Updated on October 21, 2025
Most homes pay a fixed energy rate. Amber works on wholesale pricing. Prices change every few minutes. If you have solar and a battery, you can try to shift when you buy and sell energy. This can lower bills in some months of the year. It can also add risk. Results vary by home, season, and habits.
At PSC Energy, we love opportunities for solar enthusiasts to make money from their solar system. This platform is a powerful one that essentially turns your solar battery into an energy retailer.
In this guide, you’ll learn about the following:
- The Amber Energy Rate Experiment: Starting with Solar Panels and Tesla Powerwall
- How the Wholesale Energy Market Works with Amber Energy
- Dan’s Month: Where the Credits Likely Came From
- Pros And Cons of Using Amber with Solar Panels and a Battery
- FAQ: Amber
By the end of this article, you will learn how Amber’s pricing works, what equipment matters, how the app behaves, and where the risks sit.
Use this as general information only. It is not financial advice.
The Amber Energy Rate Experiment: Starting with Solar Panels and Tesla Powerwall
Dan, a PSC consultant, tried Amber at his home for one month. His setup is a larger solar household.
- He has about 15 kW of solar.
- He has two Tesla Powerwall 2 batteries with roughly 27 kWh of storage.
- His export limit is 10 kW.
That month included several short evening price spikes. His Amber account closed with about $230 in credits and no energy charges.
This is one month in one home. Weather, usage, export capacity, and price patterns all played a role. Future months could earn less. Some months could cost money. Treat this as a case study, not a promise.
If you’d like to learn more about the price of a Powerwall 3, you might want to check out the following article titled, How Much Does a Tesla Powerwall 3 Cost?
Power up your savings. click here.
How the Wholesale Energy Market Works with Amber Energy
Amber links you to the same market where generators and retailers trade power. The price updates many times per hour. You pay that live price when you import. You receive that live price when you export.
The pattern is simple to describe but hard to predict.
Midday often has low prices or negative prices. This happens when solar generation is high across the grid.
Late afternoon and evening often have higher prices. Demand rises while rooftop solar output falls. Short spikes can appear with hot weather, cold snaps, or sudden changes in supply.
A battery lets you move energy across these windows.
- You can charge when prices are low.
- You can use or export when prices are high.
- Your export limit controls how fast your battery can sell during brief spikes.
A higher export limit can help in short, high-value periods. A lower limit slows the rate at which you can earn during those same windows.
Amber’s Automation and the Option to Step In
Amber’s software tries to position your battery for likely price events. It may charge from solar or the grid at low prices. It may hold energy for the evening. It may export during a spike. You can also override it with a few simple controls.
Common manual options include:
- Charge now from the grid to prepare for storms or planned outages.
- Export now for a fixed time if you see a spike begin.
- Preserve battery to hold charge for a probable evening peak.
- Self-supply to prioritise your own usage for a period.
Most households let automation run. They step in when they have a clear reason. Manual control can catch short windows. Automation covers the rest of the time and does not require attention.
What Equipment and Settings Matter Most
Hardware and site limits shape outcomes more than tactics do. The right gear will not guarantee earnings. It will widen your options and reduce surprises.
A practical checklist:
- Battery capacity: more usable kWh gives more room to charge at low prices and sell or self-supply in peaks.
- Export limit: a higher kW export rate helps during short spikes.
- Inverter and battery integration: good curtailment and export control limit unwanted spill in negative pricing.
- Accurate metering and stable monitoring: the software needs clean data to act well.
- Backup settings: if you want blackout protection, keep a steady reserve so you are not empty when you need it
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about Amber, you might want to check out the following article titled, Amber Energy Australia Explained: A Smart Way to Save (and Earn) with Solar Panels and Battery.
Let’s talk solar savings. Click here.
Dan’s Month: Where the Credits Likely Came From
His credits did not come from one event. They came from many small gains plus a few strong peaks.
His 10 kW export limit let him discharge fast during short spikes. His storage covered evening use and still left energy to sell. Automation charged earlier in the day when prices were low. All of that helped.
