Disrupting energy retailing, and making the market work for consumers

Big changes are coming to home energy in Australia, with a new federal battery subsidy set to boost household storage. But to deliver real value, these batteries must be ‘virtual power plant ready’, able to discharge power to the grid when it’s needed most. New modelling shows that, with the right policies and incentives, this could unlock $14 billion in value, mainly from homes. Without smart settings, households risk being penalised for adopting new tech. Amber Electric is one retailer working to flip the business model of most Australian energy retailers. Instead of profiting from higher energy use, Amber gives customers access to wholesale prices and helps them use and share energy when it's cheapest and greenest. In this rerun of a conversation with CEO and co-founder Dan Adams, we explore how Amber is making it easier for households to support the grid, and get rewarded for it, and why other retailers need to adapt so more consumers can benefit from the energy transition.