- Account & Service Changes
- App Access & Registration
- Billing & Payments
- Commercial & Business Accounts
- Developer & API Integration
- Energy Trading & Marketplace
- New Customers FAQ
- Partnering with Localvolts
- Programs & Rebates & Concessions
- Solar & Energy Generation
- Technical Support
To delete a trade, first navigate to the My Trades tab. (Last icon on the right in your My Energy screen). Adjust the dates to the future period where you expect to find your trades. Click the right-arrow next to any trade to drill down. Click the next arrow to drill down again. You will find the Cancel button on the bottom of the final screen.
Our current estimate is that we will be able start serving Victorian customers in the first half of 2027.
Yes, you can use this as a forward price curve. It will reflect the actual costs / earnings at the site, inclusive of all adjustments and distribution costs.
Yes, you can ignore these, they are just there for completeness.
The ‘flex’ figures are the ones to use for control decisions, as they will always have a value. The cost flex up is the cost to import another 1kWh into the site (e.g. when charging a battery). The flex down is essentially the opposite of this.
Earnings flex up is the reward for exporting another kWh to the grid. There will always be a difference in value between them as imports attract GST, network charges, certificate costs and various other costs only levied on consumption. Exports are generally (not always) GST free, sometimes have applicable networks costs (which can be charges or rewards) and generally don’t have regulatory and market costs applicable.
Decide your integration approach
- If you’ll integrate via API (most partners do), plan for server‑to‑server calls and secure storage of an API key + Partner ID.
- If you need commercial engagement only (installer referral, reseller, project partner), say so when you contact us.
Register a test property to get an API key
- Fastest route: register a residential property here: https://localvolts.com/register/
- If you need a business registration form, tell us and we’ll send it.
Get credentials and start testing
- After registration we’ll issue a Partner ID and test API key so your dev team can call endpoints (e.g. GET /customer/interval) and validate integration against real 5‑minute market and customer interval data.
- Refer to our API Guide for details on authentication, endpoints and payloads (interval data, earnings/cost signals, battery control fields).
Validate integration and security
- Confirm your integration can safely handle interval data, device state (battery SOC, charging/discharging), and act on earnings/cost signals.
- We’ll review technical readiness and data handling practices.
Contracts & authorisation
- Once testing is successful, we’ll prepare partner agreements authorising access to customer data subsets and specifying data privacy/security terms.
- API keys for production access and Partner IDs are issued after agreements are in place.
Go live & support
- Move to production credentials, roll out to customers, and we’ll provide ongoing support and API updates.
If you want to start now: register at https://localvolts.com/register/ (or email [email protected] and we’ll send the business registration form).
- Software developers, system integrators and platform providers who need real‑time and forecasted 5‑minute market signals to optimise device behaviour (batteries, generators, smart appliances, EV chargers).
- Manufacturers or gateway vendors building battery/BMS, inverter, EMS or gateway hardware that can accept external control or pricing inputs.
- VPP operators, aggregators and energy services firms who want to layer Localvolts marketplace price signals onto their orchestration and optimisation logic.
- Energy consultancies and installers who want to offer customers value‑added automation (cost savings, export optimisation, emissions reduction) using market-aware control.
- Any partner that will consume our API to make automated decisions (charging/discharging, generator dispatch, load shifting, tariff logic) rather than manual marketplace activity.
Why these partners? Because Localvolts’ edge is high‑resolution market data and earnings/cost signals that let devices act optimally every 5 minutes. If you’re building software or hardware that can respond to market price and forecast signals, you’ll get immediate, practical value.
Your Localvolts invoice includes the same charges as most other retailers. The difference is that we itemise every cost so you can see exactly what you are paying for. Each item on your bill is a cost that we have already paid on your behalf. We pass them through to you without any markup.
The most significant costs are electricity and network fees and charges from your local network provider. And then there are other costs such as metering fees and certificates.
For a more comprehensive list, have a look at this blog post about the Localvolts bill.
For residential customers the Localvolts bill includes several components beyond our daily service fee:
Your Localvolts bill includes several components beyond our daily service fee. All of these costs are passed through without markup.
