At Amber, we've gotten used to hearing a few myths here and there about what it's like to be an Amber for Batteries customer. So we thought we'd tackle them head on! After all, there's a reason we've become Australia's most popular energy company for battery owners.
Myth #1: Amber for Batteries is for die-hard energy nerds
The myth: You need to be a tech-savvy energy geek with time to tinker all day to make the most of Amber for Batteries.
The reality: While many of our earliest adopters are self-confessed energy nerds (like us!) and like to be engaged with their energy and the Amber app, most customers know that Amber for Batteries takes the thinking out of it.
Sure, you might find yourself checking out the app a fair bit out of curiosity in the first few months but ultimately, our automations let your battery do the work - charging when energy is cheapest and discharging when prices spike. There's no need to manage anything manually - unless you want to.
Myth #2: Wholesale pricing is risky
The myth: You could end up with a huge power bill if prices spike.
The reality: Wholesale prices move up and down every five minutes, but for battery owners, these variations in pricing are exactly where the value lies, since you can sell your energy and earn big at these times.
You’ll be notified via the app so you can shift your usage away from these times if you want to save your battery power to maximise your energy exports to the grid, or minimise usage from the grid.
With smart usage and automations like Amber for Batteries, most customers save significantly over time by accessing wholesale energy and the smart tech to make the most of it.
Plus, Amber has built-in price protections and tools to help customers stay in control.
Myth #3: Getting started is complicated
The myth: Switching retailers, and in particular, joining Amber for Batteries, is a hassle.
The reality: We’ve made it easy - and we’re here to help.
The idea that switching retailers is complicated is an age old myth that dates to long before our time. In truth, once you have an Amber compatible battery, setup can take a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on your battery system, and is seamless and mostly automated.
Our team will help you get up and running, and the app walks you through any preferences you want to set.
From there, you can check in any time - but most customers simply let the automation do its thing.
Myth #4: I’m already saving with my battery, it’s not worth the switch
The myth: I already have solar and a battery. I’m probably already saving as much as I can.
The reality: If you're on a flat-rate or time-of-use plan and you’re not automating your battery, chances are you're leaving money on the table.
While a battery in its standard mode will store your energy so you can use it at peak times, which is great, a battery with Amber goes from dumb to smart, unlocking its potential.
With Amber, a battery can:
- Charge when prices are low, or even negative, using your solar or the grid at cheap, green times
- Export when prices are high
- Unlock higher overall feed-in returns, thanks to feed-in rates than can reach $19/kWh
- Use solar in smarter ways
It’s about using your battery like an energy trader - without having to be one.
Myth #5: Automation will wear out my battery faster
The myth: Charging and discharging more often will reduce my battery’s lifespan - isn’t all this automation just overusing it?
The reality: Amber for Batteries is designed to optimise within your battery’s safe operating limits, not push it beyond what it was built to do.
We work with leading battery brands and follow manufacturer guidelines to ensure our automation respects your battery’s health. In fact:
- Most modern batteries are built to cycle daily - and often come with warranties based on daily cycling for 10+ years.
- Amber’s algorithms are conservative by design, balancing performance with longevity.
- You stay in control - you can set a minimum charge reserve (e.g. 20–30%) to ensure your battery is ready when you need it, or pause automation at any time.
In short, we help your battery work smarter, not harder - so you can unlock more value without compromising its lifespan.
Myth #6: Being with Amber means I have to constantly monitor and change my lifestyle
The myth: To make Amber work, I’ll need to be glued to the app, track prices all day, and change when I use energy.
The reality: With a battery and Amber’s automation, you don’t need to change a thing about your lifestyle.
For those whose battery capacity doesn't cover their home's needs at peak times you may want to shift some energy usage when prices spike -both to avoid pulling from the grid and so you can earn by selling into the spike. But with a typical-sized solar system and battery you can still use power the way you always have in all but a handful of hours each year that we will notify you about, and the system will work in the background to help you save and earn more.
Even if you do nothing manually, your battery will still be:
- Charging when prices are lowest (or when excess solar is forecast),
- Discharging when prices spike, and
- Protecting your home’s night-time needs with reserve levels you control.
No manual switching. No lifestyle overhaul. Just smarter use of the battery you already have.
Myth #7: It’s too good to be true
The myth: Feed-in rates that go up to $19/kWh and energy that's cheaper when it's greener? There must be a catch.
The reality:
Amber isn’t a traditional retailer. We pass on the wholesale price without marking it up - and charge a flat $22/month fee. This aligns our interests with yours: we don’t profit when you use more energy.
Instead, our whole model is purpose-driven and designed to help you become smarter with your energy use, in ways that benefit you, the grid, and the climate.
The proof is in the pudding. Today Amber is the fastest growing and most popular battery automation provider. Check out our latest reviews on TrustPilot and get a quote to see what you could save.
