EnergyAustralia Battery Ease / PowerResponse VPP: An Independent Review

Note: Solar Choice has no incentive to promote one Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program over another. This review is written to help Australian homeowners understand EnergyAustralia’s VPP in clear, fact-based terms.

New to Virtual Power Plants? See our VPP guide.
Want to compare offers? Check VPP providers in Australia compared.

VPP Overview

EnergyAustralia is one of Australia’s largest electricity retailers and has been running demand-response and battery aggregation programs for several years. The earlier PowerResponse VPP is now closed to new participants. The current program, Battery Ease, offers customers predictable bill credits in exchange for allowing EnergyAustralia to control their battery during events.

Company: EnergyAustralia (electricity retailer and VPP operator)
Partners: Works with major battery brands such as Tesla Powerwall 2, AlphaESS, Redback Smart Hybrid, and LG Chem (with SolarEdge inverter).
Commencement: PowerResponse operated from around 2018, Battery Ease has been available since 2023–24.
Participants: Not publicly disclosed.
Availability: Residential customers in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, and ACT, where EnergyAustralia provides retail supply.

See EnergyAustralia VPP for provider details.

Financial Benefits Offered

Fixed credits: Up to $15 per month (totalling $180 per year) credited directly to your EnergyAustralia account.
Feed-in tariff (FiT): Solar exports during events continue to earn your standard FiT.
Grid charging: If EnergyAustralia charges your battery from the grid before an event, you pay the normal usage rate for this electricity.

Example with a 15 kWh battery

Annual fixed credit: $180.
Additional FiT: If 5 kWh is exported at 6c/kWh → $0.30 per event.
The main value is from the guaranteed credits, not event exports.

Government support such as the federal battery rebate and the NSW VPP rebate may also apply and can be stacked with this program.

Electricity Tariffs / Rates

EnergyAustralia does not offer a special VPP tariff. Participants remain on their chosen EnergyAustralia retail plan (such as Total Plan, No Frills, or Flexi Plan):

Standard usage and supply charges apply.
FiT rates remain unchanged.
VPP bill credits are added on top.
Any grid charging is billed at the standard usage rate.

See our electricity plan comparison for a benchmark against other retailers.

Battery & System Requirements

Compatible batteries: Tesla Powerwall 2, AlphaESS, Redback Smart Hybrid, LG Chem (with SolarEdge inverter).
Metering: Requires a smart meter.
Retailer: Must be an EnergyAustralia electricity customer.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, NBN, or 4G internet.
Geography: Available in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, and ACT where EnergyAustralia retails electricity.

Contract Length & Exit Terms

Program term: Usually 12 months (set out in welcome pack).
Opt-out: You can leave at any time by contacting EnergyAustralia.
Retailer change: If you switch retailers, participation ends automatically.
Exit fees: None, but you lose ongoing credits if you leave.

Technical Operations

Event hours: Up to 80 per year.
Battery control: EnergyAustralia may charge, discharge, or reserve energy during events.
Reserve: Minimum 20% of the battery is kept for your household.
Discharge rate: Up to 5 kW, subject to inverter and network limits.
Consumption priority: Household consumption is prioritised before grid support.
Notifications: No advance alerts; event summaries are provided afterwards.
Blackouts: The VPP cannot operate during outages or if internet connectivity is lost.

Customer Experience

App access: You continue using your manufacturer’s app (e.g. Tesla, AlphaESS).
Transparency: Credits and event summaries are shared, but there is no real-time event view.
Support: Managed through EnergyAustralia’s standard customer service channels.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Predictable $180/year in bill credits.
Compatible with multiple leading battery brands.
Clear safeguards: 20% minimum reserve, capped event hours.
No lock-in or exit fees.

Cons

Must remain an EnergyAustralia retail customer.
Grid charging is billed at your standard rate.
No advance notice before VPP events.
Event-based FiT income is small compared to fixed credits.

Who Is It Best For?

The EnergyAustralia VPP is suited to homeowners who want simple, predictable savings rather than chasing wholesale market returns. It is best for households who:

Already use EnergyAustralia or are open to switching.
Want guaranteed credits without the volatility of market trading.
Value household energy priority (20% battery reserve).

Those aiming to maximise export earnings may prefer other VPP providers with market-linked benefits.

About
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James Shand

Marketing Manager at Solar Choice

With half a decade experience in the solar energy industry, specialising in business strategy and marketing for solar companies. He has worked with top solar distributors in Canada and now collaborates with solar manufacturers and installers across Australia via Solar Choice, Australia's leading solar comparison platform. With degrees in business technology, science, and marketing, James combines in-depth market insights with technical knowledge, positioning him as a trusted authority in renewable energy.