Supply Charge – Daily connection fee to keep your property connected to the electricity network
Usage Charge – Cost of electricity you purchased from the grid (energy consumption)
Network Charges – Fees paid to your local distributor (like Energex) for maintaining poles, wires, and electricity infrastructure
Metering Charges – Costs for reading and maintaining your electricity meter
Government Certificates – Mandatory renewable energy certificate costs (LGCs and STCs) required by law
AEMO Market Fees – Australian Energy Market Operator charges for wholesale market operations
Ancillary Services – Grid stability and frequency control services
Credit Support Costs – Our cost of providing bank guarantees to AEMO for wholesale energy purchases
Post-pay Cost – Interest charge if you choose to pay after receiving your bill rather than pre-paying
Late Payment Fee – Applied if bills aren’t paid by the due date (when applicable)
All network, metering, and government charges are pass-through costs – we don’t add any markup to these regulated fees .
The Localvolts app allows you to create buy and sell orders based on an estimation of what you will export and what you will consume. These estimates are based on your calculated profile, which updates based on your import/export behaviour.
When you create a sell offer, there is an estimated value for the electricity that will be available for that trade, and that is your limit for the offer. If you export more that the estimated amount, it will be traded, either on the spot market at the real wholesale price, or with available and compatible peer-to-peer orders.
The same goes for your imports when you are placing a buy order.
Those trades are adjusted when the real data comes in from your meter, which is usually about midday on the following day.
So, actual numbers are estimates, but if you have a smart meter then everything older that 24 hours should be an accurate number.
To remove your controlled load, please submit an application via the Talk to Localvolts section of our app. Once that is done, we will forward your request to your network provider on your behalf.
This process can take between a week or to, to over a month. We will contact you as soon as we receive a response from your network provider, and we will follow up on your behalf if it takes longer than usual.
Please do not email us asking for updates. This will not speed up the process.
Yes. You must be connected to the grid in the National Electricity Market of Australia to buy and sell electricity.
If you or someone at your premises relies on life support equipment, it’s essential to register this with us. This option is available in our registration form, and should be done when you switch to Localvolts.
If you need to add life support to an existing Localvolts account, please contact us via [email protected].
Your account may show as disabled for several reasons, including overdue payments or incomplete registration. If you’ve failed to pay your bills on time, you may lose your ability to set buying and selling preferences, and all subsequent energy transactions will be at wholesale spot prices.
If your account is showing as disabled, please contact us at [email protected] We’ll help you understand why your account has been disabled and work with you to restore full access.
If you’re having trouble logging into the Localvolts marketplace, here are some steps to try:
First, remember that our marketplace is accessed through a web platform at market.localvolts.com, not a dedicated mobile app.
Try using the ‘Forgot Password’ link on the login screen to reset your password. Clear your browser cache and cookies, then try again. Ensure you’re using a supported browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge). If you’re still experiencing issues, please visit our community forum or contact us at [email protected] for assistance.
To set up a business account with Localvolts, contact us directly via [email protected] and we will send you the necessary form to complete your application.
As well as completing the application form you will be asked to provide a recent electricity bill.
The fee is the financing cost for the days from the issue date to the normal pay-by date. We show how much it costs to provide the customer the time to pay the bill. Calculation is at the bottom of page 2. Details can be found How it all works.
When we are late in issuing bills, the customer is only charged the normal post-pay fee, but is given extra (cost free) days to pay his bill. (See pay by date on page 1 vs fee calculation on page 2 bottom).
Yes. All sellers in our marketplace provide energy from zero greenhouse gas emissions sources. As the Localvolts marketplace grows, so does the supply of renewable energy, making it easier for you to buy more green energy.
If there is no peer-to-peer energy available, you will buy from the wholesale spot energy market operated by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). This energy is sourced from a mix of generators producing varying levels of emissions.
Our market is built for everyone and we are working to bring on a diverse group of buyers and sellers. Currently, all sellers are households.
Grid connected customers in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania can join Localvolts. Victorian residents have to wait until we receive our electricity licence from the Essential Services Commission.
The existing power grid and industry structure is organised for large generators to make energy and have it delivered via high and low voltage networks to consumers – it is a unidirectional model where the industry makes all the decisions.
With consumers becoming active participants, the power networks will have to adjust to bi-directional energy flows – this is more a mindset issue for the networks in our opinion; the engineering is not that hard. The power networks’ role is essential in the new energy world; they just have to adapt a bit.
Our view is that anyone who uses the grid must pay for it, and our business model ensures that this happens. The debate will be around for what services, and how much? We will help in this by providing full transparency – no more bundled prices allowing some people to make up their own facts.
As for the large generators, well, they’ve had the market to themselves for long enough; they’ll have to learn to share.
Yes. Anyone who consumes electricity can join. As a consumer, you can choose who you buy electricity from and at what price. You might support your local community, or decide to support suppliers based on the environmental impact of the generators.
