Tesla is the latest company to combine the South Australian Government’s Home Battery Scheme (HBS) with its virtual power plant (VPP), offering cheaper electricity to local residents.
South Australian homeowners will have their electricity bills slashed by combining the battery subsidy of up to $6000 with the benefits of being a member of a VPP.
South Australian Energy Minister, Dan van Holst Pellekaan, said, “The new virtual power plant offer which helps South Australian households to access a heavily discounted battery and save even more on their electricity bills is good news.
“The State Government’s HBS is also designed to bring down the price of electricity for all South Australians by reducing peak demand.
“The Government’s energy policies have already delivered a three per cent reduction in household and small business bills and the HBS is part of a broader suite of policies to drive down the cost of power even further.”
As part of its new Tesla Energy Plan, Tesla is offering South Australian customers a special rate of $3499 for a 13.5kWh Powerwall after they access the Home Battery Scheme subsidy of up to $6000.
To access the special rate, customers must sign up to the Tesla Energy Plan administered by Tesla’s authorised retail partner – Energy Locals.
Tesla Energy Plan customers will not pay a daily supply charge for the electricity they draw from the grid, will receive a feed in tariff for the solar that they export to the grid, and enjoy the lowest electricity usage rate available in the market (35 per cent off the Discount Market Offer).
The Tesla Energy Plan joins three other virtual power plant offerings currently available in the South Australian market including AGL, Simply Energy and sonnenFlat.
VPPs operate as a bank of batteries that work together in coordination to help stabilise the network by smoothing the peaks and troughs of demand on the grid, benefiting all South Australians.
“The emergence of VPPs is tipping the power into the hands of consumers, making batteries more affordable for more South Australians,” said Minister van Holst Pellekaan.
“Consumers can now choose from a range of virtual power plant offers in the market, providing them with more choice in how to reduce their electricity bills.”
