EnergyAustralia finds smarter platform for zero down home solar and battery offering

EnergyAustralia is shifting to a new billing and data platform for its zero upfront cost solar and battery offering, the Solar Home Bundle, in partnership with local outfit Gentrack.

The gen-tailer’s Solar Home Bundle, which was officially launched in July of last year, offers home owners in parts of New South Wales a no-money-down solar and battery system, as part of a seven-year fixed payment plan.

EnergyAustralia this week said it is working with Gentrack to develop a new billing platform for the bundle, to provide customers with smarter solutions to improve their experience of solar and battery storage, including participation in a virtual power plant.

As part of the changes, Solar Home Bundle customers have been migrated to a new platform hosted by Amazon Web Services (AWS). The cloud billing solution incorporates digital consumer engagement, field services management and automation, as well as new a VPP solution.

On the other side of the coin, Gentrack’s business intelligence and analytics capabilities provide compliance, operational and customer service insights for the business – resulting in a better data driven result for all, the companies say.

Jess Padman, EnergyAustralia’s interim head of customer assets, says that beyond putting solar and storage within reach for more Australian households, the main goal of the Solar Home Bundle is to demonstrate the ongoing economic benefits of well-managed behind-the-meter assets.

“Key to the success of Solar Home Bundle and our future products is our ability to deliver a simple and smart experience for customers that just works,” Padman said this week.

“Behind the scenes of Solar Home Bundle lies technology that handles the Customer Journey delivering value aligned with our keep it simple promise.”

EnergyAustralia’s Solar Home Bundle is offered as part of a seven-year plan, where the customer pays a fixed monthly rate for electricity – based on how much electricity each household uses – in return for solar panels, inverter and 10.1kWh battery installed at no upfront cost.

To be eligible to take up the plan, customers must have an average daily usage of 16kWh or more, must own and live in the house, and must be connected to the Ausgrid network areas of Sydney City, Central Coast and Hunter Valley.