Localvolts is just as much about providing you choice and control over the electricity that you consume, as it is about creating a fair market for producers to sell their excess energy.
You can sign up by visiting the Localvolts website at localvolts.com and clicking completing the registration form. You will need your Medicare card for identification purposes and a your National Meter Identifier (NMI) which can be found on your existing electricity bill.
Localvolts will handle the transfer process for you once you complete the registration. You don’t need to contact your current provider – Localvolts will manage the switch as your new retailer. The premises must be connected to the electricity grid.
You can log into your account at market.localvolts.com or via the LOGIN link on the Localvolts website. This is where you access the marketplace to buy and sell electricity, examine your transactions, and manage your preferences.
Yes, you can leave Localvolts anytime without incurring any exit fees or penalties. Localvolts will terminate your matches to buy or sell energy that go beyond your departure date.
You can update your details through the Localvolts marketplace at market.localvolts.com where you can maintain your details, or contact Localvolts customer service.
All imported energy in excess of your original matched quantity is bought from the wholesale spot energy market operated by the Australian Energy Market Operator.
If you imported less energy than originally agreed, then you will pay for the actual (reduced) quantity of energy at the agreed matched price.
Your physical electricity supply will not be affected in either case.
There are no joining fees, setup charges, or upfront costs to become a Localvolts customer .
You can switch to us completely free – no connection fees, no account establishment charges, and no special equipment needed. Your existing electricity meter works perfectly fine with our system.
Once you’re connected, you’ll only pay for the electricity services you use: your daily service fee (starting at $1.10/day for residential customers), the energy you purchase, and standard network charges that every electricity customer pays regardless of their retailer.
You can also leave us anytime without any exit fees or penalties if Localvolts isn’t right for you .
Yes, you can get copies of previous invoices by contacting our support team at [email protected] with your request. Just let us know which invoices you need and we’ll send them to you.
Localvolts only accepts direct bank transfer for invoice payments. You’ll need to transfer your invoice amount directly to our bank account using the payment details provided on your invoice.
Bank: Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Account Name: Localvolts Pty Ltd
BSB: 062-692
Account Number: 4454 5412
To dispute a charge on your invoice, email [email protected] with details of the specific charge you’re questioning and the reason for your dispute. Include your account number and invoice number to help us process your request quickly.
Smart meter fees are metering charges that appear on your Localvolts bill. These are pass-through costs with no markup from Localvolts. The specific fees depend on your distributor and meter type.
What is a controlled load?
A controlled load is a special electricity tariff for high-energy appliances (like hot water systems, pool pumps, or underfloor heating) that are connected to a separate dedicated circuit from your main household wiring.
How is it charged?
Controlled load electricity is charged at a lower rate than your regular household usage, but power is only supplied for limited hours each day (typically 8-18 hours during off-peak times). You’ll see two separate charges on your bill:
Usage charge: Lower rate per kWh for the controlled load circuit
Supply charge: Small daily connection fee (a few cents per day) regardless of usage
The network provider determines when your controlled load operates, and you may also need a smart meter and separate wiring installed by an electrician.
Application to these schemes is a two-step process.
Localvolts will assess the eligibility of each premise and invite the candidate customers to provide certain documentation to initiate the application process.
After verification, Localvolts will direct the customers to submit the requisite documentation to an external services provider (Approved Certificate Provider), who will perform the final eligibility checks and submit the applications to the governments for approval and acceptance.
Approved customers will then receive their money.
If you’re having trouble paying your bill, please contact us as soon as possible. We understand that circumstances can change, and we’re here to help. You can email us at [email protected] to discuss your situation. We offer hardship assistance for eligible customers and can work with you to find a solution that suits your circumstances. It’s always better to reach out early rather than wait until the bill is overdue, as late payment fees may apply.
Yes, we can discuss payment plan options if you’re experiencing financial difficulty. Please contact us at [email protected] to discuss your situation. We’ll work with you to find a suitable arrangement based on your circumstances. Keep in mind that our standard billing is monthly, and we encourage you to reach out before your bill becomes overdue to avoid any late payment fees.
Yes
Yes, you can make targeted offers to buy and sell energy across state boundaries. The relevant properties must be registered with Localvolts.
If you sell your energy at a positive price, cash will flow from the consuming site to the producing property.
If you sell your energy at zero price, no cash will flow between the consuming and producing properties.
