Hello!
It's Chris here with your autumn update on what's happening with energy prices as well as some exciting operational updates from our team.
Amber customers benefiting from lower wholesale prices
Over the past year, the cost of wholesale energy has fallen significantly. According to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), wholesale costs last quarter were almost half what they were a year earlier, driven by a record amount of renewable energy flowing into the grid. Renewables now supply over half of Australia's electricity for the first time.
Because Amber passes through wholesale costs directly with no markup, you've benefited from every cent of that drop in real time.
From 1 April 2026, we’ve reduced your carbon offset and GreenPower rates. The market price for carbon offset and GreenPower has come down recently, and we're passing those savings on to you. We recently sent you an email for the specific rate changes that apply to your plan.
As a reminder, most traditional retailers don't work this way. They buy energy months in advance through fixed contracts, which means when wholesale costs fall, those savings can be slow to reach customers (if they get passed on at all). With global energy markets still uncertain and gas prices remaining volatile, many retailers will continue to price in risk and protect their margins. On Amber, you always pay the real wholesale price. When it drops, your bills drop too. No delay, no middleman margin.
What the Middle East situation means for your energy bills
If you've been following the news, you might be wondering whether global tensions are hitting your power bill. So far in Australia, the honest answer is: not much.
Australian wholesale prices haven't moved significantly as a result, and forward market expectations are fairly steady. The main reason is one worth celebrating, renewables now supply over 50% of our electricity, which means we're far less exposed to global fossil fuel shocks than we used to be. When the sun's shining and the wind's blowing, what happens to an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz doesn't move your bill.
That could change. If the situation escalates and gas markets tighten further, there could be flow-on effects to electricity prices. But if that happens, being on Amber with SmartShift puts you in a good position. Your battery can charge when prices are low and discharge when they spike, turning volatility into an opportunity rather than a problem.
We'll keep you updated if anything shifts materially.
What to expect from autumn and winter
As days get shorter and temperatures drop, the energy market follows a familiar seasonal pattern. Less solar during the day, higher demand in the evening as people get home and turn on heaters. That creates bigger price swings throughout the day.
For battery customers, these swings are where the biggest value is. Your battery charges when energy is cheap and SmartShift sells it back when prices jump. The wider the gap, the more you earn. Last winter, many Amber customers earned over $100 in a single evening during high-demand periods, and during a recent price spike in SA some larger systems banked over $300 in a day.
If you don't have a battery yet, this might be a good time to look into it. The federal battery rebate takes thousands off the upfront cost, and batteries on Amber with SmartShift pay for themselves faster. Reach out to your local solar battery installer to book in your system as many are now booked out until May. You can also use our SmartShift Compatibility Checker to see what works with your setup, or check out our guide to government incentives.
Quick tips for the season ahead:
- Turn on in app notifications in the Amber app so you know when prices spike
- Shift heavy usage away from 5-8pm where you can
- If you have solar, make sure curtailment is enabled to avoid negative export rates
- You're always covered by our quarterly Bill Guarantee
Customer service has improved
Since the start of the year we've reduced our support backlog by more than 70% meaning we can respond to new requests faster than we could a couple of months ago. We're continuing to hire rapidly and build better tools which is paying off. We’re not done yet, but you should feel the difference if you’re trying to get in contact.
We've also launched an Amber Updates page where you can see product fixes and improvements as they happen. No more waiting for a quarterly email to find out what's changed.
What's coming for SmartShift
With the autumn/winter earning season ahead, conditions are set for a strong run and we continue to improve the system to be smarter and smarter over time.
We're also building new tools in the app to show you more about how and why SmartShift makes its decisions. Sometimes it does things that seem counterintuitive, like charging when you'd expect it to sell, usually because it's anticipating a price opportunity later. We want our customers to see this logic, so look out for more of it in the app.
If you spot something that doesn't look right, I encourage you to submit feedback from the Plan screen in the app. The team reads every one.
Smarter EV charging this winter
Winter can be a trickier season for EV owners, and it's where Amber for EVs earns its keep. Less solar during the day means the solar you produce is more scarce and more valuable, and evening peaks push prices higher right when most people get home and plug in. Charge at the wrong time and you'll feel it on your bill.
Amber for EVs automates charging into the cheapest windows (either daytime, solar, or overnight), so your car is full when you need it without you having to think about it. As prices swing more through winter, that automation matters more.
We've also expanded vehicle compatibility. Amber for EVs now works with Tesla, MG, Audi and Xpeng vehicles, with more on the way.
If you drive an EV and aren't using Amber for EVs yet, it's worth checking if your vehicle is supported. Get a quote and see how much you could save with A4EV.
Check Amber Updates to stay across what we're working on between now and the next update.
Thanks for being part of Amber and joining us in the mission to transition Australia to 100% renewables.
Cheers,
Chris, Co-CEO at Amber
