Blog
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Safety advice for our customers in flood-affected areas
2021-03-22If you have experienced a power outage as a result of the current flood conditions across NSW, we encourage you to contact and follow the updates from your network distributor. Here is the list of networks distributors across NSW. (Note: you can find out your specific energy distributor from the top right of your Discover Energy bill). Network faults and emergencies Ausgrid NSW Sydney metro (inner, northern and eastern) and surrounds 13 13 65 Endeavour NSW Greater Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and the Illawarra, and the South Coast 13 37 18 Essential Energy NSW Country and regional NSW, southern regional QLD 13 23 91 Important Safety Information (Adapted from advice from Endeavour Energy) When a flood warning is issued: move electric pump motors and portable appliances to an area above the estimated flood height. keep your mobile phone charged and check that you have a torch and portable radio in good working order. Stay tuned to ABC radio for emergency updates know the location of your main switch and meter box switch off electricity to non-essential circuits before they are submerged in rising floodwaters download your energy distributors’s power outage app and follow us on twitter and Facebook for updates. You can who find your energy distributor is via your Discover Energy bill. If you are asked to evacuate: switch off all appliances cut off all electricity to the household by opening the main switch or removing switch fuses at the main switchboard or meter box. Do this even if you have been advised that all power has been cut off to your area make sure you have an evacuation kit with your mobile phone, charger, important phone numbers, medicine, and essential supplies. Treat all power lines as ALIVE and dangerous: keep well clear of ALL POWER LINES and particularly avoid contact with wires which are hanging low or on the ground, dangling in flood water or tangled in trees do not drive across fallen power lines. If power lines have fallen across or have been become entangled in your vehicle, remain inside your vehicle, and call for help. If in danger, open the door and jump well clear keeping your hands off the vehicle and feet together keep a good distance from power wires and poles if boating in floods. If in a wooden or fibreglass boat, do not touch the water or metallic parts of the motor when near wires or poles as they may be alive and dangerous Before power is restored in the event of an outage your energy distributor must inspect the main switchboard and meters of areas that have been flooded. In the interim: do not use electrical appliances which have been in floodwaters do not handle any wet electrical equipment do not replace circuit fuses or restore power to a household which has been flooded until your home has thoroughly dried out and been checked by a licensed electrician Please also refer to our Power Emergency Kit for more safety advice. We are here for you. The safety of our customers is paramount. While enquiries about the physical delivery of electricity, such as power outages, can only be fully addressed by contacting your network distributor, Discover Energy endeavours to assist as much as we can. If you do have an enquiry or require assistance, please call us on 1300 946 898.
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Discover Energy partners with LG Energy Solution
2021-02-11Discover Energy is delighted to announce its partnership with leading international energy storage brand, LG Energy Solution. Households who install an LG Energy Solution RESU (Residential Energy Storage Unit) and augment it with a Sungrow, Goodwe or SolarEdge hybrid-inverter are eligible to become members of Discover Energy’s Virtual Power Plant (VPP) network, which includes access to Discover Energy’s market-leading 45c/kWh solar feed-in tariff. LG Energy Solution is the new member of the LG group of companies, and was formerly the battery division of LG Chem, founded 1947. As the world’s leading battery manufacturer across multiple industries, LG Energy Solution is constantly innovating to deliver superior customer value. Their LG Home Battery range, RESU (Residential Energy Storage Unit), delivers high power and energy-density solutions in a variety of capacities. With diverse inverter compatibility, LG Energy Solution customers can install a system perfectly designed to match their needs. The LG Energy Solution RESU range An emergent technology that is widely recognised as the future of residential energy, a Virtual Power Plant is a network of decentralised solar power-generating sources (solar and storage systems), which work together to provide significant combined resources to the energy grid at times of high demand. At a climate of decreasing solar feed-in tariffs for solar-only households, Virtual Power Plants offer significant advantages for solar + storage users. Utilising stored energy to discharge during times of high demand means that VPP’s such as Discover Energy can offer premium solar feed-in tariffs, with a current solar feed-in tariff offer more than 3x standard state averages. Additionally, being part of Discover Energy VPP also means that members can partake in state-of-the-art energy trading, selling their excess battery energy at exceptional prices. A new, exciting feature of Discover Energy’s VPP