If you sell your energy at negative price, cash will flow from the producing site to the consuming property.
We do not sell solar panels. You will need to set up your own generator before selling electricity via the Localvolts marketplace.
Localvolts does not provide a battery control app, however many of our customers use the API data feed as input to their self-built controllers, or those provided by third party suppliers. We provide private API tokens to our customers. If you are looking for help, we suggest contacting one of our partners.
Normally the time between when you registering and when you are given access to your Localvolts account should be about one week.
You will still be with your previous electricity provider until the transfer is complete. That usually happens a few days after you register.
No, Localvolts does not offer a direct debit payment option. You can pay your localvolts invoices by electronic bank transfer or in person at your bank.
If your bill seems unusually high, first check your usage in the Localvolts app to identify any spikes in consumption or drops in solar generation that might explain the increase. Since Localvolts is a marketplace where you buy electricity from different local generators, price variations can occur based on supply and demand – you can review your recent purchase history in the app to see if you’ve been buying during higher-priced periods.
If your usage patterns look normal but the bill is still unexpectedly high, contact our support team at [email protected] with your account details and billing period.
It’s hard to compare “rates” directly because Localvolts is an open electricity marketplace, not a fixed‑tariff retailer—prices are set by participants and can change every 5 minutes, so outcomes depend on your usage, preferences, and the market rather than a single rate.
Yes, the Localvolts marketplace is available to Localvolts customers only. You need to be a Localvolts customer to participate in peer-to-peer energy trading.
Localvolts bills monthly. Customers with manually read meters will be billed in line with their meter read dates. Such meters are generally read every three months.
Simply send your bank account details to Localvolts through the Talk to Localvolts screen in the app. Your credit will be paid directly into your bank account.
To change your tariff you need to submit a change application with Localvolts via the Talk to Localvolts section in our app.
You must provide the NMI, the old tariff and the new tariff. Once we have received your application to change, we will submit an application on your behalf with your network provider.
The tariff change process can take weeks to months to be processed by your network provider and in some cases might be refused. We will let you know as soon as we have a response from your network provider.
Once your application has been submitted, please do not follow up with emails. This will not speed up the process.
Contact your network provider to report any connection issues or outages affecting your electricity supply.
Energy prices can be both positive and negative – this is normal in electricity markets. When prices are negative, you earn a credit for consuming energy and incur a cost for exporting energy. Wholesale prices can be negative during periods of low demand and high production.
Peer-to-peer energy trading on the Localvolts marketplace provides several key benefits: You gain complete control over your energy consumption and production by setting your own buy and sell prices instead of accepting fixed utility tariffs. The transparent marketplace shows real-time data on renewable generation sources and provides accurate emissions tracking, creating trust and accountability in every transaction. You can trade energy directly with friends, family, or community members, fostering local energy relationships. Financially, solar owners can realise better returns by selling surplus electricity at competitive prices, whilst buyers can access cheaper renewable energy options. The decentralised model also creates a more resilient and flexible electricity grid that’s less susceptible to disruptions, whilst empowering individuals to actively participate in the clean energy transition and support Australian renewable energy generators.
Yes. We serve small business customers in the ACT, NSW, QLD, SA and TAS under our Market Retail Contract, giving your business access to the Localvolts marketplace (you control buy/sell preferences and prices; energy is passed through at wholesale spot). To onboard, please contact us for business registration. Some business customers may need credit support arrangements and may attract additional fees; we’ll confirm requirements during setup.
If your chosen energy supplier on the marketplace can’t deliver the energy you need, Localvolts automatically sources the shortfall from the wholesale spot market operated by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), ensuring you always have a reliable electricity supply even when your preferred suppliers experience shortfalls.
No, you cannot eliminate your entire bill by setting equal buy and sell rates. While the energy trading portion might balance out at zero if you buy and sell the same amount at the same price, your Localvolts invoice includes other mandatory costs that cannot be avoided, such as grid charges, metering fees, renewable energy certificates, and Localvolts’ service fees. These network and regulatory charges are passed through regardless of your energy trading activity,
Energy prices on the Localvolts marketplace are determined in several ways. In peer-to-peer trading, you set your own buy and sell prices, giving you complete control over what you pay and what you charge for energy. When marketplace participants can’t find matches for their preferred prices, energy is automatically traded at wholesale spot market prices, which are set by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) every 5 minutes based on supply and demand. The system finds the cheapest available energy for each 5-minute period while respecting your price preferences. Energy prices can even be negative during periods of low demand and high renewable generation, which is a normal feature of the electricity market.
