Smart Saver | Spotlight on Plico Member Andrew

Plico member Andrew enjoys significant savings on his electricity bill since installing a solar + battery system.

High summer electricity bills and blackouts motivated Andrew to install a Plico system at his Stirling home in WA. He had heard about the benefits of Plico from a family member and signed up almost immediately. Now him and wife Margaret are using far less energy from the grid, saving on bills and keeping the lights on during blackouts. 

“We were getting sick with being hit with those big bills, especially in summer when they were up to $1300. With Plico we saw an impact straight away. We don’t get anything like that now.” 

Andrew and Margaret now spend 75% less on their electricity, which adds up to almost $3000 a year. Their grid electricity use is down by 85%, now sourced direct from their Plico solar + battery system. This means they’re running almost entirely on clean energy – and that’s something they feel very proud about.  It’s also become a lot easier for them to manage their household budget with Plico's innovative weekly instalment model.

“It's become a part of our weekly budgeting process. We know what our Plico commitment is going to be, and we now have enough information to estimate what our average monthly bill is going to be. So, it’s really easy to budget.” 

 

With some of hottest summers on record, reducing energy use can be a challenge for these self-confessed air con lovers. But Andrew and Margaret have managed to make the most of their solar + battery system by using as much energy as they can when the sun is shining. These semi-retired empty nesters are saving over $450 a year after their Plico instalment – and that’s money in their pocket! They have also earned an additional $160 for being part of Plico’s Virtual Power Plant for two years.  

These smart savers have learnt to use their clean energy system to their full advantage and believe other households are missing out on savings by waiting to get a solar battery.

“Every home in Perth should have a battery, it’s just ideal for it. It’s almost like saying you have carpet on the floor or floor coverings, well Perth homes should have a solar system and a battery.” 

The technical bits 

System: Solar + battery

Capacity: 8.7 kW solar PV and 14.2 kWh battery storage with 5 kVA inverter.

Location: Stirling, Western Australia

Installed: December 2022

Performance: Produces 85% of household electricity needs, close to 60 kWh in summer and over 20 kWh in winter.

Average Daily Energy Use (total): 28 units, of which 4.35 units is from the grid

Plico instalment: $50/week

Household occupants: Andrew, Margaret and dog Boof

If you want to cut your electricity bills like Andrew has with a cutting-edge Plico solar + battery system, simply reach out to our switched-on team on 1300 175 426 or ask us a question on the form below. We'd love to hear from you! 

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