Note: This is an independent fact-based review using Amber’s official terms, conditions, and published information. It is designed to help Australian homeowners make an informed decision.
Amber Electric VPP Overview
Amber Electric’s SmartShift program is a type of Virtual Power Plant (VPP) that works differently from most. Instead of paying a fixed solar feed-in tariff, Amber passes through the real wholesale market price for your electricity use and exports. Your home battery is automatically charged or discharged at the most favourable times based on live market prices.
To participate, you must have your electricity retail account with Amber. SmartShift is offered in the states where Amber retails power, but some government rebate programs tied to VPPs currently apply only in New South Wales and South Australia.
Financial Benefits
Unlike most VPP programs, Amber does not pay you a set per-kWh rate for exports. Instead, you receive the full wholesale market price for every unit of electricity exported. This can mean very high export values in rare price spike events, but it also means earnings vary and can be much lower during calmer market periods.
Fees and incentives:
- Amber’s $25/month retail subscription fee gives you access to wholesale rates and SmartShift automation.
- The SmartShift service is a separate contract to your electricity supply. Amber reserves the right to charge separate SmartShift-specific fees (such as partner API charges) in addition to your retail plan fee.
- Eligible NSW and SA customers may receive state battery rebates for joining with a battery.
- Export revenue is uncapped but depends entirely on wholesale price at the time of export.
How Amber Electric’s pricing could affect you
Let’s say you have a 10 kWh battery and 5 kWh is available to export.
- On a “price spike” day
- Wholesale price jumps to $5.00/kWh for half an hour.
- You export all 5 kWh during that spike.
- You earn: 5 kWh × $5.00 = $25.00 in just 30 minutes.
- On a calm market day
- Wholesale price sits at $0.05/kWh all afternoon.
- You export 5 kWh at that rate.
- You earn: 5 kWh × $0.05 = $0.25.
Why this matters:
The potential upside can be much higher than a fixed feed-in tariff, but the downside is you might earn very little on most days if prices are low.
You also pay Amber’s $25/month subscription regardless of how much you earn, so in months without price spikes, the fee could outweigh your extra export income.
Electricity Tariff / Rate
Amber customers electricity plan is linked to wholesale electricity prices, which fluctuate during the day:
- Usage charges: Vary every market interval (no fixed rate). Prices may drop very low or even go negative when renewable generation is high.
- Export payments: Equal to the wholesale price at the time of export (can be far above or below standard feed-in tariffs).
- Other charges: Network, metering, and other regulated charges still apply.
Compare Amber electricity plans (required for SmartShift)
- You must be on an Amber electricity plan to use SmartShift (it won’t work with other retailers).
- Amber passes through live wholesale prices for both usage and exports (no fixed FiT). Prices can spike high or drop very low/negative during some intervals.
- $25/month Amber subscription applies for wholesale access and SmartShift automation, on top of standard network/metering charges.
- Because prices vary by interval, think of the table below as a plan + state charges overview; your actual usage/export rates will float with the market and are visible in the Amber app.
Battery and System Requirements
SmartShift integrates directly with a wide range of compatible battery brands including: Tesla, SolarEdge, LG Chem, AlphaESS, Hive, REA Power, BYD, Sungrow, Redback, Sigenergy, Neovolt, Enphase, GivEnergy — selected models only.
Other requirements:
- You must be an Amber electricity retail customer. SmartShift ends if your Amber retail contract ends.
- A smart meter configured for solar exports.
- Reliable internet with at least 90% uptime.
- Your system must not be in any other VPP or optimisation program at the same time.
You can check your batteries compatibility with the network using Ambers designated Compatibility Checker.
Contract Length and Exit Term
- No lock-in contract — you can cancel with 14 days’ written notice.
- Amber may terminate with 30 days’ notice or immediately if your Amber retail supply ends.
- Control of your battery may continue for up to 14 days after cancellation while unenrolment is processed.
- No early exit fees are listed in the materials provided.
Technical Operations
From the Amber SmartShift terms and conditions and support material:
- Automation control: Amber and its technology partners may adjust firmware, communication settings, and optimisation schedules to improve performance.
- Override in extreme conditions: Amber can temporarily override your settings during severe market volatility or weather events.
- Battery cycling: Limited to no more than two full cycles in any 24 hours under automation.
- Manual control: You can switch to manual mode at any time to charge, discharge, or preserve your battery, or turn SmartShift off entirely.
- Connectivity requirement: Your system must remain online and accessible at least 90% of the time.
- Exclusive participation: You cannot be enrolled in any other battery control or optimisation program while in SmartShift.
Customer Experience
- The Amber app shows live wholesale prices, your battery’s planned actions, and projected earnings.
- You can override automation instantly if you need to keep energy for later.
- Enrolment includes a technical check: you must be transferred to Amber retail supply, have a smart meter enabled for exports, and be unenrolled from any other VPP before joining.
- Amber’s complaints process follows its published dispute resolution procedure.