To buy and sell between two properties (facilities) there are certain criteria that need to be met.
- Both facilities need to be registered in the Localvolts marketplace.
- One facility needs to export electricity at the same time the other is importing. (Same 5 minute period)
If these criteria are met, and both properties are in the same state, then you will already effectively be offsetting the costs of one facility against the earnings from the other. I.e. if you are using the default settings and trading at the spot price, one facility will earn at the same rate that the other facility is paying.
If you are trying to provide a benefit for one property, e.g. giving electricity away to a family member for free, then both facilities need to set up a trade.
The generating facility needs to create a sell offer, and identify the second facility as the recipient in the “Select my target customer” field.
The receiving facility needs to send a buy order, and identify the generating facility in the “Who do I want to buy from?” field.
Wholesale prices in the National Electricity Market are set every five minutes by AEMO’s dispatch process. Generators submit bids across price bands; AEMO stacks them from cheapest to most expensive and dispatches just enough to meet forecast demand and system constraints. The marginal accepted offer sets the 5‑minute Regional Reference Price for each region. Interconnector limits, losses, and binding constraints can cause regional price separation and more complex “blended” price setting. Safeguards like the market price cap/floor and administered pricing can temporarily cap or floor prices when the cumulative price threshold is exceeded.
Yes. We allow you to trade between sites, or offset costs from one against the other via the marketplace.
Commercial billing has different tiers and depends on the size of your load and exports. Your specific billing structure will be tailored to your business energy usage patterns and trading activity.
See our rates and charges page for more details.
Yes, businesses can participate in peer-to-peer trading on the Localvolts marketplace just like residential customers.
We support concessions as per the national rules for retailers.
We support concessions for eligible low-income customers in accordance with national retailer obligations.
You can set up an auto-renewal process where the system continues to place buy and sell orders on your behalf without any further action required. You only need to go through the process once to set up your preferences with auto-renewals enabled. (We suggest that you set your auto renewals to a short-ish time frame, e.g. one week, so you can easily make changes).
If you are buying and selling directly from the wholesale market, then you do not need to do anything. Our system will default to the real wholesale price if no trades are set.
To access the Localvolts marketplace, you need to register for an account through our website. Once registered, you can start buying and selling energy with other local customers or directly with the wholesale market.
Once registered on the Localvolts marketplace, you can set your buying preferences to purchase energy from generators instead of from the wholesale market. For detailed instructions, check out our tutorial at https://localvolts.com/trade-electricity/buying-electricity/
Using your historical energy data, Localvolts builds a consumption profile that forecasts how much energy you’ll typically use and generate, allowing the system to predict how much excess energy you’ll have available to sell during different periods.
Through the Localvolts marketplace, you can buy excess solar energy directly from your neighbors and sell your surplus solar generation to other local customers, creating a community energy network that bypasses traditional retailers.
If you have solar panels or other renewable energy generation, you can sell your excess energy through the Localvolts marketplace by setting your own prices and choosing who to sell to – whether that’s specific customers, anyone on the marketplace, or directly to the wholesale market. For step-by-step instructions on setting up your energy offers, check our detailed tutorial at https://localvolts.com/trade-electricity/selling-electricity/
Yes, you have complete control over your buy and sell rates on the Localvolts marketplace .localvoltslocalvolts You can set your own sale prices for excess energy you generate and set price caps for energy purchases .localvoltslocalvolts This means you decide what you’re willing to pay for electricity and what you want to charge for your solar exports, rather than accepting fixed rates from traditional retailers .localvolts
First, you and your family members and friends must be registered with Localvolts. Then you create special targeted offers for them.
No. The Western Australian electricity law does not allow small customers to choose their electricity supplier, hence you cannot buy and sell electricity on Localvolts marketplace until there is a change in the law.
You will need:
- Your Medicare card for identification purposes
- Your National Meter Identifier (NMI)
- Your property details
- Contact information
- For business customers: Australian Company Number (ACN) or Australian Business Number (ABN) and a recent electricity bill
Use the forgot password link on the login screen.
Import readings measure electricity you consume from the grid, while export readings measure electricity you send back to the grid (typically from solar panels). You need a meter that can record both imports and exports if you want to sell electricity.
Yes, you can sell directly to other Localvolts customers through the peer-to-peer marketplace, to friends and family at agreed prices, or to any buyer in the marketplace at prices you set.
