Introducing the Battery Rewards Plan

[Basil_AGL]

We’re excited to launch our new Battery Rewards Plan— an energy plan designed for customers with home batteries in NSW, QLD and SA who want to make the most of their stored energy.  

By choosing to export energy back to the grid during peak times, eligible customers can earn up to $600 in Digital Visa Gift Cards.^ It’s our way of rewarding smart energy choices that support a more sustainable grid. 

Unlock more value from your battery: https://www.agl.com.au/residential/energy/compare-plans/energy-offer?webid=BRPLAN 

^Prepaid Digital Visa gift cards are allocated quarterly and value varies depending on kWh exported in certain peak times.  Earn a $10 gift card if you export between 1kWh and 50kWh and for every additional 50kWh an extra $10 will be added to the card value – up to a maximum of $400 each quarter.   

T&Cs available at agl.com.au/compare-plans. Basic Plan Information Documents available at agl.com.au/bpid. Prepaid Visa T&Cs available at agl.com.au/bpvisaterms    

[ab1239342]

I’m relatively new to AGL and its Battery Rewards program (with the VPP plan). How does my battery connect to the system? Do I need to set it up myself? I tried, but my installer and the manufacturer advised that it can’t be done by me and that only the retailer can handle this. Currently, I can only use my battery for self-consumption. So, how does the battery export between 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM work? Who is responsible for enabling this export?

[SolarVaulter]

If you’ve signed up to the Battery Rewards Plan then you wil be able to export whenever you like through the system settings of your solar and battery  - I’m assuming you have an App for your battery and solar? I am not on the VPP.

I have a Sigenergy system that has an App where I can set the the battery to export whenever I want on what they call “Time Based Control” - typically between 5pm and 9pm as that’s when it makes it most sense or cents 🙂 lol.

Also bear in mind that on the VPP AGL can use your battery whenever they like to export.

[MrNash]

What is the supply charge and peak rate on that plan? 

[SolarVaulter]

$1.60 supply charge, 50c peak, 20c other times.

[Lester]

@MrNash you can be on any plan, so staying on whatever plan you are on, or changing to a better one, you just pay the same tariffs and supply charge for that plan.

There are no fees for either extra add on, battery rewards or VPP.

Battery Rewards, you are in control, you can export whatever you like between 5pm to 9pm to get the rewards you want, keeping battery for whatever you might need in the home for the evening / early morning needs.

The VPP, I think AGL can help itself to your battery whenever they need it during peak usage times, typically early morning and more so evenings, again between 5pm and 9pm is high usage in the grid.

I'm not sure if you can set limits on battery you give access too with a VPP, eg keep 10kwh or whatever for your home use, and they can have the rest, or if it is just open season on your battery whenever AGL wants the power.

[Lester]

@SolarVaulter totally dependent on your DNSP pricing and retailer offers (competition based), varies so much in states and even regions within states.

Sounds like you're on a single tariff with off peak (?), many with solar / digital meters are now on TOU tariff.

Eg, here in SA our 13 hours a day peak, including 0600 to 1000, and 1500 mid afternoon right through to midnight is 53c on my plan, supply charge is only $1.10, both GST included.

We only get 2c FIT for solar feed in.

Can't wait to get a battery and check out other plans / concepts like battery rewards and maybe a VPP type offer.

Battery Rewards is as good as cash as you can use the gift cards for groceries and other day to day needs.

VPP gains are credited to your bill.

[SolarVaulter]

@Lester - I’m in Brisbane and on the Battery Rewards Plan. It’s a TOU plan; Daily Supply Charge is $1.60, Peak (4pm-9pm) 50c and all other times it’s 20c.
I have a 20kw solar array and 40kw battery and feed in approx 25-30kw each night to max out the refund in gift cards. 

This is how my sums work for 12mths

- $800 sign on credit if I stay for 12mths 

- $1600 battery feed in credit in gift cards 

- Nil TOU saves me approx $2000p.a

- Approx $300p.a credit from solar feed in at 3c (this is after I cover the daily supply charge)

So it works out to approx $4700p.a

And I have full house back-up if grid power goes down. And it does - I’ve lost grid power for 5 days this year due to weather events. 

[Tony9]

Similar here - Sunshine Coast. 18kW panels/10kW Sigen inverter/ 40kWh Sigenstor.
5kW single phase export limit on daytime 3x/kWh FIT  leaves me a touch short of covering the $1.60 daily supply charge.

Tend to chew through a fair bit of power overnight, so can only export 15kWh for the 25c peak bonus +3c = 28c/kWh while ending up just above 10% reserve S.O.C. by sunrise. I guess I could go the ~17-18 kWh/day to max it out and wear the offsetting 20c/kWh once I hit reserve. A 48kWh battery would have been ideal for me

I don't know if the $800 credit that kicks in after the first year will do much since it only offsets electricity use/ daily supply charge. I guess I do have a small daily shortfall, and for a while it will enable me to export the maximum peak bonus and not be concerned with drawing a few kWh at 20c before dawn.
Note: there is a new Sigen deal now of $1,000 credit rather than $800 - unfortunately AGL won't apply it retrospectively.

[SolarVaulter]

@Tony9 

I have a 20kw 3 phase inverter so I can export up to 15kw. Makes it really easy to cover the daily supply charge and some.

It does make financial sense for me to exhaust the battery right at 9pm to maximize the high battery feed-in rate and then to use the lower (20c) rate until the morning when the solar kicks in again. I only use about 0.5kw/hr from 9pm until sunrise so it’s about 4.5kw x 20c. It works out to about $130 approx per year better off to do this. Not really worth chasing on its own but holistically it makes sense.

Now back to your system;

You can only export 20kw in the 5pm - 9pm window due to your export limit on single phase of 5kw. So you should have approx 20kw (minus whatever you used in that window) to see you through the night. That should be ample - what are you using overnight that couldn’t be used during the day so you can export 20kw in the peak time? Hot water - if you don’t already consider putting in a hot water timer so it only comes on during daylight hours.

And can you send a link to the Sigen deal please?

[Tony9]

You haven't factored in she who must be obeyed x ducted air con 🙂