Getting started with Amber SmartShift

Getting set up is two steps

Switching to Amber and enrolling your battery are two different things, and if you have a battery, you need both to get the full benefit.

1. 1

   Switch to Amber

   Move your electricity plan to Amber so you get access to wholesale pricing. On its own this gives you Amber's wholesale rates, but it doesn't yet let Amber control your battery.

2. 2

   Enrol your battery in SmartShift

   Connect your battery in the Amber app so SmartShift's automation can charge and discharge it at the best times. Without this step your battery isn't automated: you'd be controlling it manually and won't get the full benefit. The guides below show how, for your brand.

What to expect in your first month

The single most important thing to understand: your savings build up over time, and your very first bill won't tell the whole story. Here's what to keep in mind.

• The first month is a learning period

  Amber's SmartShift needs roughly a month to learn your home's usage and your battery before it starts optimising properly. Your first bill won't reflect your full savings yet — that's expected.

• Winter bills run higher — for everyone

  In winter your panels generate less and your home uses more (heating, shorter days). Higher winter bills aren't a sign Amber isn't working — the savings show up as generation climbs into spring and summer.

• The big wins come from price spikes

  A lot of Amber's value lands on a handful of high-price events across the year, when your battery exports at premium rates. It averages out over the year, not week to week.

Common questions