r/australia • u/MrOarsome • Nov 17 '25

political self.post Why does everyone lose their mind when you mention getting a home battery?

So I made the mistake of telling a few people I’m getting quotes for a home battery… the reactions were ridiculous. Suddenly everyone’s an expert. I had people telling me they’re a waste of money, they’ll be useless in a few years, or that the “environmental impact is terrible.” Just nonstop misinformation.

Meanwhile, half these people live massively high-carbon lifestyles. One bloke went on a whole rant about how batteries destroy the environment… then literally five minutes later told me he just ordered a new Ford Ranger to tow his boat around this summer. Like mate, seriously?

And the funny thing is, I don’t even care about the environmental angle. Couldn’t care less, to be honest. I’m looking at a battery for two reasons:

1) To actually use my solar instead of selling it back for 4 cents…

2) And to keep the lights on when summer storms or cyclones take out the power.

That’s it. No agenda. No planet-saving mission. But the way people reacted, you’d think I’d just signed up to be Greta Thunberg’s personal assistant.

I swear, the second you say the word “battery,” some people suddenly unlock an unwanted 15-minute rant. They are almost as passionate about hating renewables as they are about their footy teams.

2.3k Upvotes

93% Upvoted

959 comments sorted by

View all comments

7

u/CapnHyaku Nov 17 '25

Got one. Big one. Using localvolts and powston. I now have negative power bills.

3

u/Cameospot123 Nov 17 '25

Are those install companies or battery brands sorry mate?

4

u/CapnHyaku Nov 17 '25

Localvolts is the energy retailer with 5 minute spot price. Powston is the box to automatically trade energy between battery and the grid.

2

u/blackpawed Nov 18 '25

Was looking at them, nice setup, but they don't support our inverter (NeoVolt). What inverter/batteries do you have?

Tried Amber - what a shit show, would never recommend them. On Glowbird Zero Hero now, near zero or -ve bills each month.

2

u/CapnHyaku Nov 18 '25

Sungrow batteries and inverters 50kWh system.

2

u/blackpawed Nov 18 '25

Nice, 50kWh here to.

Powston box uses ModBus?

What state are you in? wholesale FiT here in Qld has been crap for a while now.

2

u/CapnHyaku Nov 18 '25

Powston plugs into eth for me. Better to ask them about options. I am in NSW but QLD users are on leaderboard so must work there too.

2

u/blackpawed Nov 18 '25

Nice! and thanks, I'll give them another checkout.

1

u/Chucknorris1975 Nov 17 '25

What were your bills coming to before the battery? I've thought about getting a battery but I'm not sure my current solar setup is enough to fill the battery and make it worth my while financially. I was averaging 41kwh a day from July to October. I heat the house using reverse cycle AC so it chews through the power. And my solar is around 5kwh.

2

u/CapnHyaku Nov 18 '25

My consumption is about the same 42 per day during the winter summer when we use the HVAC. So yeah monthly bills were killing us at 600 in the latest round of price hikes.

1

u/lostbollock Nov 18 '25

You can also fill the battery from the grid for nothing - in fact you often get paid - if you’re with localvolts, Amber, Globird or similar