*Brought to you by MAC Trade Services
With energy prices continuing to rise, more South Australians are looking for practical ways to take control of their household power costs. For those with a home battery or considering installing one a new opportunity is emerging to not only save on energy, but generate additional income.
Through the South Australian Government’s Retailer Energy Productivity Scheme (REPS), eligible concession card holder households can now receive up to $2,050 in cashback when connecting their battery to an approved Virtual Power Plant (VPP). Click here to get started.
What is a Virtual Power Plant (VPP)?
A Virtual Power Plant (VPP) allows households to get more value from their solar and battery systems.
In simple terms, a VPP works similarly to a solar feed-in tariff but for your battery. Instead of only exporting excess solar energy during the day, a VPP enables your battery to store energy and send it back to the grid in the evenings when demand is highest.
This means your home can:
- Continue powering itself as normal
- Export excess stored energy when the grid needs it
- Earn additional income for the energy supplied; and
- Receive a cashback for joining up your battery
Many VPP systems operate automatically in the background, requiring no day-to-day management from the homeowner.
Why more households are joining a VPP
For many South Australians, joining a VPP is becoming an increasingly attractive option.
Key benefits include:
- Increased returns from your solar system and regaining the higher solar feed-in-tariffs for your stored energy
- Better utilisation of your home battery
- Opportunity to generate additional income
- No disruption to your home’s energy supply
Even when you’re away, your system continues working, storing solar energy during the day and exporting it in the evening, helping you earn while your home is empty.
How REPS works
Each five year period, the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining sets targets that energy retailers must meet. These targets are measured in gigajoules, and retailers meet them by offering discounted upgrades or rebates to customers.
There are two types of targets:
- Overall target: the total amount of energy savings retailers must achieve across all customers
- Priority group target: a specific portion of that total that must be delivered to priority group households
Priority group households include people who may need additional support, such as:
- Concession card holders
- Veterans or war widows
- People receiving energy concessions
- People on retailer payment plans or in hardship programs
- Eligible renters (paying less than $500 per week)
Retailers can deliver these upgrades themselves or partner with providers like MAC Trade Services to make these offers available. For more information on why some rebates are only available to Priority Group customers please click here.
How the SA REPS program supports you
The SA REPS program is a South Australian Government energy saving initiative designed to encourage energy efficiency and smarter energy use in your home and business.
For eligible households particularly concession card holders the program offers financial incentives for:
- Connecting to a VPP; and
- Accessing discounted appliances such as hot water systems and air conditioning
The VPP incentive currently offers up to $2,050 cashback for eligible concession card holders participants who connect their battery to an approved provider.
How to apply
Accessing the rebate is designed to be straightforward, simply fill out the application form via the MAC Trade Services website.
Through MAC Trade Services, households can:
- Check their eligibility online
- Submit a simple application
- Receive support through the approval process
The aim is to remove complexity and make it easier for households to access incentives they may be entitled to.
Why apply through MAC Trade Services
MAC Trade Services is an accredited provider under the REPS program and one of South Australia’s longest-standing energy services companies.
With experience across a wide range of energy-efficient solutions including hot water systems, air conditioning, solar and battery installations the team supports households in navigating available rebates and incentives. The MAC Trade Services team provide REPS upgrades and incentives to more than 5000 South Australian homes and businesses each year.
They work alongside approved VPP operators to ensure applications are submitted correctly and meet program requirements, helping streamline the process from start to finish.
For those who prefer a more personal approach, MAC Trade Services also offers direct support via phone or in person at their Rose Park office.
A simpler way to take control of energy costs
As energy prices continue to rise, initiatives like SA REPS are helping South Australians make smarter use of the systems they already have.
For households with a battery or considering one connecting to a Virtual Power Plant offers a way to:
- Reduce energy costs
- Generate additional income
- Contribute to a more stable energy grid
To learn more or check your eligibility, visit the MAC Trade Service website or call 1300 430 917.
Eligibility criteria apply. Cashback amounts may vary depending on system specifications and approval requirements.