What Is Your Total Power Consumption With Net Metering?

Online Monitoring For All The Facts

This is one question that no-one knows without there being some form of electricity and solar power monitoring system installed within the home.

It is not uncommon for homes installing solar power to in fact use more power after the installation, due to the fact they are making their own power.

Prior to installing your net metered solar pv system, your total power consumption was your imported power. Now you have installed solar power, your total power consumption is now actually:

Consumption  = Generation + Import - Export

Before your solar power was installed the electricity bill clearly itemised your total electricity consumption. Now after your solar installation, it actually itemises imported power only as your daily usage. Yes this is confusing and yes we have many times explained this to the electricity retailers.

So how can you know if your using more or less power since the solar was installed? Clearly you cannot by looking at your electricity bill!

What your total power consumption now is, is usage made up of both imported power and that generated power from your roof during the sunny hours of the day. During those non-sunny hours of course, you can only be importing power from the grid. We will assume here for this article, you have no battery banks installed to store generated power during the day for use at the night.

During the sunny hours of the day, if you are not using much power under your roof, then you run the risk of it being sent back to the grid for little financial return. This is your exported power.

So there are a few issues here that clearly need to be known. What is your total power consumption and what power are you sending back to the grid. Excess power that alternatively you could be using to offset imported power costs.

All of these unknowns can easily become known facts, that you can work with to maximise your electricity savings.

What you need to do is to install a simple online electricity monitoring system, one that is taking note of your total consumption and generated power at the same time. The imported / exported power is easily worked out once these two facts are known. Thus then you will know 24/7 the following:


Consumption  = Generation + Import - Export
 
So why not take a look at our ONLINE ELECTRICITY MONITORING page.

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

Reducing Electricity Costs With Net Metered Solar Power

So how and what can you hope to save by installing solar power onto the roof of your home?

There has been and in some cases still is, a large misconception out there by some Aussie householders in various communities, that the only way to save is via the 6 to 8 cent rebate.

There are some homes in Sydney that we know of, where the size of the solar system is to great and thus the payback time far longer.

Well a net metered solar pv system can help you save off electricity costs by:

• Generating your own power and using it during the sunny hours of the day, in real-time. This reduces your electricity bill by the amount you would have normally have purchased for the same period.  For example a 2kW system will have produced around 8kW [Annual daily average]. This is worth $2.40 per day if you are on a 30 cent tariff. This equates to $840 per year or $210 off the quarterly electricity bill

• Sending any excess power not used during the daytime, back into the grid. Where you get a rebate of 6 or 8 cents per kW. Technically reducing a 30 cent tariff to 24 / 22 cents.

If it was the case of solar power not being profitable under the net metered system, then we would not see solar power systems still being installed in many streets around Australia.

It is only the solar power savvy householders whom really save off the electricity bill. These householders understanding 100% how the net metered solar power system works and making the move if it is suited, to install it into their home.

It may be the media has led some of you astray, by reporting that solar power in Australia is dead since the end of the gross metered system. But that is not the case as some homes can save dramatically off the electricity bill, with a net metered solar system.

It really comes down to the amount of power you are using on a daily basis during the sunny hours of the day. As this is the power your solar power system is going to be providing you with, saving you what you would normally being paying for.

Further more by directly offsetting electricity costs, you save more as the cost of the electricity rises! Now this surely has to be a great idea!

A 3kW solar system in Sydney could easily generate up to $7000 of free electricity from the sun when offsetting electricity at 30 cents per kWh.

So what are you waiting for? Why not call Aussie Home Energy for more help and at least check out what we have to offer on the subject of SOLAR POWER NET METERING.

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

Is The Time Of Use Electricity Tariff Your Best Option?

Electricity Tariff Comparison

Nowadays a lot of Aussie homes appear to be on the recently introduced Time Of Use electricity tariff, where power is priced at different rates, depending on the time of the day it is used.