On the Localvolts platform, rather than traditional time-of-use rates with fixed peak and off-peak periods, we use real-time 5-minute pricing that reflects actual market conditions. This means electricity prices change every 5 minutes based on supply and demand, giving you much more granular pricing than conventional time-of-use tariffs. You can see live pricing data and choose when to buy or sell energy based on these real-time market signals. This dynamic pricing model often provides better value than fixed time-of-use rates because you’re responding to actual market conditions rather than predetermined time periods.
Rates can spike because the wholesale market price moves every 5 minutes. Extreme weather (heat/cold), sudden demand surges, generator outages, fuel cost jumps, network or interconnector constraints, or drops in wind/solar can all tighten supply and push prices up.
Peak and off‑peak are time‑of‑use windows set by distributors/retailers. “Peak” is the higher‑priced period when network demand is highest (typically late afternoon/evening); “off‑peak” is the lower‑priced period outside that, often overnight and on weekends. Exact hours vary by distributor, retailer, plan, and season.
Note: Localvolts is a marketplace, so we don’t set peak/off‑peak energy prices. However, your network tariff may still have peak/off‑peak charges for the poles-and-wires component, so check the time windows that apply to your meter.
Businesses can access the Localvolts marketplace to buy and sell electricity at wholesale prices, trade with preferred suppliers and customers, set their own energy prices, and use our API to integrate energy trading into their own applications. You get full itemised transparency of all charges and earnings without markup, plus real-time data and forecasts to optimise your energy strategy.
Yes, you can trade energy directly with yourself, friends, family, or anyone in the marketplace. You can set up specific trading relationships at agreed prices.
Your National Meter Identifier (NMI) is a unique 10 or 11-digit number that identifies your electricity connection point. You can find it on your electricity bill, usually near your address or meter details. It may be labeled as ‘NMI’, ‘MIRN’, or ‘Connection Point’.
Yes, you can integrate Localvolts with Home Assistant using a community-developed integration available on GitHub. This integration allows Home Assistant customers to access real-time data from our API, including 5-minute interval pricing and market information. The integration pulls data directly from our marketplace API and makes it available within your Home Assistant system, enabling you to automate your energy systems based on live Localvolts pricing and market conditions. You can find the integration at the GitHub repository and add it to your Home Assistant setup using the repository URL.
For customers looking for information and help with our API visit our community forum.
A Virtual Power Plant (VPP) is a network of connected batteries that work together to provide grid services. When you join a VPP, your battery can be remotely controlled to store and release energy at optimal times to help balance the electricity grid during peak demand periods.
To be eligible for PDRS incentives in NSW, you must: be located in New South Wales, have an existing solar PV system or install one with the battery, have a battery between 2-28 kWh usable capacity, use an Accredited Certificate Provider installer, connect to an approved VPP for the highest incentive, not use life support equipment, and have a battery on the Clean Energy Council approved list.
Learn more about SA and NSW schemes.
As a Localvolts customer with a battery system, you can claim VPP incentives through our Virtual Power Plant program that participates in both the NSW PDRS scheme and South Australia’s equivalent programs. Simply enrol your battery with Localvolts VPP, provide the necessary consent, and you’ll receive your upfront rebate once your system is connected and verified.
The great thing about participating in our VPP is that you still maintain full control over your energy trading in the marketplace
Yes, Localvolts operates a VPP program that qualifies for NSW PDRS incentives and SA REPS incentives. When you connect your battery to the Localvolts VPP, you can earn upfront rebates while also participating in energy trading on our marketplace.
This depends entirely on your battery’s capacity and behaviour. Earnings vary based on how much energy your battery can store and discharge, how often it’s called upon by the VPP, and current market conditions.
Contact your network provider to report the outage and get updates on restoration times. Your network provider is identified in your Localvolts invoice.
No, you do not need any special setup to become a participant in the Localvolts marketplace.
Our main offering is the flexible marketplace model where you have control over your energy pricing rather than traditional fixed tariffs. Through the marketplace, you can set your own buy and sell prices, choose your preferred suppliers, trade energy with specific people or communities, and access wholesale spot market pricing. This gives you much more flexibility than conventional tariff structures, allowing you to create a pricing arrangement that works best for your specific energy needs and preferences.
However we offer standard offer rates for residential and small business customers under the Standard Retail Contract, which are published annually from July to June.
When you export energy into the grid, you control the sale price, timing, and who you sell to. Localvolts finds buyers for your energy in 5-minute periods. If no match is found, your energy is sold into the wholesale spot market.