is the platform’s ability to buy back energy and recharge batteries remotely for free for members during opportune market conditions. Launching the first operational energy trading platform in Australian in 2020, Discover Energy boasts more than 500 VPP members across SA, NSW and QLD, and will open to Victorian customers in March 2021. “At LG Energy Solution, we are battery technology innovators, and we are delighted to be associated with Discover Energy, an innovator in delivering battery value. As an electricity retailer who combines a premium price for exported solar power along with credits for battery power exported during premium price events, they offer customers an option to get the very best of financial return from their LG Home Battery. We look forward to a long partnership as we jointly embrace the renewable energy revolution” says Philip Crotty, General Manager – Residential LG Energy Solution Australia. “LG Energy Solution is an iconic battery brand known for being at the forefront of storage technology. We are delighted that their RESU range is compatible with three out of four of the inverter brands currently integrated with our VPP platform. This means that in addition to blackout protection and reduced reliance on the traditional energy grid, LG Energy Solution customers can enjoy taking advantage of the significant profit potential that joining a VPP network as Discover Energy can provide. We look forward to working with LG Energy Solution in advancing the awareness and adoption of PV storage, and helping to usher a greener future for all Australians” says Anson Zhang, CEO of Discover Energy. LG Energy Solution RESU batteries are available in 5 different capacities to suit a wide range of households, and can be combined for even larger systems. They are suitable for installation with new solar systems or as a cost-saving addition to an existing solar system with single and 3-phase inverters including global leaders SolarEdge, Goodwe and Sungrow. Please refer to Discover Energy Virtual Power Plant Product Compatibility List for the most up-to-date specifications. For more information on Discover Energy VPP visit https://www.discoverenergy.com.au/vpp or call 1300 946 898 or 0422424064 For more information on the LG Energy Solution RESU range visit https://www.lghomebattery.com.au/
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Discover Energy opens in Victoria!
2021-02-02Discover Energy has officially opened in Victoria. From 16 February 2021, Discover Energy will rollout their great-value, fuss-free plans and famous personalised, multilingual services for Victorian households and businesses across the state. While only electricity plans are currently on offer for Victorian customers, Discover Energy has plans to rollout gas retail services for the state in April 2021. Discover Energy is also slated to open their Virtual Power Plant program for Victorian customers with solar & storage in March 2021. Discover Energy’s expansion in Victoria marks a milestone for the energy retailer, which has rapidly expanded to almost every major Australian city in less than two years. The company also expects to open in WA in September 2021. Discover Energy is noted for its personalised customer service and focus on multilingual markets, with energy sales consultants offering English, Chinese, Korean,Vietnamese, Japanese and Thai speaking-services. Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese speaking customers can access translated versions of the Discover Energy website and the Discover App. Customers can also access 1:1 customer service and energy consultation 24/7 through a range of social media platforms such as WeChat (including a fully-integrated Discover Energy app), Facebook, LINE, Kakao and Zalo. Switch to Discover Energy for Smarter, Cheaper, Greener Energy. Visit https://www.discoverenergy.com.au/compare_plans or ring 1300 946 898 today
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This month: Discover Energy $50 – $50 Referral
2021-02-01For a limited time only, when you refer a friend and they successfully sign up and switch, you get rewards! Choose between a $100 electricity credit just for you or split the rewards $50/$50 with your friend. There’s no cap on number of friends you can refer, which means significant rewards for you if they switch! Simply send referral details to your account manager/energy consultant or get your friends to mention the promotion when they sign up. Start referring and receiving credits! Send your referrals to your Discover Energy consultant, ring 1800 946 898 or via Facebook Messenger here: http://m.me/discoverenergy Terms and Conditions To qualify for the $50+$50 referral promotion, a customer must be referred to Discover Energy, and signed up to a Discover Energy service during the promotional event period (22.3.21-22.4.21). Upon the successful switch of the referred customer, the referrer is eligible for $100 electricity credits. During this promotion, the referrer can choose to collect the entire reward benefit ($100 electricity credit) or split the reward 50/50 with their referee ($50 electricity credit each), which will be applied according to the rules of the below credit schedule. $50+$50 referral promotion rules: 1.The referrer must be a current customer of Discover Energy. 