The main issue we have with this tariff, is the very expensive cost of power between high demand times, for example in Sydney between 14:00 and 20:00, where it is not uncommon to be charged almost 50 cents per kWh.

Often 25% of the total electricity bill relates to this high cost power and the householder is congratulated about this by the electricity retailer, but alarmingly it relates to 50% of the total costs!

Some homes connected to this type of tariff have little choice to not using power at these times, for example young families or the elderly.

So if you are a home using a lot of power during these times and not necessarily able to use the power at the cheaper times during the night, to compensate for the high cost power, then this tariff may not be the best option for you.

So how do you find out if the TOU electricity tariff is the best or not for your home, well we would suggest you install a simple total home electricity monitor with software that will analyse two or more electricity tariff types against each other. With the results being based on your usage and the times of the day this usage occurs.

Remember in most cases you can get the electricity tariff type you want. If you are not being offered other electricity tariff types then we would suggest you talk to another electricity retailer, whom has different offers on the table. Metering type should be an issue as often you can get this changed, with many electronic meters supporting all tariff types.

To find out more about affordable electricity monitoring solutions for your home visit this ELECTRICITY MONITORING SOLUTIONS page.

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

Making Sense Of An Air Conditioner's EER / COP Efficiency Ratings

If you have ever checked the appliance label on the side of your air conditioner's external unit, you may have noticed the EER and COP ratings. So what are they and how do you use these ratings?

An air conditioner's cooling efficiency is measured by the Energy Efficiency Ratio EER. The EER is the ratio of the cooling capacity output per hour [measured in British thermal units BTU] compared to the input power in watts.

 

The air conditioner's heating efficiency is measured by the Coefficient Of Performance COP. Both the EER and the COPratings define the output capacity of the appliance, when multiplied by the input power in watts. The higher the EER / COP ratings are, means better appliance efficiency.
 

When the input power is not stated on the appliance's label, you can work this out by dividing the cooling output capacity figure by the EER and the heating output capacity figure by the COP. 

 

To work out the maximum cost of the appliance, simply multiply this resulting figure by your electricity cost per kWh in cents [example 25 cents].

Cooling example: 

• Input power rating 1.84 kW / Output rating 6.0 kW / EER 3.26
• Cost per hour is 1.84 kW X .25 cents = 46 cents
• Input power rating 6.0 / EER 3.26 = 1.84 kW

Heating example: 

• Input power rating 2.05 kW / Output rating 7.0 kW / COP 3.41
• Cost per hour 2.05 kW X .25 cents = 51 cents
• Input power rating 7.0 / COP 3.41 = 2.05 kW

The cost per hour in the above example is going to be the maximum cost per hour, as this is not taking account any thermostat operation. 

 

A known rule of thumb calculation used in the world of AC, is to use 70% of this input power rating when the system is reaching the required temperature / thermostat level. Once this level is achieved then the figure is reduced to 40% of the input power rating.

If you are looking for an AC Calculator or want to see example costings then visit this link AIR CONDITIONER COST CALCULATOR.

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

Tsunami Of Rubbish Electricity Bills In Australia

Power Station Pigs Flying High

Surely not as this is a multi-million dollar industry! Where large electricity retailer's computer systems pump out bills left right and centre, checked periodically by a human for error? 

So how come we are seeing an increasing tsunami of rubbish electricity bills here in Australia? 

It is getting to the point where 'pigs are flying' high over the offices of some electricity retailers. 

It is hard to believe electricity bills sent out to customers are simply to hard for anyone to understand. The electricity retailer not being able to supply answers either, surely makes possible the sight of pink pigskin in the sky, even more feasible! 

If electricity bills in Australia are indeed checked, then how can the average householder make sense of this 24 LINE electricity bill for instance? 

As the electricity bill stands it is just a rubbish electricity bill no-one can understand, so why send it out to the householder unchecked?

It is not the time Australian regulators enforce commonsense at least where all electricity bills are SIMPLY & EASY to understand by all concerned?

