If you’re considering solar for your home or business in Australia, one of the first things we’ll ask you for is your recent energy bills. Not just one bill, but ideally 12 months’ worth of usage data to give you the most accurate solar quote possible.
Your energy usage naturally fluctuates throughout the year – heating costs spike in winter, air conditioning drives up summer bills, and pool pumps work overtime during the warmer months. Understanding these seasonal patterns is crucial for designing a solar system that works year-round.
While you could dig through your filing cabinet (or that kitchen drawer where all the important stuff ends up), there’s a much easier way than photocopying or scanning old bills to send to us. Your energy retailer’s online portal – whether that’s Ergon Energy, Origin, AGL, or other Australian retailers – is a goldmine of information that can help us design the right solar system for your needs.
Why We Need Your Energy Bill Data
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s talk about why this information is so important. Your electricity usage patterns tell us a story about your home or business that goes far beyond just how much you’re spending each quarter.
We look at your peak usage times, seasonal variations, and overall consumption trends. This helps us size your solar system appropriately, recommend the right inverter setup, and even suggest whether battery storage might be worth considering. A system that’s too small won’t deliver the savings you’re hoping for, while an oversized system means you’re paying for panels you don’t need.
Getting Started with Your Energy Retailer’s Online Account
This guide uses Ergon Energy as an example, but most Australian energy retailers have similar online portals with comparable features.
Setting Up Your Account:
- Visit your retailer’s website (for Ergon visit their portal).
- Click on the sign-up prompts if you’re new to the portal.
- You’ll need your account number (found on your bill – for Ergon it starts with “A-” followed by letters and numbers like A-247N92F).
- Enter other verification details as prompted (personal information matching your account).
- Follow the email verification process.
Once you’re set up and logged in, you’ll see your main dashboard with your account details and different sections.
Step 1: Downloading Your Energy Bills
This is the straightforward part and gives us the basic information we need to create a quote for you.
How to Access and Download Your Bills:
- From your main dashboard, navigate to the “Online Services” section
- Look for “View my bills” or similar option
- You can see recent bills listed with their issue dates and billing periods
- Each bill row has a download icon (arrow pointing down) on the right side
- Click the download icon for each bill you want to save
- The bills download as PDFs showing your charges, usage summary, and tariff details
What to Download:
- Download 6-12 months of bills if available
- The more historical data you can provide, the more accurate your solar quote will be
- Each bill shows your total usage (kWh) and costs for that billing period
Step 2: Accessing Smart Meter Features for Detailed Usage
Smart meters are being rolled out across Australia, with the majority of homes now having them installed. If you have a smart meter (shown in your dashboard under “Usage & Metering”), you can access much more detailed usage data through interval data – this means your usage is recorded every 30 minutes throughout the day.
Finding Smart Meter Features:
1. From your main dashboard, look for the “Usage & Metering” section
2. You’ll see your meter type listed – if it says “Smart”, you have access to detailed interval data
3. Click on the “SMART METER FEATURES” button
Please note: This will take you to a separate site for detailed usage analysis where you may need to log in again with the same credentials.
Step 3: Downloading Detailed Interval Data
Once you’re in the smart meter section, you’ll see a new interface with several menu options on the left side.
Navigating to Usage Data:
1. Look for “Usage” in the left-hand menu and click on it
2. You’ll see options to select your date range using the “Period” picker
3. You can view data for different time periods:
– Last 7 days (shows detailed intervals throughout each day)
– Custom date ranges for longer periods up to 24 months
Understanding Your Usage Display:
– The system shows three tabs: Energy, Cost, and CO2 Emissions
– You can switch between different time intervals for viewing your data
– The graph shows your usage patterns throughout each day
– Green bars represent electricity you’ve consumed from the grid
– Red/pink bars represent solar electricity you’ve exported back to the grid (if you have solar already)
Downloading Your Usage Data:
1. Select your desired date range (we recommend 12 months for good analysis)
2. The system will display a graph of your usage patterns
3. Look for “Download Graph” or similar button to export this data as a graph or CSV
4. Note: Longer periods may take some time to load depending on your internet connection
5. Weekly views often provide the right balance of detail and system performance for analysis
What This Data Shows Us
From Your Regular Bills:
– Total monthly/quarterly usage
– Your current tariff structure
– Seasonal variations in your energy consumption
– Overall cost trends
From Smart Meter Interval Data:
– Usage patterns throughout each day
– Peak usage times (important for solar system sizing)
– Overnight consumption levels
– Weekend vs. weekday patterns
– How your usage varies seasonally
Making the Most of Your Data for a Solar Quote
When you send us your energy information, here’s what makes it easiest for us to give you the most accurate quote:
What we Need From You
- 12 months of downloaded energy bills (PDFs)
- 12 months of smart meter usage data (CSV file)
- 12 months of smart meter demand profile data (graph)
The smart meter interval data is particularly valuable because it shows us exactly when you use electricity throughout the day. This helps us design a solar system that maximises your self-consumption during daylight hours.
Bonus Data: Usage Patterns
While you’re downloading your data, take a look at your usage patterns. You might notice:
Daily usage peaks often in morning and evening when people are home.
Seasonal variations with higher usage in summer or winter.
Different patterns on weekends compared to weekdays.
Consistent background usage even when you’re not home.
Understanding these patterns helps us recommend the right system size and whether battery storage might be beneficial for your situation.
Don’t Have a Smart Meter Yet?
If your dashboard shows a basic meter rather than a smart meter:
– Your regular energy bills still provide valuable information for solar quotes.
– You may be able to request a smart meter installation through your account.
– We can still design an effective solar system based on your quarterly usage data and similar homes in the area.
Common Questions
What if I’ve only lived here for a few months?
Download what you have – we can work with shorter periods and make reasonable estimates based on similar properties in the area.
My usage has changed recently – should I mention that?
Absolutely. Let us know about major changes like new appliances, electric vehicles, or lifestyle changes.
What Happens Next?
Once you’ve gathered your energy bill data and usage information:
1. Email or bring the files to us when requesting a quote.
2. We’ll analyse your usage patterns and peak consumption times.
3. We’ll design a solar system that maximises your savings based on your actual energy needs.
4. You’ll get an accurate quote that reflects your real usage, not generic estimates.
Let’s Design Your System for your Needs
Your energy retailer’s online portal provides everything we need to design the right solar system for your needs. The combination of your regular energy bills and detailed smart meter data gives us a complete picture of your energy usage patterns throughout the year.
Taking 10-15 minutes to download this information helps ensure your solar system is properly sized for your actual needs. We’d rather design the right system based on real data than work with estimates or blurry photocopies.
Ready to see what solar can do for you? Log into your energy retailer’s portal, download your data, and give us a call. We’ve been helping Queensland families save money with solar since 2012, and we’d love to help you join them.