Power plans, VPPs and retailers
Amber Electric with a home battery: how SmartShift works, which batteries, and the risks
The short answer
Amber Electric is a retailer that passes wholesale electricity prices straight through to you. Its SmartShift service runs your battery against those prices: charging when power is cheap and exporting when it's expensive. As published on 15 October 2026, it costs a $25 monthly subscription with no lock-in, needs Amber as your retailer, and works with batteries including Sigenergy, Sungrow, Tesla Powerwall 3 and Alpha ESS (GoodWe, Fox ESS and Anker in beta). The trade-off: wholesale prices swing, so some months cost more.
How does Amber SmartShift work?
Amber charges the wholesale price for each half hour, plus network charges and its subscription, where most plans charge a fixed rate per kWh. SmartShift is Amber's battery automation: it decides when your battery charges, discharges and exports, so it can buy cheap power (often in the middle of the day) and sell during price spikes (often on hot evenings). While you're enrolled, your battery maker's app is locked into a VPP mode.
What does Amber cost, and where is it available?
Amber costs a $25 monthly subscription, and it comes with these conditions:
- A $25 monthly subscription (Amber help centre, 6 October 2026), with no lock-in and no exit fee.
- Amber must be your electricity retailer, and you leave any other VPP first.
- You need a smart meter that records exports and an internet-connected inverter.
- Available in Victoria, NSW (Ausgrid, Endeavour and Essential), South Australia, south-east Queensland (Energex only) and the ACT. Amber says enrolment may be delayed in Victoria and SA while it sorts out the emergency backstop and flexible export requirements.
Which batteries work with Amber SmartShift?
Amber SmartShift works only with the batteries on Amber's own list; the table shows where each brand stands.
| Battery | Amber SmartShift |
|---|---|
| Sigenergy SigenStor | Yes |
| Sungrow SBH and SBR batteries | Yes |
| GoodWe ESA and Lynx Home batteries | Beta |
| Fox ESS EQ and EP batteries, and the Power Cube | Beta |
| Alpha ESS SMILE batteries | Yes |
| Anker SOLIX X1 | Beta |
| Tesla Powerwall 3 | Yes |
- Sigenergy needs a Sigen Gateway or Sigen Sensor; Sungrow is supported with one SH hybrid inverter per site.
- Amber also lists Neovolt, GivEnergy, 1KOMMA5°, SolarEdge batteries with a SolarEdge inverter, and Fronius Reserva or BYD batteries with a Fronius GEN24 inverter; Enphase is in beta.
- Amber stopped taking new Redback registrations from 17 September 2026.
What are the risks of Amber with a battery?
The main risks of running a battery on Amber are price swings, handing over control, and the subscription:
- Price swings. Wholesale prices can spike for hours. SmartShift aims to avoid buying then, but a month with long spikes can cost more than a fixed-rate plan.
- Control. You hand day-to-day battery decisions to Amber; your battery app is locked into VPP mode while you're enrolled.
- The subscription. $25 a month ($300 a year) on top of wholesale and network charges: include it when you compare with a standard plan.
- Compare it. Fixed VPPs (AGL, Origin, ENGIE, GloBird) pay less upside but carry less price risk. See which batteries work with which VPP.
Does Amber SmartShift count for state battery incentives?
In NSW and SA, Amber says it does:
- NSW: Amber says SmartShift counts as an eligible VPP for the NSW battery incentive; apply within 90 days of joining.
- SA: Amber says SmartShift is an approved VPP under the state scheme, which has been limited to priority groups since 5 May 2026.
Questions people ask
Is Amber Electric good with a battery?
It can pay well when wholesale prices spike and your battery can sell into them, but it carries more price risk than a fixed VPP and costs a $25 monthly subscription (as published on 6 October 2026). It suits people comfortable with price swings and automation.
Which batteries are compatible with Amber?
On Amber's list (checked 15 October 2026): Sigenergy, Sungrow, Tesla Powerwall 3 and Alpha ESS, with GoodWe ESA, Fox ESS and Anker in beta, among others.
How much does Amber SmartShift cost?
Amber's help centre lists a $25 monthly subscription, with no lock-in or exit fee (6 October 2026).
Where is Amber available?
Victoria, NSW, South Australia, south-east Queensland (Energex) and the ACT.
Sources
- Amber: SmartShift compatible batteries
- Amber: SmartShift fee
- Amber: where Amber is available
- Amber: beta brands
- Amber: NSW battery incentive
- Amber: SA REPS
General information, not financial advice. Rebate rules change: figures on this page come from our rules table, last verified 26 September 2026. How we're paid: installers pay Homerise for introducing you. No brand or installer pays to be mentioned in a guide.