Visit our website for more ELECTRICITY BILLING ERRORS.

Need HELP with your metering and billing? Check out our popular METERING & BILLING SERVICE where we makesure your metering and billing are 100% correct.

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

For Sale 3 Phase Wattson Energy Monitor Easyfit Hub

If you are looking for a three phase monitoring solution for your solar power system and home consumption, then why not check out the Wattson energy monitoring system.

Each Wattson energy monitoring system includes all the hardware you need to get the data in your face and online via the free 'Wattson Anywhere' monitoring dashboard.

What is in in the box?

• 3 Phase Wattson Solar Plus Monitor
• 3 Phase Easyfit Bundle
• Online HUB and free online monitoring dashboard

See a LIVE example of the dashboard in action HERE.

We have ONLY two complete systems here on offer. HURRY they will not last for long, as we know there is high demand for this great real-time monitoring system.

Call our office NOW on 02 8064 3992

You will need your sparkie to install a power point in the powerbox to power the transmitters, instead of running them off batteries.

The company behind the monitor has recently gone into liquidation. This monitor is still going to be supported by the Australian distributor and the UK based online provider of the free dashboard. These two complete systems are now like hen's teeth!

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

Android App For Solar Power Monitoring With Net FIT

Solar PV Monitoring App

A fantastic Android app developed here in Australia by Mark McDonald, for the real-time monitoring of total home power consumption and solar power generation, in a net metered environment.

As you most likely know, if you do not have electricity monitoring installed on a net metered solar pv system, then you are operating blind as to what your total consumption is and you only know your import and export, annoyingly in three months time when the electricity bill arrives. Rather late to take action!

Ask yourself how much power have you returned to the grid for six or eight cents? This is not the way to operate and maximise your solar investment, that cost you thousands!

So let us help you pay it off quicker. You make your money with a net metered solar system by reducing imported power, using your own generated power and sending as little back to the grid!

So to know how to do this, you simply need feedback. And monitoring hardware and software gives you this feedback, which thus creates action.

Now there is really NO EXCUSE to not know, if your using more power or exporting it back to the grid for little return.

Get the data you need in your face today and start saving with the feedback of this great little Android app.

Of course if you do not have an Android, or care little for mobile tablets and devices, then we can get the data you need simply in your browser or face via a LCD monitor!

Visit our SOLAR POWER MONITORING page for more information.

Find Mark McDonald on GOOGLE PLAY

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

7 Important Facts When Switching Electricity Retailer

OK so you are looking for a better electricity deal? So what do you really NEED TO KNOW to fully understand an electricity retailer's offer?

To make the best and correct choice for your home, you will need to make an educated decision based on certain facts.

So let us look in detail at what these 7 important facts are:

1. How are you going to be charged for the electricity you use, meaning is the tariff a flat rate, a tiered rate or a Time Of Use TOU rate. Certain tariff types will work better for some homes dependent on when the power is used and the amount of power used.
2. What are you going to be charged for the electricity you use in cents?
3. What is the % of discount OFF the usage for paying on time POT? Is the retailer starting with the same network base price? Is there a penalty for paying late other than the loss of the POT discount?
4. Is there a credit for switching to a market offer such as a two year agreement? Some retailers offer a $100 credit for a two year agreement.
5. What are you going to be charged for the daily service costs?
6. Are there any additional transaction fees, such a direct debit or credit card fees.
7. Are there any other fees such as paper bill fees?

Knowing the above 7 important facts when comparing electricity retailer's offers, will allow you to make an educated decision.

We would further recommend you get the electricity retailer to send you an example bill. Electricity bills differ greatly in Australia, due to a lack of regulation and billing format.

Some electricity bills are simply very difficult for anyone to understand! Even we have issues and disturbingly in some cases so does the electricity retailer's customer support desk!

An electricity bill with no total kWhs or total days on the bill, is surely a good start for a failing electricity billing system. And an electricity bill with twenty-four lines of data is not an easy read either, or one with coding that relates to nothing!