2. The $50 AUD electricity credit received by both customers will be applied following the below credit schedule: $25 when the referee is switched, $25 when the referee continues to be a Discover Energy customer for 6 months. This schedule applies to both parties. If the referrer decides opts for the full $100 for themselves, the credit schedule will be $50 when the referee is switched, and the remaining $50 when the referee continues to be a Discover Energy customer for 6 months. There is no upper limit for successful referrals during the promotional period. For example: If a customer refers 10 referees who successfully sign up and switch to a Discover Energy service, the referer will receive a $50 credit for each customer, or $500 dollar electricity credit to their account, if they choose to split the rewards. The $50 electricity credit received by both parties are non-transferable, and both parties have the right to give up the reward. During the promotional period, if either the referrer or the referee leaves Discover Energy for any reason, the other party is still eligible for the credit. However if the referee leaves Discover Energy, the referrer will only receive the amount of credits eligible according to the credit schedule. The referee will still receive the $50 credit for joining, even if the referrer leaves Discover Energy. The $50 AUD electricity credit includes GST and cannot be exchanged for cash. This activity does not conflict with Discover Energy’s “Share and Save promotion” ($30 credit for a social media share, $20 credit for 30 likes) and a customer is eligible to receive both rewards in tandem. The promotion “$50+$50 referral promotion” will temporarily replace the existing “$60 referral promotion” for the promotional period. Customers cannot receive both rewards in tandem. The final interpretation of promotional outcomes belongs to Discover Energy. Discover Energy may, at its absolute discretion, either decline to apply the $50+$50 referral promotion or, if it has already been applied, remove the $50+$50 referral promotion credit from the relevant account where Discover Energy reasonably believes that the referrer or referee are taking unfair advantage of this offer.
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What should I do if my property loses power?
2020-12-13Discover Energy understands that sometimes the unexpected occurs, such as a power outage. Here is a guide to help prepare you for when power outages occur on your property, keeping you safe and informed until the moments the lights come back on. Click here to download a pdf copy I have a power outage at my property? What steps should I take? Check-in with your neighbours to see if they have also lost power. This will clarify if the cause of the power outage is: A community grid issueSpecific to your property Your Power Outage is caused by a community grid issueCall your electricity distribution company, or visit their website to determine the reasons for your power outage Your Power Outage is caused by a factor specific to your property Check if the safety switch has been tripped in your home. If your switch has not been tripped, call you energy retailer (Discover Energy) and your energy distribution company to find out if there are any relevant faults. If there are no current faults, you should engage a licensed electrician to do an electrical check for you. Getting your power back on Call your electricity distribution company. They are responsible for the physical delivery of your energy are are usually the best contact to enquire and request for a return to power. Most power outages are resolved by electricity distribution company. What are the causes of power outages? The safety switch has been tripped in your homePlanned essential maintenance works. Your distributor should provide you with prior notificationDisconnection due to unpaid bills. There are many steps that occur before a retailer can disconnect your service. You should have plenty of warning before this situation occurs, including numerous notices to you sent via phone, email or postSevere weather or unexpected technical faults. This is the responsibility of your electricity distribution company. They should be your first point of contact if this is the cause of your power outage.If the outage is not caused by any of the above, and your electricity distribution company does not report any fault on their end, you might have electrical issues specific to your property. If this is the case, you may need to engage a licensed electrician to do an electrical check for you. What do I need to prepare for a power outage? A copy of important contacts including your distribution company (they can be found on your bill)If possible, a landline phone that does not rely on power or a charged mobileA fully charge power bank or portable charger for your mobileAccess to a source of lighting such as a torch, flashlight or other battery-operated light devicesAccess to news or updates, either through your through phone or radio (battery-powered or car radio) What if I need an uninterrupted supply of power? If you need an uninterrupted supply of power because you are on life support equipment or, have a medical condition that requires continuous power supply, you will need to be registered for life support with us. Please contact us to ensure your registration is complete. Check out our FAQ for more information. If you have any other special needs that require uninterrupted supply, contact us on 1300 946 898. For life-threatening emergencies please call 000.
