Alec Ortega
Solar power is a hot topic, and more households are choosing to go solar. ActewAGL offers a variety of ways to monitor your solar usage. The company's smart meters, for example, can help you see your energy use in real time and adjust your lifestyle to save money. You can also provide your own meter reading if you receive an estimated electricity or gas bill. This way, you'll only ever pay for the energy you've used. ActewAGL also offers an app that allows you to view your electricity usage by month, day, and hour. This can help you identify usage patterns and find opportunities to save.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How often to check solar usage | Every quarter |
| How to check solar usage | Check that the recorded feed-in kWh on your bill matches your inverter/meter readings |
| How to read the meter | Press the SELECT button located on the top right of the meter front. Scroll through the options available until you see ‘View meter data’ |
| How to submit a meter self-read | Submit a photo of your meter reading and your account number to 0436 807 109 |
| How to lower energy usage | Turn off appliances when not in use, use LED light bulbs or upgrade to more energy-efficient appliances |
What You'll Learn
Compare your inverter/meter readings with your bill
Comparing your inverter/meter readings with your bill is a great way to ensure you are being charged correctly for your solar energy usage. Here are some steps and tips to help you with this process:
Understand Your Bill
Firstly, it is important to understand the different components of your energy bill. This includes supply charges, usage charges, and export credits. Supply charges are the daily fees for being connected to the grid. Usage charges are the costs for the electricity you import from the grid, typically during nights or periods of low solar generation. Export credits, on the other hand, are the payments you receive for the excess solar energy you send to the grid.
Check Recorded Feed-In kWh
When you receive your bill, pay close attention to the recorded feed-in kilowatt-hours (kWh). This value represents the amount of excess solar energy your system fed back to the grid during the billing period. Compare this value with the readings on your inverter or meter. If there is a significant discrepancy, as in the case described by a user on Reddit, it may indicate an issue with the automated billing system.
Contact ActewAGL
If you notice a discrepancy between your inverter/meter readings and the recorded feed-in kWh on your bill, don't hesitate to contact ActewAGL. They have a customer care team that can assist you in resolving these issues. As mentioned in the Reddit post, it may take some effort to get them to acknowledge the discrepancy, but they should be able to adjust your bill accordingly.
Regularly Monitor Readings
To avoid being overcharged, it is a good idea to regularly monitor your inverter and meter readings. Compare these readings with your bills each quarter to ensure they align. Additionally, keeping an eye on your solar app can help you identify any issues promptly.
Understand Smart Meter Data
If you have a smart meter, you can take advantage of the detailed energy usage data it provides. Smart meters record your electricity usage in short intervals, typically every 5 or 30 minutes. This data can be accessed through the ActewAGL app or online account, allowing you to view your usage by month, day, or even hour. By analysing this data, you can identify patterns and make adjustments to lower your energy bills.
By following these steps and staying vigilant, you can ensure that your solar energy usage is accurately reflected in your ActewAGL bills. Regular comparison of your inverter/meter readings with your bill will help you identify any discrepancies and take the necessary steps to resolve them.
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Understand your energy habits
Understanding your energy habits is the key to lowering your energy bills. By taking the time to learn about your energy usage, you can make small changes that will have a big impact on your bills and the environment.
ActewAGL recommends calculating your average daily energy consumption by adding up your electricity consumption from the past year, which can be found on your bills in kilowatt hours (kWh). Once you have this total, divide it by 365 to get your average daily usage. This method accounts for high-use periods, such as summer and winter, when your heater and air conditioner are working overtime.
With this information, you can start to explore what size solar system you will need. If you are unsure, the SolarHub & ActewAGL Smart Energy Hub team can assist you.
Additionally, a smart meter can help you monitor your energy usage in real time. This data will enable you to adjust your lifestyle and save money by shifting your energy use to shoulder or off-peak periods when energy costs are lower. You can also lower your energy usage by turning off appliances when not in use, using LED light bulbs, or upgrading to more energy-efficient appliances.
According to the Australian Energy Regulator, smart meters can help households save up to 10% on their energy bills.
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Check your solar status
ActewAGL offers a range of tools and services to help you monitor your solar usage and check your solar status. Here are some ways to do that:
- Smart meters: Smart meters allow you to see your energy usage in real time. This can help you adjust your energy consumption habits to save money. For example, you can shift your energy use to shoulder or off-peak periods when energy costs are lower. According to the Australian Energy Regulator, smart meters can help households save up to 10% on their energy bills.
- My.ActewAGL online platform: You can log in to your My.ActewAGL account to manage your energy accounts online. This platform provides access to billing information, payment options, and more.
