When Chris and his family first moved into their Geelong home, they knew they wanted to live smarter when it came to energy.  

As an IT professional, Chris was no stranger to data, tech, and efficiency. What he didn’t expect was just how far a home battery could take them, from cutting bills down to single digits, to powering not one, but two, electric vehicles. 

Today, Chris’ household isn’t just saving money – they’re in credit. His highest electricity bill with Flow Power? Just $8. 

We break down how he did it, and how your household can do the same below. 

The setup: solar, battery, and EVs working together 

Chris has built a future-ready energy system that integrates with his Flow Home electricity plan, including: 

• 13.2kW solar array 

• LG 16kWh home battery 

• Zappi EV charger 

• Two electric vehicles

This isn’t a minimalist setup. Chris and his family run a busy household with heating, cooling, appliances, and plenty of daily demand. But with Flow Power, the whole system works seamlessly. Solar is stored during the day, and used at night when prices are high, and the battery can be topped up with power from the grid when prices are low, to improve their price efficiency for the month. 

“Even in winter, I was paying about 14 cents per kWh. People can’t believe it when I tell them my EV only costs $2 to charge. Less than a cup of coffee.” 

Busting the myths about home electrification 

A lot of people assume going electric means higher bills, complicated tech, or sacrificing comfort. Chris has proven the opposite: 

• Myth: Batteries aren’t worth it. 

Chris’ battery allows his household to rarely draw expensive peak power from the grid. Plus, he’s earning credits on his bills.  

• Myth: You need to change your lifestyle. 

The family still heats, cools, and charges two EVs, without having to sacrifice on comfort or costs.  

• Myth: Managing energy is too hard. 

The Flow Power app makes it simple. Chris calls it “gamifying” his energy use, checking live prices and charging his EVs at the lowest-cost times. 

Taking control of price spikes 

One of Chris’ biggest wins is how he’s learned to manage high price events. Instead of being caught off guard, he uses his battery to ride them out. 

During a price spike, Chris can pause charging, rely on stored solar power, or wait until prices drop back down. With this control, those market fluctuations don’t translate into higher bills. Avoiding these grid spikes also improves Chris’ price efficiency for the month.

“The app gives me full visibility. If I see prices spike, I just avoid drawing from the grid as the battery covers us. It’s actually kind of fun to outsmart the market.” 

The results: bills in credit and stress-free living 

Since switching to Flow Power, Chris has turned what was once a major household expense into a monthly win. 

• Highest bill: $8 

• Most bills: in credit 

• EV charging: as low as $2 per charge 

• Winter average rate: ~14c/kWh 

The best part is that he doesn’t have to think about it every day. The battery and solar take care of the heavy lifting. The app gives him control when he wants it, but the comfort and savings happen automatically. 

“It’s easier than people think. You don’t have to give up your lifestyle. In fact, we’re living more comfortably and paying less.” 

Chris’ advice for others

Chris is often asked if it’s “worth it.” His answer? A resounding yes. 

“If you’ve got solar, adding a battery is the next logical step. Pair it with the right energy plan, and you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.”

Interested in building your own smarter home setup?

Explore Flow Power’s residential energy plan today. 

Chris has been a retail customer of Flow Power since April 2025.  He was paid for his time in participating in this interview.