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Introducing the Discover Energy VPP Premium Plan!
2020-12-07Discover Energy is launching a new, game-changing offer: the VPP Premium Plan! With the VPP Premium Plan, Eligible battery and solar customers will be able to enjoy a market-leading 45c solar feed-in-tariff for their first 300 kwh exported per quarter* in addition to profit sharing from energy trading. Being paid for electricity rather than paying for it is the future energy. With Discover Energy VPP, the future is already here. Own a solar and battery system? Click Here to find out more or contact us via 1300 946 898 or 0422424064, or email: sales_vpp@discoverenergy.com.au Terms and Conditions As part of the Discover Energy VPP Premium Offer, Solar Feed-in will be paid at the following rates: First 300kwh per quarter: 45c/kwhNext 300kwh per quarter: 25c/kwhAll remaining kwh: 9c/kwh All usage thresholds will be calculated daily. You can end this Energy Plan at any time.You must have a maximum inverter capacity of 10KW and have a maximum PV generating capacity of 13.3KW. Discover Energy VPP Approved Operated Products only. Eligible inverter brands are GoodWe, Sungrow, Solar Edge and Alpha ESS. Here’s an example of what VPP customers receive in lieu of a traditional electricity bill: A Smart Energy Report An account summary featuring debits for electricity use and credits for energy sold As you can see here, this account is in credit. This customer can actually cash out their $133.93 credit, should they wish. You also receive a solar system report that captures your consumption, feed-in to the grid and energy trading. Own a solar and battery system? Click Here to find out more about how you can join the DE VPP movement. Phone 1300 946 898 or 0422424064, or email: sales_vpp@discoverenergy.com.au
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이제 전기 가스 한국어로 상담하세요! 디스커버 에너지에서 한인 여러분께 맞춤형 에너지 서비스를 제공합니다!
2020-12-02전화: 0478 078 982 또는 0401 461 092 Facebook: Discover Energy KOR kakao Channel: Discover Energy KOR 혹은 아래있는 QR code를 스캔하세요. 디스커버 에너지는 호주 교민들에게 한국어 홈페이지로 에너지 가입이 가능하게 만든 최초의 에너지 리테일러 입니다. 한국어 전문가가 일대일로 복잡한 에너지 요금체계를 설명드리고 요금절약 플랜을 찾아드립니다. ·한국어 서비스를 제공하는 호주 전기회사 한국인 에너지 전문가가 고객 한분 한분께 1:1 맞춤형 서비스로 언어 장벽 없이 고객님을 찾아갑니다. ( 카카오톡, 페이스북, 인스타그램, 전화) 호주의 높은 전기 가스 요금 및 복잡한 청구서로 고민하시는 고객 여러분께 우리의 에너지 전문가가 좀더 쉽고 친절하게 질문에 답해드립니다. 호주에서 처음으로 전기 가스를 가입하시나요? 고민하지 말고 한국어로 문의 하세요. · 저렴한 에너지 요금 디스커버 에너지의 또 다른 자랑은 저렴한 요금과 편리한 서비스 입니다. 더이상 복잡한 에너지 청구서에 고민하지 마세요. 가장 최근 빌을 비교하여 고객님의 에너지 환경에 가장 알맞은 요금절약 플랜을 찾아드립니다. ·스마트한 이용환경 환경보호를 지향하는 디스커버 에너지는 100% 디지털 서비스를 지향합니다. 고객님의 에너지 사용량을 디스커버 에너지 앱을 통해(안드로이드 또는 애플) 모니터 할 수 있으며, 청구서 확인과 요금 납부도 가능합니다. 알렉사와 구글 스마트 홈 어시스턴트로 고객님의 스마트 홈 링크도 가능합니다. ·디스커버 에너지만의 프로모션 고객님께 더 가깝게 다가가고자 특별한 가입프로모션을 안내 드립니다. 한국인 에너지 전문가와 상담한 결과 고객님의 최근 빌과 비교하여 더 저렴한 플랜을 제시하지 못할경우 가입과 상관없이 $100 EFTPOS 카드를 드립니다.