- The AGL app: The AGL app is available for all customers and offers a range of features to help you understand your solar status. You can view your solar status in the Overview screen of the app, which monitors your solar system's performance and notifies you of any issues that could reduce your energy generation and savings. The app also provides insights into your energy usage, allowing you to view your electricity usage by month, day, and hour. You can also see how much energy you've sold to the grid for each billing cycle, day, or hour.
- Meter self-read: If you receive an estimated electricity or gas bill, you can provide your own meter reading. ActewAGL will then adjust your bill accordingly, ensuring you only pay for the energy you've used. You can submit a meter self-read by filling out a form or texting a photo of your meter reading and your account number to the provided number.
- Solar plans: ActewAGL offers solar plans that can help you maximise your solar investment. One such plan is the "Solar Power Electricty Plan," which offers a competitive feed-in tariff.
- SolarHub & ActewAGL Smart Energy Hub: This online resource provides information and tools to help you transition to an energy-efficient home, calculate your energy needs, and understand solar terminology.
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Learn about your feed-in tariff
ActewAGL offers a range of solar feed-in tariffs (FIT) for households in the ACT and NSW. The specific plans available to you will depend on your location and the specifics of your solar system.
The feed-in tariff rate you receive will depend on your energy plan. ActewAGL offers plans with higher feed-in tariffs, but these often come with bigger usage and supply charges. Many solar plans also have stepped feed-in tariffs and caps.
ActewAGL's Solar Saver plan offers 12c for the first 15 kWh per day and 8c after that. The Home Saver plan offers 8c. These rates are above average compared to other retailers.
The ACT Government closed the feed-in tariff scheme to new applications on 13 July 2011. However, ActewAGL also offers a Small Generator Buyback Scheme, which is a voluntary initiative where they purchase electricity exported from a customer's generator at the scheme's current feed-in tariff rate. This scheme is available to residential and small business customers in the ACT and NSW.
It's important to regularly check your meter readings and compare them to your bill to ensure you are being charged correctly for your feed-in tariff. You can submit a meter self-read through the ActewAGL website or text a photo of your meter reading and your account number to 0436 807 109.
If you are considering upgrading your solar system, be aware that if you are on a legacy high feed-in tariff, you will be removed from this tariff if you upgrade. You can either install a complete new system or upgrade your existing system, but the new system will only receive the currently available feed-in tariff rates.
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Adjust your lifestyle to save money
ActewAGL offers a variety of ways to monitor your solar usage and adjust your lifestyle to save money.
Firstly, you can request a smart meter to be installed in your home. A smart meter allows you to see your energy use in real time and monitor your household's energy consumption. This data can help you adjust your energy use to shoulder or off-peak periods when energy costs are lower, helping you save up to 10% on your energy bills.
Additionally, ActewAGL provides energy-saving tips and solar plans to help you reduce your energy use and bills. For example, you can turn off appliances when not in use, use LED light bulbs, or upgrade to more energy-efficient appliances. ActewAGL also offers payment options such as EvenPay and BudgetPay to help you manage your budget and avoid bill shock.
You can also calculate the energy needs of your home to ensure your solar system is tailored to your household's requirements. Collect your energy bills from the past year and add up your listed electricity consumption in kilowatt hours (kWh). Then, divide this number by 365 to determine your average daily usage. This calculation will account for high-use periods, such as summer and winter, when your heater and air conditioner are working overtime.
Furthermore, understanding your energy plan and usage habits can help you lower your energy bills. If you're home during the day, consider completing household duties during peak sunlight hours to maximise your solar investment. Alternatively, consider adding a battery storage system to store your solar-generated energy for use later in the day. The less power you draw from the grid, the more you can save.
Finally, you can submit a meter self-read to ActewAGL to ensure accurate billing. If you receive an estimated electricity or gas bill, you can provide your own meter reading, and ActewAGL will adjust your bill accordingly.
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Frequently asked questions
You can monitor your solar usage with ActewAGL by using a smart meter, which allows you to see your energy use in real time. This data can help you adjust your lifestyle to save money and shift your energy use to off-peak periods when energy costs are lower.
To read your smart meter, press the SELECT button located on the top right of the meter front. Then, scroll through the options until you see 'View meter data'. From there, you can access information such as the standard current date and time, excess energy consumed, and excess energy exported by your solar system.
ActewAGL monitors your solar system's performance and will notify you of any issues that could reduce your energy generation and savings. You can also perform a Solar Health Check through the app to troubleshoot any issues.
You can calculate your home's energy needs by using a tool like the Home Energy Assessment web tool or by estimating your energy usage based on your past bills. Collect your electricity consumption data from the past year, add it together, and divide by 365 to get your average daily usage.
If you notice a discrepancy between your bill and your solar usage, check that the recorded feed-in kWh on your bill matches your inverter/meter readings. If there is still an issue, contact ActewAGL customer service to resolve the problem.