Electricity billing issues such as this are common place, all often discovered during our ELECTRICITY METERING AND BILLING SERVICE.

Taking note of the above 7 important facts when comparing electricity retailer's offer, will help you to make the best choice.

Not forgetting importantly, most electricity retailer's will pay off the other's early termination charges ETC, to get you on board.

Any electricity retailer switch will always involve a special meter read, which at the time of writing costs around $55 in NSW.

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

Electricity Retail Offer Comparison Spreadsheet

In the search for a better electricity offer for our own office, we decided to create a simple spreadsheet. This software allowing us to cut through all the marketing hype and compare apples with apples.

Our satellite office had an electricity bill of $312 which we have now got down to $250. That is not a bad saving for a couple of hours investigation. 

If you too are also having problems cutting through the marketing hype of electricity retailer's offers, why not take a copy of our spreadsheet for test drive.  

You simply enter the details from your last electricity bill, including tariff rates and daily service charges and two other retailer's electricity offers. The software easily shows you the cheapest offer, allowing you also to include all discounts and bonus offers.

The spreadsheet supports all tariffs, flat and tiered rates along with time of use and controlled loads. Now you can easily see who is charging what and where, importantly finding truly the best deal for your home. 

This spreadsheet is suitable for all of you trying to find a better electricity deal, no matter where you live. 

We will be adding this software to our website soon, but in the meantime why not give us a call on 02 8064 3992 to get your copy.

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

When Is An Oil Heater Not An Oil Heater?

Oil Heater With Good Oil Quantity

Have you ever owned an old oil filled radiator? They weigh a ton right? Well take a look at the new oil filled heaters in the shops right now.

They still have the same kWh ratings such as 2000W. Now if you remember how heavy those [back breaking] old oil heaters were, these new ones are light as a feather!

With the common modern manufacturing principle of using less metal, there is one obvious other big difference. There is simply a lot less oil! 

The inner volume of the heater is far less along with the oil inside the fins of the heater. Thus the heated oil will be hot for a far shorter period of time. Meaning the heater is on more and is moving more towards a normal convection heater and away from the old principles of how an oil heater works and performs. 

Wikipedia reports an oil heater as being designed to use the oil as a heat reservoir, the heating element heats the oil, which remains warm for a LONG period of time while the heat is transferred to the metal wall through convection, through the walls via conduction, then to the surroundings via convection and radiation. And we would agree with this 100%. So why reduce the oil content, which affects the way the heater works?

Well one reason for the manufacturers change is the old oil heaters take to long to heat up! And modern customers do not like this fact! Interestingly this design change seems to have taken away the advantage of the oil itself!

Surely the marketing is incorrect here where if you want fast heat, go for a fan heater and not an oil heater. Which when of the old design of having more oil, according to our in-house tests used far less electricity than the new light as a feather oil radiators.

Read more about oil filled radiators on WIKIPEDIA.

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

The Real Truth About Electricity Retailer's Discounts

Electricity Discounts Differ Greatly!

With the PAY LATE and be FINED offer as we call it, so commonly now installed in householder's electricity bills across Australia, you would think you only need to pay attention to any rate on offer YES?

Well NO as the offer can be quite different and easily save you less or more depending on your final choice. It certainly pays to read the fine print here!

So let us take a look at six explanations for discounted offers, all 'cut n pasted' directly from the Government's Energy Made Easy website electricity retailers listings:

• You will receive a 11% discount off the consumption and supply charge components
• Discount off total amount payable on your bill, before concessions are applied
• 10% discount will be applied to the total billed amount when the bill is paid by the due date
• A discount off your usage charges for 12 months when you pay on time
• Guaranteed to save at least 16% (instead of 4%) off our Standard Power rates for your entire bill
• A 18% Pay On Time discount off your usage charges

OK PAY LATE or PAY ON TIME it is all the same, you lose one way and gain the other. But what is any discount really including? We will assume the electricity retailer's have written the offer correctly here. So let us look at each offer as they are listed above:

• A discount off your usage and supply charges - OK CLEAR
• A discount off your total amount before concessions - NOT CLEAR Pre Post GST?
• A discount off your total billed amount - NOT CLEAR Pre Post GST?
• A discount off your usage charges for 12 months when you pay on time - NOT CLEAR as one could pay one bill on time and is the discount then applied to all others over a 12 month period, irrespective of paying the other bills on time?
• A discount off your power rates - NOT CLEAR as what are the Standard Power rates and does this include usage / supply?
• A discount off your usage - OK CLEAR

So as you can see NOT SO CLEAR! Now we did pass this list around a few clients for a better understanding of what they thought was on really on offer. And we were all confused a little with some of the explanations.

The term 'total' and 'total billed' can be confusing to some householders, as it may be thought to include GST! As that is the total billed we would say. We think it does not though, but how about some clarity please Mr. Electricity Retailer!

So as you can see the discount can be off the usage and include or not, the daily supply charges. Now if your supply charges are $1.40 per day for example, this is going to make a very big difference, especially on a small bill where the daily supply charges are in fact more than the usage! And that is the case with our electricity bill.

One day we hope to see standardised bills across all electricity retailers with some form of regulation to keep the electricity billing across Australia accurate and in order. It is about time Electricity Retailers showed more Good Faith!

Now if you are having issues with your electricity billing, yes we have a page of ELECTRICITY BILLING ERRORS and also offer you a METER & BILL CHECK SERVICE.

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

Monitoring Your Net Metered Electricity Consumption On PVOutput

What Are You Exporting?

If you are already successfully uploading your solar inverter's data to the detail rich online web portal of PVOutput, you will have noticed in a net metered environment, you really need to see your electricity consumption as well.

The reason for this is you need to know when you have excess power, so you can use it in realtime. Otherwise you run the risk of exporting it back to the grid for little financial return. Whereas if you use it instead of importing power, your power on the roof is worth a lot more.

By using your own power first you will be offsetting your normally imported electricity costs. Your solar power per kWh could be worth upwards of thirty cents, compared to six or eight cents your electricity retailer is paying you to return it back to the grid.

Possible 1kW ROI [NSW] @ 30 cents $427 @ 6 cents $85

This is why in a net metered environment it does not pay to oversize your solar system. As you can see using your electricity wisely will increase it's worth five fold! 

In fact to correctly size any solar pv system before installation, you really need to know exactly what you are using in the sunny hours of the day. Otherwise you or the sales person are guessing!

So how do you get your home's electricity consumption data online to PVOutput when your inverter's monitoring system does not include electricity consumption? Well you simply install a electricity consumption monitoring system. The electricity consumption data in your home will then be displayed alongside your current solar pv data. Allowing to see excess power and 'using it before losing it' for little return.

Showing Solar Power & Consumption Data

The electricity monitoring solutions we offer cover more than one hardware platform, giving you slight variations of features and the benefits.

More and more householders are contacting us day by day as they discover they know very little about their imported / exported power. And the only way to know this important information, is to install some form of electricity consumption monitoring system, it is that easy! And whilst you are monitoring your consumption you are going to learn ways to cut the waste.

So why not take a look at our page on CHOOSING YOUR HOME ELECTRICITY MONITOR. 

Sep 2015 : See our addition to this post, where we discuss a great SOLAR PV MONITORING ANDROID APP suitable for all net metering environments.

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.

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

How To Choose Your Electricity Monitor

Choosing A Home Power Monitor

After five years of testing, configuring, benchmarking and supplying power monitors, to a large selection of householders and small business owners in Australia, we know everyone has a slightly different set of needs from any power monitoring solution.

The electricity monitors we offer work in a similar manner, whilst having slight variations on certain features and benefits.

You will find our CHOOSING YOUR POWER MONITOR page clearly explains what you need to know, to be in a situation to make the best choice. 