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LG Chem Saver Offer: Hello, Smart Income!
2020-11-12Join the Discover Energy VPP (Virtual Power Plant) Membership Advantage Program and gain 25c solar FIT and the ability to trade battery energy on Discover Energy’s game-changing energy trading platform. Exclusive LG Chem Offer: $100 Guaranteed VPP Smart Income! New LG Chem (LV) installations who sign up to DE VPP network in October will receive a guaranteed VPP Smart Income of $100 over their first 12 months. Become RE100: Discover Energy will also apply free 100% Accredited GreenPower to offset any of your consumption from the traditional energy grid until 31 December 2020, making your home 100% renewable energy for the rest of the year. Adding a GoodWe inverter? Enjoy an additional $50 guaranteed VPP Smart Income If you’ve added a GoodWe inverter to your new LG (LV) battery, Discover Energy will add an additional $50, increasing your guaranteed smart income to $150 over 12 months. Hurry! Offer applies to the first 150 units only. NSW, SA, SE QLD only. Want to join Discover VPP? Talk to a VPP expert: 1300 946 898 | 0422424064 or email sales_vpp@discoverenergy.com.au First 150 units only. New installations from 1st September – 31st October only. NSW, SA, SE QLD only. LG Chem LV models only. LG Chem models that are compatible with GoodWe solar inverters are RESU 6.5, RESU10, RESU13.
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Discover Energy partners with AlphaESS to drive new frontier of VPP technology: energy trading
2020-10-21Discover Energy is delighted to announce their partnership with AlphaESS, one of the leading energy storage solution and service providers in the globe. Discover Energy has worked with AlphaESS to allow full interface integration between AlphaESS hybrid inverters and Discover Energy’s virtual power plant (VPP) and energy trading platform. This means that customers with AlphaESS hybrid batteries—who are already enjoying savings through solar feed-in-tariffs and decreased reliance on the traditional electricity grid—can earn further income through energy trading and the selling of excess battery, thereby increasing the influx of renewable energy into the Australian energy market. Launched by the founders of Australia’s largest solar distributor, One Stop Warehouse, Discover Energy has leveraged its extensive solar energy DNA to develop one of the world’s first energy trading platforms. The patented algorithm that drives Discover Energy’s trading platform utilises machine-learning, AI and deep solar data to develop electricity spot-price forecasting with unprecedented accuracy and facilitate optimised energy profits for Discover Energy VPP members. Notably, Discover Energy’s platform is the first of its kind to allow users to directly participate in electricity trading and make their own independent trades, however most users opt in to allow Discover Energy algorithm to make optimised trades on their behalf. In addition to energy trading, Discover Energy VPP members also enjoy uncapped 25c solar-feed-in tariffs*. SMILE5 from AlphaESS The objective of a Virtual Power Plant is to relieve the power flow load of the grid by smartly distributing the power generated by the individual units during periods of peak load. Additionally, the combined power generation and power consumption of the networked units in the Virtual Power Plant is traded on the energy exchange. In terms of many years’ storage data and flexible location of AlphaESS , Discover Energy VPP provides complete highly available, fail-safe and uninterrupted solution platform to customers who are interested by renewables. “At Discover Energy, decentralised energy trading is a reality, not just a concept. Across Australia, our customers are making energy trades using their stored battery use and earning smart income from it. We are delighted to partner with AlphaESS in making VPP technology and energy trading accessible for their Australian customers” says Anson Zhang, CEO and founder of Discover Energy. Founded in 2012, AlphaESS specializes in providing advanced energy storage products and intelligent energy management solution to the world, pursuing an ambitious goal to