The network company that first called for the introduction of rooftop solar export tariffs has this month started charging the so-called "sun tax" to retailers on its grid. As the landmark policy arrives in a cloud of dust, signed off by the Governor-General on Saturday, we take a fresh look at the ins and outs of the Cheaper Home Batteries rebate. How to choose the right battery, why VPP (Virtual Power Plant) compatibility matters, what the rebate covers, and how to avoid common mistakes. Federal and WA Labor agree to stack their respective home battery incentive schemes – but not in the way many might have hoped, and with a VPP twist. Clean Energy Council approves new single-phase hybrid inverter for installation that offers backup power, high-capacity PV input, and virtual power plant integration. Electricity bills are out of control, but a fairer, simpler market is possible where energy companies compete for us, so we don't have to shop around. The network company that first called for the introduction of rooftop solar export tariffs has this month started charging the so-called "sun tax" to retailers on its grid. With Australia's battery rebate now in place, the onus is on us as an industry to ensure those batteries actually work hard for the homes they serve. Ausgrid's Rob Amphlett Lewis on the challenges and opportunities facing Australia's largest distribution network. Plus the launch of Australia's home battery rebate and other news of the week. A new study will see how households and businesses without solar can buy it from households that produce excess. Iconic Swedish furniture retailer jumps aboard the balcony solar craze, launching its own range of "balkonkraftwerk" panel and battery kits in a booming European market. As the landmark policy arrives in a cloud of dust, signed off by the Governor-General on Saturday, we take a fresh look at the ins and outs of the Cheaper Home Batteries rebate. Electricity retailer cops fine for using marketing methods that are banned in Victoria, including cold-calling customers and making "win-back" offers. Kait Williamson from Flow Power on how one Victorian town built its own green power solution from the ground up. Plus the news of the week. From mayoral letters to kitchen table chats, councils are proving that when it comes to electrifying homes, a conversation beats marketing. Virtual power plants are still dogged by major trust issues, industry experts say, with customers reluctant to hand over control of their solar and battery assets. But there is hope.
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