Understanding Your Electricity Bill — And How Solar + Battery Helps
To understand how solar saves you money, it helps to break down how your electricity bill actually works. There are two main charges on almost every household bill:
- Daily Supply Charge – This is a fixed fee just to stay connected to the grid. It doesn’t matter how much power you use — this charge shows up every day, rain or shine.
- Usage Charge – This is the big one. You’re charged per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for the energy your home uses. The more you use, the more you pay.
Most homes without solar rely entirely on the grid for both of these. But with a solar + battery system, you dramatically reduce — and in many cases nearly eliminate — your usage charges.
Here’s how it works:
- Solar panels power your home during the day, running everything from fridges to air conditioning.
- Any extra solar energy is stored in your battery instead of being sent to the grid for a small credit.
- Your battery then powers your home at night, when your panels aren’t generating electricity.
This setup means you’re using very little — if any — electricity from the grid. So your usage charges shrink to almost nothing.
Why Grid Feed-In Tariffs Don’t Cut It
You might already know that solar panel owners can export excess energy to the grid and get paid for it. But what you might not know is just how low those rates are — often just $0.03 to $0.06 per kWh.
That’s a fraction of what you pay for energy from the grid (which can range from $0.30 to $0.50 per kWh), and it’s not nearly enough to make a dent in your bill on its own. That’s why pairing your solar panels with a battery is essential. It allows you to use your own solar power around the clock — and save money 24/7, not just when the sun’s shining.
The VPP Advantage — Turning Your Battery Into an Income Stream
Our Virtual Power Plant (VPP) takes things to the next level.
By joining, you allow Clean Power Australia to access a small portion of your stored battery energy during peak demand periods — typically in the early evening. In return, you’re paid premium rates — up to $1.00 per kWh — for that power.
It’s a win-win:
- You keep most of your battery energy to use at home.
- You get paid generously for the small portion you share.
- You help stabilize the energy grid and support a cleaner energy future.
And unlike many other VPPs, you’re not locked in. You can switch energy retailers at any time, making sure you’re always getting the best deal. That kind of flexibility is rare — and extremely valuable.
Future-Proofing Your Energy Needs
The other key to unlocking big savings is designing your system around future usage, not just your current bill.
Our consultants look at your goals over the next 5–10 years:
- Adding an electric vehicle?
- Planning to install a pool or spa?
- Want to run ducted air con more freely?
- Thinking about switching to electric cooking or hot water?
All of these things increase your electricity needs — and if your solar system isn’t sized to match, you’ll be back to paying grid prices.
That’s why we custom design every Clean Power Australia system to future-proof your home and lock in long-term savings.
The Bottom Line: Solar + Battery + VPP = Real Savings
When designed correctly, a Clean Power Australia system can reduce your power bills by up to 90% or more. Some of our customers pay as little as $0–$10 per month after everything is set up — and that includes homes with EVs, pools, and all-electric appliances.
It’s not just about installing solar panels. It’s about having the right system, the right battery, and the right plan to maximize every dollar you invest.