All battery systems are compatible with Localvolts. Regardless of your battery brand or model, you can connect to our marketplace and participate in energy trading.
Please note that Localvolts does not offer battery control or optimisation solutions. If you are looking for help in this department we suggest you visit our partners page to find a solution.
Battery systems can be optimized using Localvolts’ real-time pricing. Charge when prices are low and discharge when prices are high. This can be automated through smart device integration with the Localvolts API.
Yes, we provide comprehensive developer documentation for our API. The API guide includes technical specifications for endpoints such as GET /market/stats and GET /customer/interval for retrieving data, and POST /customer/interval for submitting data. The documentation covers authentication requirements, special commands, and includes practical integration examples such as Home Assistant configuration in the appendix.
To connect with other customers and learn more about our API, visit our community forum.
Use the real-time 5-minute price data from Localvolts to time your energy usage, charging, and selling decisions. You can do this manually through the marketplace or automate it using smart devices integrated with the Localvolts API.
We encourage you to go through the buy (or sell) process at least once to set up your preferences with auto-renewals. With auto-renewals enabled, the system will continue to buy (or sell) on your behalf without any further action required from you. Naturally, you can stop or modify your preference set up at any time.
All exported energy in excess of your original matched quantity is sold into the wholesale spot energy market operated by the Australian Energy Market Operator.
If you exported less energy than originally agreed, then you will receive payment for the actual (reduced) quantity of energy at the agreed matched price.
Yes. You are in total control of your energy sales with Localvolts: you will set your own sale price(s), and decide who receives your offer(s) – meaning you will be able to do a direct deal with your own customers. This should naturally give you a better price for your excess energy.
The concept behind Localvolts is to create a fair and transparent marketplace for electricity. We strongly believe that the current prices of electricity are higher than they should be, especially for customers who are producing electricity for themselves. You will be making your own decisions regarding prices and energy sources. The actual outcomes will depend on the marketplace. This should deliver a better outcome for you.
Localvolts allows you to sell your excess solar electricity at prices you control. You can sell directly to the wholesale market, offer your energy on the peer-to-peer market at prices you set, or sell directly to chosen customers at agreed prices. No special technical setup is required.
If you export more than anticipated, the excess is sold into the wholesale spot market. If you export less, the shortfall is covered by wholesale market purchases.
Yes, you can use battery storage systems with Localvolts. The marketplace provides real-time 5-minute prices that allow you to optimize charging and discharging times, either manually or automatically through API integration.
Localvolts provides a real-time API that allows you to integrate smart devices and automate energy trading decisions based on live market prices and forecasts.
Go to the community forum and search for your solution there. If you cannot find it then go to the localvolts app and submit a support ticket using the form below.
Our marketplace is accessed through a web platform that works through any web browser. If you’re having trouble accessing the Localvolts marketplace, check that you’re using the correct login credentials at our website. Common issues include using an incorrect email address or password, or your browser blocking cookies. If you’ve forgotten your password, use the “forgot password” feature on the login page to reset it – you’ll receive an email verification code to create a new password.
To view your energy usage in the Localvolts app, log into your marketplace account and navigate to the “Cashflow Breakdown” section. Here you’ll find comprehensive information about your energy consumption, generation, sales, and purchases, with detailed data about your energy usage patterns and trading activity displayed in real-time.
Your smart meter sends readings to Localvolts every day, ensuring your usage and generation data is up-to-date for accurate billing and marketplace transactions. The Localvolts marketplace recieves new data at approximately lunch time on the following day.
To apply for hardship assistance send an email to [email protected]
No, you don’t need a smart meter. Localvolts accepts all types of accumulation and interval meters – no special metering is required. Your existing utility meter will work with Localvolts.
To request a smart meter installation, go to the “Talk to Localvolts” screen in the app and submit your request. Our team will then arrange the installation process with your local network provider.
If your meter isn’t communicating, first contact your solar or battery installer or your metering company to check for technical issues. If they can’t resolve the problem, contact us by submitting a support ticket as we may need to help arrange a meter upgrade or replacement order with your network provider.
Yes, we can help arrange a meter upgrade. Contact us through the “Talk to Localvolts” screen in the app and we’ll assist you with submitting the upgrade request to your network provider.
Between a couple of weeks to a couple of months. It depends on your metering company and/or network provider.
We can order commercial meter installation on your behalf.
