About Max Opray

Journalist Max Opray joined SolarQuotes in 2025 as editor, bringing with him over a decade of experience covering green energy. Across his career Max has won multiple awards for his feature stories for The Guardian and The Saturday Paper, fact-checked energy claims for Australian Associated Press, launched the climate solutions newsletter Climactic, and covered the circular economy for sustainability thinktank Metabolic. Max also reported on table tennis at the 2016 Rio Olympics — and is patiently waiting for any tenuous excuse to include his ping pong expertise in a SolarQuotes story.

Retailers Unleash Free Daytime Energy Plans (And Higher Supply Charges)

Most energy retailers have released their mandatory “Solar Sharer” free daytime electricity plans to market, but those who failed to meet the July 1 deadline or hiked daily supply charges could face the wrath of regulators.

[Read more…]

Solar Installers Warned As Fake Reviews Boom

Reviews of an installer

SolarQuotes General Manager Trevor Glen has called on solar installers to build trust with customers through genuine reviews, amid new analysis showing a surge in searches related to buying fake testimonials.

[Read more…]

A Solar Battery’s Secret Lever: The Minimum Reserve Level

A solar batteryThe minimum level of charge a battery will keep up its sleeve can be customised to best suit your priorities – whether it’s maximising energy trading profits, blackout protection or reducing degradation. You can even tweak it temporarily in response to unusual conditions – as I found during a power price surge earlier this week.

[Read more…]

Fox ESS Launches An Undercover Operation


Fox ESS is going under cover, with the hugely popular home energy brand offering free cable covers to customers amid concerns about installs with inadequate mechanical protection.

[Read more…]

A Single Upgrade Wiped Out Most Our Gas Bill

A hot water heat pumpGetting off gas is a multi-year process for many households – replacing hot water, heating and cooking appliances can be an expensive initial outlay to get done all at once. But as I found with my first gas bill after getting a hot water heat pump, even getting just one appliance upgraded can make a big difference.

[Read more…]

The Risk Behind ‘Upgradeable’ Battery Leases

Shinehub batteryA Queensland homeowner got a solar-battery system under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) through ShineHub, expecting it could be expanded later. Just a couple of years into a 10 year contract, the homeowner says he was told to throw away his battery and inverter and start again if he wanted more capacity — even though the system still worked. [Read more…]

Taps Running Too Hot Or Cold? They’re Probably Ill Tempered

A shower running too hotIf you’re getting scalded by the water pouring out of your taps or suffering through underwhelmingly tepid showers, there’s a likely culprit: the tempering valve.

[Read more…]

SolarQuotes Is Seeking A Home Electrification Writer

A woman holding a magnifying glassAre you a journalist with experience covering renewables, or a solar fanatic with professional writing experience? We might have just the role for you.

[Read more…]

Quitting Petrol For An EV: Do You Need A Home Charger?

A home EV charger

An Ocular home EV charger installed by Smooth Current Electrical Pty Ltd.

Thanks to the Iran war petrol prices just keep on rising, along with the number of petrol stations running out of fuel. The worsening fuel shortage has many Australians looking for the first time at making the switch over to an electric vehicle.

Aside from what car to buy, the other big decision prospective EV owners need to consider is whether to get a home charger: do they actually need the EV equivalent of a petrol station installed in their own driveway?

[Read more…]

How To Protect Your Home From The Oil & Gas Crisis

Oil rigs The Iran war is ushering in an extended period of supercharged oil and gas prices. Experts say Australians can insulate themselves from rising bills by electrifying their home and transport – here’s how.

[Read more…]

Get the latest solar, battery and EV charger news straight to your inbox every Tuesday