Mackay family investigating solar power and $18k Tesla battery pack as answer to rising energy costs

A Mackay family is considering spending big bucks on energy backups now as the price of power is tipped to rise more than 50 per cent by 2024.

Amanda Alderson of Beaconsfield Saturday October 29 2022.Picture: Michaela Harlow

A Mackay mum is considering forking out a whopping sum for a battery back-up system in the hope it will save them from more future power price pain.

The search for new methods to save on energy costs comes after this week’s federal budget revealed the price of power would rise more than 50 per cent in the next two years.

Finance broker Amanda Alderson said her family’s energy bill was already about $800 per quarter – covering the air conditioner, dish washer and laundry usage for two adults and two children.

Amanda, Miller and Malachy Alderson of Beaconsfield are considering how to combat rising power costs. Picture: Michaela Harlow

With power costs set to rise 56 per cent by 2024, her bill could increase to more than $1200 each quarter.

“It’s kind of a scary percentage isn’t it?” Mrs Alderson, who also runs her business from home said.

“We’ve recently purchased a new property which doesn’t have any energy efficiency installations like solar or anything to that effect.”

About two weeks ago, the family moved from an older property at Eimeo to a newly built home at Beaconsfield.

They’re now investigating solar and the Tesla battery backup system, worth about $18,000.

Amanda Alderson has noticed her quarterly power bill creeping up. Picture: Michaela Harlow

“We feel like obviously if there’s things we can do to decrease our electricity costs, then obviously it’s worthwhile investigating,” she said.

“We’re also in the process of putting in a new swimming pool … we want to be able to have the options of heating the pool – that’s where we’re thinking solar might be beneficial as well.

“And having that back up energy power – we are in an area that obviously has cyclones, has power blackouts.

“If we weren’t investigating other options and we started to see a rate rise in our electricity bill which I think are already at a premium then I would be reconsidering my daily usage.

“In other words, would I actually need to be using a tumble dryer or do I risk drying (outside) … do I only do the dishwasher every second day?”

Mrs Alderson wasn’t surprised prices would rise as she’d noticed the figure had been creeping up each quarter.

“You’ve still got to balance your comfort (against) energy costs,” she said

“It’s hard to know sometimes – is it better to only run the aircon for short periods (or) is it better to leave it on and have it running … (so it’s not) trying to work hard to cool the room.”