After having done your homework and making sure you are only changing the kilo watt charge and not the tariff. Nor increasing the price for service costs. And finally understanding you may be locked into a two year agreement, with exit fees should you wish to change your mind. We recommend you do the following. Ask yourself, could you be saving more?

Now that you have saved 12% off your electricity costs, it is very easy to fall into the trap, where you think you have done all you can do. WRONG! Everyone can save more, unless they know 100%, they cannot! So where do you go from here, with this quest to save more off the electricity bill?

Firstly eliminate the false sense of security of believing you have done all you can do! We want you to move on from being just a bill payer! You can still save more off the electricity bill, as up to this point you may not be,

• Aware of any electrical waste in your home.
• Aware of how to use your appliances more efficiently.
• Aware of your electricity tariff cost, per kilo watt hour.
• Aware of any time of use tariff, changing your costs in real-time.
• Aware of  changes to your rate due to other reasons.

This lack of awareness on home electricity usage and charges, we are finding is leading to confusion and unnecessary high electricity costs, in a lot of Aussie homes.

At Aussie Home Energy we can help you move forward, from this state of confusion. To where you fully understand how your electricity costs can change. Remember a lack of understanding, can cost you dearly!

By knowing what type of electricity tariff you are on, how it affects your electricity costs and how you can save, are really important. Not knowing any of these, can easily cost you more in some cases, than the 12% decrease you may have signed up for.

Going back to the original $570 in electricity costs, before the 12% decrease. The $502 after the 12% decrease, we would argue can be further reduced, with added knowledge & tools. You could save anywhere from $25 up to $100 more, off the electricity bill again. And we are basing this assumption on what we have found so far, by performing our HOME ELECTRICITY AUDITS. We have offered hundreds of households around Australia, services & products all related to HOME ELECTRICITY REDUCTION SOLUTIONS.

If the example electricity bill of $570 was yours, would you want the 12% off? Of course you would. Could you save more and maybe reduce the electricity bill to $402? We would like to think you would.  After all, who would not want to save another $400 off their annual electricity bill per year?

Remember this, there is no one stopping you from attempting to reduce your electricity costs by more than 12%, other than yourself. What could you really be saving?

So if you want to learn how to truly save more off your electricity costs than just 12%, then contact Aussie Home Energy today. We have all the services and products you need, to move on from being just a bill payer.

We provide simple and easy to understand HOME ELECTRICITY SAVING SOLUTIONS. Solutions designed for helping you save on electricity costs, not just today, but for tomorrow and thereafter.

Electricity knowledge is POWER!

Call Aussie Home Energy on 02 8064 3992 today, for a friendly chat!

NSW Electricity Price Forecast July 2012

Based on IPart's recent decision, you can expect the averages for regulated retail electricity prices in NSW to increase by around 16% from 1 July 2012! Or between an average of 10.3% and 19.2% across the different NSW electricity supply areas.

These changes follow average NSW electricity price increases of 10% and 17% during 2010/11 and 2011/12 respectively.

Whilst shopping around for a better electricity deal can save you in some cases, is it now not the time to minimise wasted electricity by being educated on how to use less electricity?

Smart homes are already realising a little electricity usage knowledge, can make big differences in keeping electricity costs to a minimum.

Call Aussie Home Energy today to learn what you could be saving!

Learn more about NSW's electricity price forecasts, by reading IPart's draft Consumer Fact Sheet Electricity Price Increases July 2012.