Our marketplace is accessed through our web platform, which provides real-time data and allows customers to buy and sell electricity through their browser. Whilst we don’t have a standalone mobile app available for download on iOS or Android app stores, our web platform is built with a responsive design, and will work on your mobile phone in a similar way to a mobile app.
Here’s now to install a shortcut to make your Localvolts marketplace easier to find on your mobile device.
- Open Safari and go to https://market.localvolts.com/
- Tap the Share button (a square with an upward-pointing arrow) at the bottom of the screen.
- Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen.
- Edit the name for your shortcut if you’d like, then tap Add.
- Open Chrome and navigate to https://market.localvolts.com/
- Tap the three dots in the top right corner.
- Select Add to Home screen.
- Name your shortcut and tap Add
Localvolts does not provide direct control of your energy systems through the app. However, we offer a free API that provides real-time market and customer-specific data which can be used to control your smart devices and energy systems. Many customers use our API data feed as input to their self-built controllers or third-party automation systems to optimise their solar panels, batteries, and other energy devices based on live marketplace prices.
You can access the API guide and documentation through the API section on our website. The guide provides comprehensive information on how to use our real-time market and customer-specific data feed, including technical specifications and integration examples. As a Localvolts customer, you’ll have access to both the API documentation and your private API key to begin integrating our marketplace data with your energy management systems.
With the Localvolts API, you can access real-time market and customer-specific data to optimise your energy systems automatically. The API provides 5-minute pricing data from both our peer-to-peer and wholesale markets, enabling you to program your smart devices to respond to live electricity prices. Common applications include automatically charging batteries during periods of cheap or negative pricing, scheduling energy-intensive appliances to run when prices are low, controlling solar inverters to maximise export revenue, and integrating with home automation systems like Home Assistant. The API data can also be used to develop custom energy management solutions, create automated buying and selling strategies on our marketplace, and optimise the operation of electric vehicle chargers, pool pumps, hot water systems, and other controllable loads based on real-time market conditions.
You can get your API key from your profile page in the Localvolts app. Once you’re logged into your customer account, navigate to your profile section where your private API token will be available. The API provides access to real-time market and customer-specific data from our peer-to-peer electricity marketplace, allowing you to integrate our data feed with your smart devices and automation systems.
Yes, you can automate your energy systems using the Localvolts API. The API provides real-time market and customer-specific data that enables you to programme your smart devices to respond automatically to live electricity prices. This means your batteries, solar inverters, EV chargers, hot water systems, and other controllable loads can be optimised based on current marketplace conditions. Many customers integrate our API with home automation platforms like Home Assistant or use it with third-party energy management systems to create sophisticated automated responses to pricing signals, maximising savings when electricity is cheap and maximising earnings when selling energy at high prices.
There’s a growing number of companies integrating their devices and systems with Localvolts through our API. We partner with like-minded businesses and organisations that share our vision of an open, fair, and transparent energy market. These partnerships enable customers to connect various smart home platforms, energy management systems, solar controllers, and automation devices to respond to real-time marketplace pricing signals.
You can find more information about our current and developing partnerships at https://localvolts.com/partners/, where we showcase the expanding ecosystem of integrated solutions available to customers.
We don’t currently offer a demo API key. However, there are no sign-up charges or cancellation fees, so developers and integrators can easily become customers to access our API without any upfront costs or commitment concerns. Once you’re a customer, you’ll receive your private API token through your profile page and can begin testing and developing integrations with our real-time marketplace data.
Your meter number can be found physically on the meter itself and changes when the meter is replaced. It’s usually a series of numbers displayed on the meter’s face or label. Your NMI (National Meter Identifier) is a different number that identifies the connection itself and can be found on your bill.
Use the real time 5 minute price data from Localvolts to time your energy usage, charging, and selling decisions. You can do this manually through the marketplace or automate it using smart devices integrated with the Localvolts API.
The charges on your Localvolts invoice are the same charges included in every other retailers invoices. The difference is that the Localvolts bill itemises every cost instead of bundling costs together. We do this to provide maximum transparency.
The Localvolts invoice will identify all of the costs involved in consuming electricity which include grid charges, metering fees, renewable certificates, energy cost, etc. You will know exactly what all of the charges are, and to whom you are paying them. For more information, visit our How it Works page.
Yes, you can make targeted offers to buy and sell energy across state boundaries. The relevant properties must be registered with Localvolts. If you sell your energy at a positive price, cash flows from the consuming site to the producing property. If you sell your energy at zero price, no cash flows between the properties. If you sell your energy at negative price, cash flows from the producing site to the consuming property.
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