transform from a product manufacturer into a network provider. As an energy storage system integrator covering full power range, AlphaESS has more than 100 patents in the ESS field and its products meets various international standards certified by the most prestigious testing authorities such as TUV Rheinland and SGS, making Alpha products successfully build a reputation of great quality and reliability. The company therefore has its competitive edge in multiple applications in both residential and commercial market, aiming to deliver the most cost-effective and fit-for-purpose solutions. In 2015, AlphaESS established subsidiaries in Germany and Australia, followed by Italy, UK etc.. Nowadays, AlphaESS has over 10 branches providing local services and 40000+ systems actively running in 50+ countries, enabling millions of people to live with reliable, accessible and clean energy. Click here to discover more. For more information on Discover Energy VPP visit https://www.discoverenergy.com.au/vpp or call 1300 946 898 or 0422424064
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FAQ: Why are my energy bills so high?
2020-10-20At Discover Energy, we help customers everyday to better understand their energy and assist them in accessing cheaper, smarter and greener energy. In this new series, we present answers to some of our most frequently asked questions the most important things you need to know about your electricity. Why are my energy bills so high? There are various reasons why your most recent energy bill might be very high. In fact, we wrote a whole article about it. But here’s a general breakdown of what makes up your energy bill, to help you understand how your bill is calculated. Your energy bill is dependent on the tariff your plan is on. All energy plans have a fixed tariff known as the daily supply charge: this is a daily fixed rate that you pay for use of the network and is not affected by the amount of energy you use. Your bill will also have variable charges based on your usage for the period. Here are the two most common tariffs you will be on. Flat Rate (Single Rate) Tariff: If you are on a flat rate tariff, you will pay the same rate for the amount of energy you consume, regardless of the time of the day you use it. If you have a traditional meter, you will likely be on a flat rate tariff. Gas plans only use single-rate tariffs. OR Time of use Tariff: If you are on a Time of Use (Peak, shoulder and off-peak tariff, you pay a different price for energy depending on the time of day you use it. For example, on a time of use tariff you will pay a higher rate of energy at a peak period, usually afternoon and early evening when usage is high (for example, 2pm-8pm). During off-peak (10pm-7am), you will pay a lower rate. Shoulder rates usually sit somewhere in between the peak and off-peak rates and would apply to all other times of the day. The rates and timing schedules of a time of use tariff vary depending your network distributor and the allocated tariff. If you have a smart meter, you will likely be placed on a time of use tariff. In addition to one of the above tariffs, you might also have a control load tariff, which is a specific tariff for a specific appliance in your home such as an electric hot water system. Want a more detailed explanation of a Discover Energy bill? Check it out here. So why is my bill so high? Your energy bill might be high because you’ve used a lot more energy during peak period. For example, due to COVID-19, many households are spending more time at home than they normally do, or the weather has been extreme so you’ve been using your air-conditioner or heater more than usual. Or perhaps you’ve been using your appliance which has a control-load tariff applied to it more than usual. Check that your energy offer is current, some offers only have limited benefits that expire after a set period. If your benefit period has expired, you may no longer be receiving a discount. Smarter, Cheaper, Greener Energy Check out our great-value electricity and gas plans or get a personalised energy quote today! Message us on Facebook to make the switch today or call us on 1300 946 898
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