Hi everyone,
 
After reading the most recent battery test centre reports from Canberra, Ronald is doubling down on his advice to be careful what batteries you buy. Discover why here.
 
Still on energy storage, more installers are now part of the ACT Government’s Next Generation Energy Storage program, which provides generous subsidies for solar batteries. Find out more here. 
 
Across the pond to the USA, thousands of Texans have been hit with massive power bills as wholesale electricity hit *$11* per kWh - here's what happened.
 
More news below!
 
Don't forget you can get 3 solar quotes from trusted solar installers at our website - and everyone can also stay in touch with what's happening on SQ via our Facebook page.
 
Regards,

SQ VIEWS

Many Home Batteries Still Unreliable
Do you enjoy reading about home batteries? I know I do. This is why I’m addicted to reports from the Canberra Battery Test Centre. They’re like Shakespeare! That is, they’re mostly tragedy but there’s also some comedy as well.
 
Thousands Of Texans Charged $11+ Per Kilowatt-Hour During Blizzard
Thousands of Texans caught in a deadly, polar vortex blizzard have been charged thousands of dollars for electricity over just a few days.

THE GOOD SOLAR GUIDE - READ ONLINE FREE!

7 Steps To Tiny Bills For Australian Homeowners - An Amazon Best-Seller!

The Good Solar Guide, authored by SolarQuotes founder Finn Peacock, demystifies the solar buying process in Australia; showing you how many panels you need, which panel brands to buy, which to avoid, and how to find a great installer.

The seven-step process revealed in this book, developed over 10 years in the industry, walks you through understanding, evaluating, buying, installing and using solar to deliver on its promise of tiny electricity bills. Order the book (available in paperback or Kindle) or read the whole book online free! Yes, for free. Crazy eh?

SOLAR NEWS

SA Water Racks Up 300,000+ Solar Panels
SA Water appears to have accelerated its progress towards the utility’s goal of a zero cost energy future.
  
Springvale South Solar Farm Saga Update
A proposal to construct a solar farm in a Melbourne suburb is continuing to face significant opposition from within the local community. 
  
Morwell Power Station Chimneys Toppled
The two remaining chimney stacks at the former Morwell Power Station (Energy Brix Power Station) in Victoria were successfully brought down on Saturday morning.
 
More Installer Choice For Canberra’s Solar Battery Rebate Program
The fifth round of the ACT’s solar battery rebate has kicked off with a greater choice of installers – and the Sustainable Household Scheme isn’t far off.
 
Renewables Help Achieve Lowest Wholesale Electricity Prices In Years
Wholesale electricity prices in the National Electricity Market last year were at their lowest since 2015 says the Australian Energy Regulator.
 
IPART Invites NSW Solar Owner Feed-in Tariff Feedback
NSW’s Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal is preparing its approach for calculating solar feed-in tariff rates in the years ahead and is calling on solar owners in the state to share their views and experiences.
 
NSW Government Makes Going Solar Simpler For Strata Owners
New amendments passed in NSW’s Parliament on Tuesday will make it easier to install solar panels, batteries and other renewable energy technologies on strata buildings.
 
Barnaby Wants CEFC To Invest In Coal Power
During a House of Representatives debate on proposed changes to how the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) can invest, Barnaby Joyce stated his case for coal power to be included.
 
DA Lodged For Kootingal Solar Farm
A development application for a proposed small utility-scale solar farm pretty much on the doorstep of a town near Tamworth in New South Wales has been submitted to Tamworth Regional Council.
  
Read more from the blog

POPULAR SOLAR TOOLS

There's a bunch of handy and easy to use tools and calculators on SolarQuotes. You can find a selection of my most popular tools by clicking here.

FRESH IS BEST

If you're yet to get 3 obligation-free solar quotes from our network of trusted installers, or perhaps you didn't go ahead on a set of quotes issued previously for whatever reason and still want to install solar, now is a great time to submit for fresh quotes!

SUBMIT YOUR SOLAR REVIEW

If you're an Australian solar power system owner and would like to share a review of your solar panels, inverters, battery or installer with other potential Australian PV buyers to assist them in a purchase decision, SolarQuotes is the place to do it!
 
Please note in the case of solar panel and inverter reviews, the equipment should have been installed for at least one year.
 
Submit a review: Panels | Inverters | Batteries | Installers 
 
Pick up some tips on writing a review.

USEFUL SOLAR INFO

Solar Battery Reviews
We've kicked off our new battery reviews section with more than 40 manufacturers listed where you can find more information on energy storage companies and read or submit reviews.
 
Virtual Power Plant Comparison Table
Find out details of various Virtual Power Plant (VPP) programs on offer in Australia with our regularly updated VPP comparison table. See which VPP might be best for your home or business.
 
Solar And Battery Calculator
Our  new solar calculator provides you a complete picture of the savings and payback for solar power in Australia - with or without batteries - and it's very simple to use.
 
Solar In Your Location
Our extensive database contains useful information and up-to-date statistics on solar energy for practically every town and suburb in Australia.
 
Compare Electricity Retailers: Solar Feed-In Tariffs & Energy Prices
An easy to use comparison tool enabling you to instantly see which electricity retailers would be cheapest for a typical solar power system owner in your postcode.

Solar Panel Comparison Table
Easily compare solar panels, specifications and their prices side-by-side in our new solar panel comparison table.
 
Solar Power Forecast Tool
We developed this handy tool in collaboration with WeatherZone to help you forecast your solar system's output up to 48 hours ahead. 

Important Mistakes To Avoid In Buying Solar 
Don't become a lost sheep in a field of wolves. Learn about the top 7 mistakes people make when buying solar power systems.



13 Questions To Ask A Solar Company
Before you sign on the dotted line, ensure you have satisfactory answers to these important questions.

Solar Battery Storage Explained
How to buy a solar system with battery storage. Do you need backup functionality or not? How much should you pay, and what batteries are safe and reliable?
 
Solar Battery Comparison Table
Discover battery prices and specifications of dozens of energy storage solutions with our solar battery storage comparison table.