How to boost your solar savings

These checks and adjustments will help to lower your energy bills even further.

  • Check your power plan

    You can save more from solar when you’re on the best plan for your set-up.

    Compare plans

  • Shift energy use and electrify your home

    Shifting your habits to use more daytime solar power will cut your energy costs.

    View simple habits

  • Monitor and maintain your solar system

    How to keep an eye on usage and ensure your system is in good shape. 

    Care for your system

Check you’re on the best power plan

The power plan you’re on can make a big difference to the savings you can get from your solar system. It affects how much you pay for electricity and the buyback rate you get for selling excess solar electricity. So which plan is likely to be best? 

Compare power plans

If you’ve got a solar system, with or without a battery, checking that you’re on the right power plan can help you maximise the savings you can make on your energy use.   

Billy was created by the Electricity Authority as a free and independent service to help you compare and switch power plans.

Shift your power use to the daytime

To maximise your solar power, use as much of your everyday electricity as possible while the sun is out. That might mean changing some habits, but automation can help.

  • Run your appliances

    Aim to use power-hungry appliances like your washing machine, dishwasher, and oven when there’s daylight.

  • Heat your water

    Set your water to heat up in the daytime by adding a timer or a solar diverter to your electric hot water cylinder.

  • Automate usage

    Use low-cost timers or smart plugs to turn appliances on when solar power is available.

  • Spread out jobs

    Avoid running many appliances at once, as that’ll draw on lots of solar power and increase the likelihood that you’ll need to buy power.

  • Charge electric vehicles

    Switch to daytime charging if you have an EV, so you can use the power your panels are generating.

Electrify and insulate your home

If you’re still using gas, switching to an electric heat pump and electric hot water system (like a hot water heat pump or efficient cylinder) will boost your savings from solar.

  • Buy efficient appliances

    More efficient appliances will help your solar power to go further, as they use less energy to get the same jobs done.

    Find and compare efficient appliances

  • Wrap your home well

    A well-insulated home uses power more efficiently, dropping the amount of heating or cooling you need, and optimising your solar usage.

    View insulation advice for your home 

Monitor system performance

While you’re getting used to having solar, it’s helpful to monitor your system so you can adjust your habits and make sure it’s working as expected.

Regular, ongoing monitoring will enable you to see how well your system is performing and pick up on any need for maintenance.

Use an app to see what’s happening

An app may come with your system or be an extra that you pay for. With an app, you can:

  • check how much solar power your system is generating, using or storing
  • understand your usage patterns
  • monitor system efficiency and performance
  • identify any system issues quickly
  • track how much electricity you’re buying and selling.

Care for your solar panels 

Solar panels don't need much maintenance and will work well for 25–30 years, but it’s a good idea to look after them so they perform at their best.

  • More ways to upgrade your home energy and save

    Use our calculator to identify what could drop your bills even more.

    Calculate home energy savings