25 November 2024, 4 min read
Sarah has always been passionate about sustainability and reducing her carbon footprint. Equipped with an electric vehicle (EV), an induction cooktop, a heat pump hot water service, her household is fully electric and efficient.
Sarah is always striving to reduce her carbon footprint, and she proudly labels herself an “energy nerd.”
Location: Near Castlemaine
Average monthly household usage: 296 kWh
Average monthly PEA: -11 c/kWh (or an average bill reduction of $30)
Starting Flow Power base rate: 31.71 c/kWh
Average final electricity rate: 20.72 c/kWh
Best PEA: -15 c/kWh
Best final electricity rate: 17 c/kWh (a reduction of 47%!)
*Averages are based on billing data from August 2024 – October 2024
**Bill reductions are the amounts saved on Flow Power bills through reductions to the base rate
Managing her energy use was crucial not only to save on costs but also to align with her commitment to sustainability. With energy-intensive devices and a focus on electrifying everything, Sarah’s primary goal was to minimise her environmental impact by using renewable energy sources as much as possible. However, balancing her all-electric home’s power needs, especially her EV, with green energy use required careful management.
Sarah was looking for an energy provider to help her manage her energy consumption in a way that aligned with her sustainability goals.
Since joining Flow Home, Sarah has completely changed how she uses electricity. The Flow Power app’s real-time pricing signals, designed to encourage green energy use, became her go-to tool for optimising her household consumption.
For example, she charges her EV three to four days a week, only during low-cost, green energy periods.
She also adjusted day to day activities like cooking and laundry to make sure they are done during sunny, low-cost hours, reducing reliance on fossil-fuelled, peak-time energy.
Her commitment extends beyond convenience. Sarah even powers small devices using a battery pack which she charges during the day showing a level of dedication that reflects her deep-rooted passion for sustainability.
With the Flow Home electricity plan and her energy literacy, Sarah has been actively shifting her load to reduce her Flow Home base rate and environmental impact.
Sarah’s total monthly bill averages just $113. This covers everything: powering her fully electric home—without any reliance on gas or wood—and the monthly costs of running her electric vehicle. Many households pay similar energy bills but often overlook additional expenses like gas, firewood, and petrol, making Sarah’s streamlined, sustainable setup an impressive achievement.
In more recent months, Sarah’s best month in August 2024 was able to reduce her Flow Power base rate to 17c/kWh (a 47% reduction).
Sarah’s journey shows how aligning energy use with wholesale market price signals and using renewables can significantly reduce costs while supporting the transition to a cleaner energy future.
For Sarah, energy literacy and understanding the broader market—like how generators, distributors, and retailers work—have been key to her success. She encourages others to learn more, as this knowledge has helped her make the most of the green energy options available through Flow Home.