See our electricity monitor comparison table to further assist you. Of course your welcome to give us a call or drop us an email. 

For those of you wanting a quick power monitor quote, please use our ELECTRICITY MONITOR QUOTE form, also found our website. 

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

Electricity News Headline Feed Australia

World Electricity News Australia

Looking to keep in touch with electricity and power news related headlines?

We have created a news feed, which you can easily subscribe to via RSS feed and email.

Alternatively visit WORLD ELECTRICITY NEWS.

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

Multiple Appliance Monitoring Connection Diagram

Multiple Circuit Monitoring

Installing an electricity monitoring system for multiple appliances / circuits does not have to be a nightmare. 

If certain procedures are followed correctly, it can be set up quickly with no errors.

See our SUPPORT page for our MULTIPLE CIRCUIT MONITORING INSTALLATION DIAGRAM, where we detail the easy way to install a multiple appliance / circuit monitoring solution.

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

Solar PV Monitoring Correct Connection Diagram

Incorrect Monitoring Current Clamps

There is often a lot of confusion when it comes to the correct placement of the current clamps, for the purpose of monitoring electricity consumption and Solar PV generated power.

The issue primarily is with the correct placement of the current clamps for the home electricity consumption. 

By placing the clamps around the incorrect cables often means the solar generation and the consumption follow a similar pattern, as shown above. 

On our SUPPORT page you will find documents such as the,

SOLAR POWER & HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION CURRENT CLAMP GUIDE

to finally end the confusion. 

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

Moving House Reference The NSW Solar Bonus Scheme

NSW Solar Bonus Scheme

We have been getting a rising number of questions regarding the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme. A common question being:

"If I move out of my house, will the next occupant be eligible to receive the same scheme tariff?"

This is a good question, so let us take a look at the answer and see how it works.

Regardless of whether you received the 60 cent tariff or the 20 cent tariff, the new account holder will be eligible to receive the 20 cent tariff, subject to them meeting the eligibility requirements. The only exception to this is if you were a 60 cent tariff recipient and the new occupant can demonstrate that they were in a 'domestic relationship' with you, then they will be eligible to receive the 60 cent tariff.

Once the premises has moved to the 20 cent Scheme tariff, it can not return to the 60 cent Scheme tariff even if the original account holder takes back the account.

For more answers to questions regarding the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme, visit the NSW RESOURCE & ENERGY website.

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

What Happens When The NSW Solar Bonus Scheme Ends

NSW Solar Bonus Scheme Ends 2016

You may be asking yourself what is going to happen when the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme [Gross FIT 60 & 20 cent] comes to an end in December 2016? 

From a recent conversation with a NSW electricity distributor, it appears a decision has been made on the policy of the matter.

“A distributor supplies meters at no charge, the only costs involved are those charged by the Accredited Service Provider [ASP] installing the meter.”

“When an ASP replaces a gross meter with a new net meter, the old gross meter is returned to the distributor where it can be either kept in store as a gross meter or reprogrammed when possible to a net meter.”

“As meters are supplied at no charge by the distributor, there is no buy back for their return. Before or at the end of the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme the householder simply needs to arrange for an ASP to rewire the solar inverter from the gross meter, to the export register of the net meter.”

Where a householder has a NSW SBS gross meter and also a net metered system, then the solar inverter connected to the gross meter is simply rewired and added to the existing net metered system. 

Visit our page on NET FIT METERING & BILLING for an insight into net metering.

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

Are All Time Of Use Electricity Tariffs The Same?

The answer is NO. Differences are the number of hours offered on each tariff rate be it peak, shoulder and off-peak. And of course, the cost per tariff.

So let us take a look at two different TOU electricity retailers offers. Whilst electricity retailer's in one electricity distribution area may offer small changes to the costs, based on tariff rates, the biggest changes occur when one compares rates offered in one electricity distribution area to another.

