A new trial for battery owners: Introducing AGL's Energy Allowance Plan

[Georgia_AGL]

Find out more about our new Energy Allowance Plan

We're excited to introduce the AGL Energy Allowance Plan, a new trial designed to help eligible battery owners enjoy more predictable energy costs and spend less time thinking about managing their battery.
If you are deemed eligible and invited to join the trial, you'll receive an electricity allowance tailored to your household's typical usage, helping provide greater certainty about your energy costs from one billing period to the next.

What's different about this plan?

• A tailored electricity allowance based on your household's estimated typical electricity usage
• No electricity usage charges while you stay within your allowance
• Greater certainty about your energy costs
• Less day-to-day battery management
• Easy tracking through the AGL My Account

Think of it a bit like a mobile phone plan. You'll receive an allowance designed around your estimated typical usage, with an additional 25% buffer included to help accommodate normal variations.

Who can register their interest?

The trial is currently suited to households that:

• Have a smart meter
• Live in NSW, QLD or SA
• Own an appropriately sized Sigenergy, Sungrow and/or Alpha-ess battery

We're also working to expand the list of compatible battery brands over the coming months.

Interested?

Learn more and register your interest via our Energy Allowance landing page:  https://www.agl.com.au/campaigns/energy-allowance?cide=int-C1005946

Available to invited eligible residential customers in NSW, QLD and SA with a compatible home battery. Eligibility criteria apply and trial participant spots are limited. Charges apply for electricity used above your allowance. Basic Plan Information available at agl.com.au. For advice about the right plan for you, contact AGL on 13 12 45.

[lilacgerry]

Link doesn't work 

[Georgia_AGL · Accepted solution]

Hi @lilacgerry which state are you in? The offer is only available in NSW, QLD and SA so if you are clicking through to the Vic page you will receive an error message. Let me know if issues still persist. 

[lilacgerry]

Solved it myself.

I am NSW.

The bottom link was broken.

The top link worked.

I've had a look 

There is no way on earth I'm allowing anyone to control my battery.

The offer says no VPP 

Them in smaller print it says you have to allow AGL to control your battery 

Isn't that literally what a VPP is at its heart?

Not interested.

However I will be sharing the link and all about this plan type to MEEH for the community to dissect 

Thanks.

[Georgia_AGL]

Hi @lilacgerry 

Thanks for your feedback and for flagging the issue with the links.

We're currently updating the landing page to make the messaging clearer, particularly around the distinction that customers cannot participate in both a VPP and be on the Energy Allowance Plan at the same time.

Participation in the Energy Allowance Plan does require customers to give AGL permission to remotely coordinate the charging and discharging of their battery during specific events. This capability is what enables us to provide an energy allowance for small daily supply charge. We appreciate that some customers may view this as being similar to a VPP, and that's valuable feedback. We're taking this on board and reviewing our messaging to better explain how the plan works, so customers can make an informed decision about whether it's right for them.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your thoughts.

[lilacgerry]

My pleasure,

Always up for useful feedback 

I'm  all about transparency in the new renewable digital  model of energy supply that we are building together - but that means true transparency. And enabling people easier energy literacy.

I have some more questions about the new plan 

Just to clarify is AGL saying in clear terms  that if a customer signs up for the new 5 year mobile phone-like allowance energy plan that:

AGL will take control of the customers battery.

I ask will they prevent them charging or discharging their battery when they choose to or does signing up mean they can't any longer do that,  or will they be charged anything extra to do that if they are permitted.

 And that it is not similar to a VPP plan.

Can you clarify then why in fine print it requires them to buy a new special meter.

Can you confirm if they do need this new special meter how is it different and what is the function  of this meter? What does it do, how does it benefit the consumer?

A new meter must have a very special job that is different to a smart meter so what dies it do specifically?

To be on solar plans and also all people by 2030 consumers must be on a digital meter which has already allowed retailers greater ability to charge in smaller windows of time, among other things so what is different with this extra meter?

What different duties does it specifically perform?

How much is this new special meter? How much to install and how much out of pocket will this place the customer in? 

Why doesn't the credit roll over like a mobile phone plan does, it's one of the benefits of a long term plan like Telstra.rhat people enjoy?

How does this plan align with new laws proposed for 2027 that suggest all customers may be offered the same terms for as new customers on the same plan? Especially if essential energy people are excluded?

How much are the energy rates outside the events windows and if they go over their allowance.

What about outside the events will customers be prevented from using their meter the way they wish or charged a grid charge for supplying the grid outside the events window.

Why can only a few inverter types join this special plan 

What exact parameters define the ability of joining with these specific inverters to this new plan, what excuses others?

Thank you for assisting AGL customers and other energy site users  sites understand AGLs proposed plan.

Thanks