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Australia’s Battery Boom Hits 500,000. What’s Changed?

500,000 cheaper home batteries

Australia has now installed more than 500,000 batteries under the federal government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program.

It’s an impressive number for a scheme that’s a little over a year old, and one Energy Minister Chris Bowen was understandably keen to celebrate.

“Every battery installed means another household getting more value from their rooftop solar, and another job for the local installers and small businesses delivering this rollout across the country,” Bowen said.

But half a million batteries later, it’s worth looking beyond the milestone. The program hasn’t just put a lot of batteries on walls. It has changed Australia’s home energy market remarkably quickly.

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Solar Power Nation Clean Bowled By Hundreds Of Complaints

Michael Clarke promoting Solar Power Nation

A major solar retailer operating under four different names – and promoted by retired cricketer Michael Clarke – faces multiple investigations after copping hundreds of complaints, ranging from allegations of dodgy worksmanship to unrefunded deposit payments for installs that never happened.

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Insulating An Apartment With Strata: What’s Allowed?

Insulation options with the SolarQuotes border.

The parts of your apartment you can insulate depend on four main factors:

  1. Whether you own or rent
  2. Whether the work affects common property
  3. Whether it changes the building’s outside look
  4. Which state you live in

These points will help you figure out what you can do right away, what needs approval, and what isn’t allowed at all.

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Aldi Solar Expands West As Growing Pains Mount

Man showing woman solar panel.

Aldi Solar is expanding, with people in Western Australia and South Australia now able to get in line. But there are plenty of red flags to be aware of before getting a solar and battery system from a discount supermarket.

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The Best Conflict Of Interest Is The One You Can See

Every year we publish the Installer’s Choice Awards, and every year the same two objections turn up in the comments within about four milliseconds.

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Solar Sharer: How To Shift Appliances To Free Daytime Power

Cartoon image of a washing machine on a timer.

EV charging, heating, and cooling are usually the biggest electrical loads you can shift. We’ve already talked about heating and cooling in another part of this series, and we’ve also covered EVs. After those, hot water and the pool pump are usually next. But not all appliances can be shifted. Here’s how to figure out which ones you can move, and how to do it.

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Fuel Excise Cut Ends, As Age Of The EV Begins

Close view of petrol pumps.

The fuel excise cut introduced to soften the impact of rising petrol prices finished at midnight on 2 August. From this point, petrol and diesel are taxed at the full rate again, so prices at the pump are climbing higher once again. It comes as new data out this week shows that electric and hybrid vehicles made up nearly half of all cars Australians bought last quarter.

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GroWatt Manager Teabags The Clean Energy Council

A man getting hauled into a paddy wagon.

There’s never a dull moment in the solarcoaster, but a GroWatt manager took things up a notch last week by getting themselves arrested after a dalliance with the Clean Energy Council (CEC).

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Can You Charge An EV In Three Hours Of Free Power?

Two EVs charging in a driveway with an EV charger on the garage.

Solar Sharer plans featuring free daytime electricity can be great value for EV owners – but there’s a catch. To make the most of the offer, you need a dedicated home charger set to run during the free hours. If you use a regular wall socket and try to guess the timing, you’ll barely cover your commute, and your bill will stay about the same. Here’s how to get it right.

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Australia Needs More Electricians. Can Big Sister Help?

Big sister programAustralia needs more electricians, and one organisation believes helping more women complete their apprenticeships is part of the answer.

Big Sister is working with apprentices, employers and training providers to improve the number of women entering electrical trades and, just as importantly, staying long enough to become qualified.

The work comes as demand grows for electricians capable of installing solar, home batteries, EV chargers and the other equipment needed to electrify Australian homes.

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