For this exercise we are comparing an offer in the Essential Energy area, to an offer in the Ausgrid distribution area.

With any TOU plan, the hours in the week [a total of 168] are charged at different rates based on demand. For the actual times these tariffs are in force, please see our TOU TABLES.

Time Of Use Differences Based On Distribution Area

As you can easily see there are big differences in the % of total hours per week per tariff type. This can make the TOU more or less suitable, when it comes to reducing electricity costs.

Some of the differences in the TOU plans offered are:

• One distribution area has peak and shoulder charged at the same rate
• Both TOU offers have completely different tariff times and rates

It is therefore essential to know at what time of day you are going to be using or not using electricity and how much. Once you have a better idea of this electricity usage in your home, you will be in a better position to know if the TOU will in fact save you on electricity costs.

An easy solution to see the differences in TOU plans, along with comparing a TOU to a flat rate or block rate, is to install ELECTRICITY MONITORING SOFTWARE with the capability of electricity tariff comparison.

See our blog post HERE for more on the difference is costs.
 
This blog post and podcast brought to you by Aussie Home Energy, a major player in the HOME ELECTRICITY SAVING SERVICE industry in Australia.

7 Common Areas Of Concern For Aussie Electricity Users

Listed here are the main areas of concern for users of electricity, discovered during our ELECTRICITY AUDITS.

• Correct Metering Installation
• Accurate Billing System
• Appliance Energy Ratings
• Household Usage Patterns
• Consumption & Solar Monitoring
• Offsetting Electricity Costs
• Best Electricity Tariff

All of the above areas of concern, are fully investigated during our electricity auditing service.

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

How To Reduce Your Air Conditioner's Standby Power

Removing AC Standby Power

A common appliance in many homes that can suffer from standby electricity is the air conditioner unit. 

This standby electricity greatly adds to the quarterly electricity bill and for some householders it is hard to discover and remove. 

So let us take a look at why this standby electricity occurs in an air conditioning unit and how to eliminate it.

The standby electricity in your AC unit can be caused by:

• Power being applied to the compressor windings
• Power being applied to a crank case heater
• Power applied to the control panel, thus creating constant communications between indoor and outdoor components of the unit

So how do you reduce the standby electricity of your air conditioner? 

Well the simple solution is to turn it off at the power board when it is not in use. In some homes this can be for six months or more of the year, when the AC unit is not used.

With 100W of standby power costing at least $300 over the year [when based on a thirty five cent tariff], this is an amount of electricity costs that should not be ignored.

If you decide to turn off the AC unit, you need to be aware of one important fact. Which is the time before use, where the AC unit needs to be powered on. This may be written in the instruction manual and should read similar to:
'When you require the operation of the A/C please allow at least 4hrs on standby (after the isolator has been turned on) before initialising the touch pad ON/OFF button'.

The reason for this initial power up sequence, is due to the control board sending a ‘trickle’ charge through the compressor windings to warm the oil of the unit, during this four hour period. This warming of the oil is needed to get it to the correct viscosity. This process also removes any migrated liquid refrigerant from the compressor sump.

If this warming process is not carried out, premature damage may occur to the compressor. Furthermore there may be an increased efficiency loss and eventual seizure could occur. This is why if the power is removed, the correct procedure needs to be followed before operation.

On some inverter style AC units, the design energises the compressor windings (trickle charge) if the outdoor ambient temperature falls below 21C, during the off cycle or while in standby for a duration of 30 minutes on and 30 minutes off until the compressor is initialised for heating or cooling again. 

It can be this constant energising of the compressor windings that greatly adds to the standby power consumption, especially during any cooler periods where the ambient drops below 21C regularly.

It is noted this method [trickle charging the compressor windings] of heating the oil is far more efficient than any crank case heater in earlier AC units. These crank case heaters being powered on all the time and consuming large amounts of standby power.

Standby power is easy discovered by using an ELECTRICITY MONITOR in the home, where each appliances 'on power' and 'standby power' are easily discovered.

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