The reverse set of conditions can reduce earnings in a later month. Fewer spikes mean fewer high-price windows.
- A run of cloudy days means less solar to store.
- A busy household in late afternoon leaves less to sell.
- A lower export limit means slower discharge during short peaks.
- A battery that is already full before negative pricing can cause small charges if your system cannot curtail exports.
Having this kind of control is powerful. Let’s say a storm is coming and you need a full battery in case of a blackout. You can charge up right away. Or maybe you see a price spike before SmartShift reacts—you can jump in and sell your power.
Amber gives you both worlds: automatic smarts when you want to sit back, and complete control when you want to step in.
SmartShift has saved me time and made me money. I don’t need to guess what the market is doing. I trust the system to look after it, and it’s been spot on every time.
Habits That Help Without a Lot of Effort
You do not need to babysit the app.; small habits stack up over time. Let automation charge at low or negative prices and hold some charge for the evening.
Keep flexible loads away from high-price windows when alerts appear. You can set a steady backup reserve if resilience matters to you. Manual overrides are available in the app for specific goals, then the overrides return to automation.
Remember to review settings after major firmware or app updates.
Sizing and Configuration That Fit Real Life
There is no perfect size for every home. Start with your goals, not a number.
- Choose a battery that covers your normal evening and leaves headroom to export.
- Match your export limit to your goals and local rules.
- Keep a consistent reserve if you value backup.
- Confirm curtailment features and keep firmware current.
Who This Setup Works For
This model tends to suit homes that have a battery and decent export capacity.
It suits households:
- Who accept variable bills and a learning curve.
- That can shift some loads out of the 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. window.
- Who will let automation run most of the time and step in now and then.
- Who may prefer a fixed-rate plan.
A fixed-rate plan may suit homes without a battery. It may suit sites with very low export limits. It may suit people who want stable bills and do not want to monitor an app. It may suit households with peak-heavy loads that cannot move.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about the price of solar batteries, you might want to check out the following article titled, How Much Are Solar Batteries? A Full Breakdown of Prices, Rebates, and Value in 2025.
Ready to go solar? click here.
Pros And Cons of Using Amber with Solar Panels and a Battery
Pros
- Access to low or negative daytime prices to charge a battery or an EV.
- A path to sell stored energy during short evening peaks.
- Transparent pricing with live data in the app.
- Automation that manages most decisions for you.
- Manual controls for targeted events and personal preferences.
- Potential to shorten payback if price patterns align with your setup and habits.
Cons
- Variable bills that can rise in months with few spikes or high imports.
- Exposure to very high prices if you must import during a spike.
- Small negative charges in some systems during negative pricing if exports cannot be curtailed.
- Earnings capped by DNSP export limits and site constraints.
- More cycling over years can add battery wear, warranty terms matter.
- Daily supply charges, membership fees, and network tariffs still apply.
- Results depend on weather, season, behaviour, and hardware integration
Do the boring checks. They matter. Review membership fees, daily supply charges, network tariffs, and any demand charges.
Confirm smart meter requirements and any upgrade costs. Read your battery warranty. Ask your installer who supports what, so you know who to call for hardware issues and who to call for retailer questions.
If you’d like to learn a bit more about what solar batteries are on the market, you might want to check out the following article titled, 6 Best Solar Batteries on the Market.
Let’s go solar today. Click here.
Wrapping Things Up: Amber is the Colour of Your Energy
Amber gives access to wholesale prices. A battery and a suitable export limit let you try to turn volatility into savings. Dan’s month shows what is possible when the conditions line up. Other months will be quieter. Results are not guaranteed.
If you like transparency and you are comfortable with price swings, Amber can be a useful option to explore. If you want stable bills and no management, a fixed-rate plan may be better. Check compatibility, export limits, and current fees before you switch. This is general information, not financial advice.
At PSC Energy, we’ve got our ear on the ground for all things solar. Amber might be good for your home, or it might be something to avoid. We’re here to help you learn how to make the most out of your solar panels and battery. It’s what we do.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about solar and battery rebates in NSW, Australia, you might want to check out the following article titled, Ultimate Guide to Australia’s 2025 Solar Rebate and Battery Rebate: Federal and NSW Rebate for Solar.
