Case study: Our customer reduced his energy bill from $300 down to $50 within 6 months

Customer Profile:

**Chris | Gold Coast, QLD**
**Solar inverter: Sungrow 5kW**
**Using solar since 2020**

In 2020, Chris, a “self-confessed fan of Powersensor”, moved from Sydney to the Gold Coast seeking a more relaxed lifestyle for him and his partner. Although retired, he had taken up driving a school bus in his spare time between supporting his partner and looking after their new home. The home they purchased was a technologically modern home, similar to his previous one, however he noticed an immediate difference—an exorbitant electricity bill.

Built in 2017, the home had a 5 kW Sungrow solar inverter installed with a large solar rail fitted to the roof to support the home’s hot water system. Even with the capacity to generate a great deal of power from his solar system, “the electricity bill was completely outrageous”, said Chris “I went from a similar type of home in Sydney and yet, for some reason, my bill on the Gold Coast was three times what it should have been”. After suffering bill shock, Chris took a closer look and discovered the pool heater was the main culprit in pushing up cost.

“It was answering every question I had and presented the information in the way that I wanted to use it.”

Chris took his time to investigate solutions, but everything was a bit hit and miss—until he found Powersensor and purchased an Advanced Solar Solution. “It didn’t seem to require an overly complex installation and the website was really informative” said Chris. He had worked as an Electronics Engineer for a large Telco for over 20 years and was excited by the technology behind Powersensor. Chris said, “once the install was sorted, I found it to be excellent. It was answering every question I had and presented the information in the way that I wanted to use it”. He was so happy with the product that he purchased a second plug so that he could continue to keep an eye on the appliances that consumed the most power—his pool pump and heater—as well as monitor other appliances around his home, such as the fridge.

Within six months of using Powersensor, Chris was able to reduce his power bill from $300 to $50 per quarter by getting an all in one view of his home’s energy consumption and solar generation and making adjustments to appliance usage. The most impact has come from Chris keeping a close eye on Powersensor and changing habits such as using more expensive appliances when the most solar power is being generated from the system. “My partner will use the dishwasher or washing machine now during low-cost times– it’s just really become a habit”.

“My usage has gone from 14 kilowatts a day down to less than 5 or 6. That’s a direct result from using Powersensor.”

“My main motivation was to reduce energy consumption which in turn reduces my bill” says Chris. Since purchasing Powersensor in May 2021, Chris has become very fond of Powersensor and the information it gives him, viewing the app multiple times a day. “I’m a genuine fan of the product. My usage has gone from 14 kWs a day down to less than 5 or 6. That’s a direct result from using Powersensor”.

Chris’ advice for anyone with a solar system and pool pump and heater is to get a Powersensor “turning on the pool pump 30 minutes later makes a huge difference to our bill”.