Important Note on Third-Party Automations
Amber also supports some third-party battery automation systems for brands not yet integrated with SmartShift. However:
- These are not part of SmartShift.
- Amber states rebate eligibility is not guaranteed if you use a third-party automation instead of SmartShift.
- You should confirm eligibility for NSW and SA battery rebates before joining via a third-party service.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Full wholesale export value passed through to you — no revenue share with the operator. | The program and management can be complicated — it’s not a “set and forget” option, and you may need to understand how wholesale pricing works to get the most benefit. |
| Ability to manually override automation at any time through the Amber app. | Requires switching to Amber’s retail electricity plan; not compatible with other retailers. |
| No lock-in; can opt out with 14 days’ notice and minimal unenrolment delay. | Some systems may require technical checks or firmware updates before enrolment, adding time and cost. |
| Broad compatibility list including Tesla, BYD with Fronius, Sigenergy, and others. | Regulatory delays (e.g., VIC Emergency Backstop, SA Flexible Exports) can hold up enrolment for certain brands. |
| Transparent pricing with live wholesale rate and planned battery actions visible in app. | Battery warranties may be impacted; manufacturer advice is recommended before joining. |
| Earnings are entirely market-dependent and can be low in stable price periods. |
Overview
Availability
Amber Electric’s Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program is currently offered in ACT, NSW, QLD, SA and VIC.
Battery Compatibility
The program supports a wide range of popular battery brands, including: AlphaESS, BYD, Enphase, GivEnergy, LG Chem, Neovolt, Redback, Sigenergy, SolarEdge, Sungrow and Tesla.
Contract Terms
Amber Electric’s VPP operates without any lock-in contract, providing customers the flexibility to opt out at any time.
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Reviews from Australians who have installed Amber Virtual Power Plants
Easy app, easy to sign up, in credit already
Currently in the process of changing electricity providers so I can’t comment a lot but the online sign up process was very easy with Amber.
Review left 10 years after system installed
Amber has too much control of our battery.
Easy sign up. Some control of how the VPP works. Haven't got my system working properly due to installer delays, so can't fully comment.
I joined with amber with a referral from a neighbour wherby we both get $10 off per month for 12 months. The app seems fine at this stage and it took less the 2 days to be fully operational and is currently in learn mode. It was not part of the core solutions proposal.
Feed in rates were well below what I was led to believe from advertising etc. I have changed provider after 1 month.
Ambers app keeps you up to date with everything to do with your battery usage and any benefits gained
Amber charges high fees. I often wonder if it is actually worth using them.
I have been connected for approximately 2 months and the feed in tariff has consistently been in the negative during the day. I was told this would rarely happen when asking about it during the sales pitch. I end up running electrical devices I don’t need just to avoid having to pay to give Amber the electricity - it’s total insanity!
Control and information from the App is very good, but the Smartshift algorithm is wanting. It was inclined to top up my battery from the grid when there was absolutely no need, and would not sell back to the grid when I had plenty of spare capacity and prices were high or even spiking. It doesn't seem to be buying from the grid when not needed, at least for now, and I have got into the habit of manually exporting to the grid each evening to make a tidy profit, and so my battery is not near full in the mornings when it's about to fill up from solar. In other words, with some manual intervention, the VPP has worked very well so far. Amber's prices for buying and selling electricity are excellent, which is to be expected, since they are wholesale rates. They only make profit on the daily charge, which is easily covered by exporting excess power. It remains to be seen how well it will work in spring/autumn and more importantly, winter.
Excellent choice for the battery owner. Have made close to 300 dollars in 3 weeks.
Be careful with Amber, you will notice there will be price hikes and they will be charging your battery during this hike. Battery control is not what it states, as the smart shift overrides your control. To use ultimate control disconnect from Amber.
So far so good, joining was easy to understand and the process is tracking quickly. Email confirmation and app updates is prompt as well.
So far so good, joining was easy to understand and the process is tracking quickly. Email confirmation and app updates is prompt as well.
Have had some initial issues with the communication between the Amber app and the battery but that seems to have been solved now.
Still waiting on integration with Solplanet so I can control timing of power flows to and from the grid.
Early days at present but time taken to connect seemed a bit long. Not sure on savings but it should mean no more bills.
Communication very very hard. Some improvement in last month. Saving definitely but wholesale variance between buy and sell is often large limiting overall benefits.
Easy to sign up, pretty much all automatic. The App is still in learning mode however we've already made money from discharging our excess power.
Amber SmartShift is great provided: 1) your system is compatible (ours was fully enrolled in a couple of days); and 2) you understand how wholesale electricity rates work. Financial results are highly dependent on ability to shift loads (usually via battery), the size of the reserve in your battery over household usage needs, and the power of your inverter (pimarily to discharge the battery reserve during price spikes which are often quite short). Even then, who knows how the wholesale market will evolve in each of the NEM regions, but that evolution will also affect offers from other retailers. Amber is, at least, transparent with its pricing — comparing retail offerings for one's specific circumstances is a nightmare in general!