FAQ: Amber
What is Amber and how is it different from a normal energy plan?
Amber passes through wholesale electricity prices to your home. The price you pay or receive changes every few minutes. A standard plan uses a fixed rate that does not change through the day.
How does wholesale pricing work with a solar battery at home?
You can charge your battery when prices are low or negative. You can use that energy at home or export when prices are high. Your export limit controls how fast you can sell during short spikes.
Do I need a solar battery to use Amber?
You can join without a battery, but the risk is higher. A battery lets you avoid importing during price spikes and lets you store cheap energy for later.
How big should my solar battery be for Amber to work well?
Choose a size that covers your normal evening use and leaves some room to export. More usable kWh gives you more flexibility, but the right size depends on your goals and budget.
How much can I earn with Amber?
Results vary by month. In one Western Sydney case study with about 15 kW of solar, two Powerwall 2 units (about 27 kWh), and a 10 kW export limit, the home earned about $230 in credits in one month. Future months could earn less or more.
Will I always pay less than a fixed-rate plan?
No. Some months can look very good. Some months can be average or even higher. Weather, usage, export limits, and price patterns drive the outcome.
When do price spikes usually happen?
Spikes often occur in late afternoon and evening when demand rises and solar output falls. They can also appear during extreme heat, cold snaps, or supply changes. Duration and size vary.
What is negative pricing and how do I handle it?
Negative pricing means the market pays you to take energy. You can charge your battery during these periods. If your battery is full and your system cannot curtail exports, some energy may spill to the grid at a negative price and cost you a small amount.
Which solar batteries work best with export control and curtailment?
Integration varies by brand and model. Some DC-coupled systems such as Tesla Powerwall 3 (DC) and Sigenergy SigenStor (DC) support export control well. Other systems may need firmware or software updates. Check current compatibility before you switch.
What is SmartShift and what does “Control My Battery” do?
SmartShift is Amber’s automation that charges, holds, or exports based on price signals. “Control My Battery” lets you step in. You can charge now, export now, preserve battery, or run in self-supply mode for a set time.
Should I rely on automation or use manual controls?
Most homes let automation run and use manual overrides for a clear goal. You might charge before a storm, hold charge for an expected spike, or export during a brief high-price window.
How do export limits affect earnings?
Export limits cap the rate you can sell during a spike. A 10 kW limit can move more energy in a short window than a 5 kW limit. Local network rules set your cap.
What equipment and settings matter most?
A battery with enough usable capacity, a suitable export limit, good inverter integration for curtailment, accurate metering, and stable monitoring matter most. If you want blackout protection, set a steady backup reserve.
What are the main risks of using Amber?
You face variable bills and exposure to high prices if you must import during spikes. Negative pricing can cost money if you cannot curtail exports. Export caps limit earnings. More cycling can add battery wear. Daily supply and platform fees still apply.
How can I reduce risk while using Amber?
Keep a battery. Let automation charge at low or negative prices. Avoid discretionary imports in high-price windows. Use manual overrides for short, specific goals. Keep firmware current and confirm curtailment features.
Can I do well on Amber with a smaller system?
Yes, but export rate and stored energy limit your upside in short spikes. A larger battery and a higher export limit widen your options, especially in the evening.
Does this work without solar panels?
You can still charge from the grid when prices are low or negative and use or export later. Solar adds daytime generation, but the battery and export limit do most of the work in evening spikes.
What happens during a blackout?
Export earnings pause during an outage. If your system is set up for backup, your battery can still run essential loads. Keep a consistent reserve if resilience is a priority.
What costs should I check before switching?
Review daily supply charges, any membership or platform fees, your network tariff, smart meter requirements, and exit terms. Read your battery warranty for cycle or throughput limits and confirm who supports hardware versus retailer issues.
Who is a good fit for Amber’s model?
Homes with a battery and reasonable export capacity that accept variable bills and a small learning curve. Households that can move flexible loads away from the 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. window. Users who are happy to let automation run and step in now and then.
