Six months ago I installed an Anker SOLIX X1 home battery system (10kW Hybrid Inverter + 30kWh battery). I had no idea it would change how I use electricity as much as it changed how much I pay for it.
My bills dropped a lot and my household now uses hardly any grid electricity. That was one of the main reasons for getting a home battery, to minimise the amount of dirty coal and gas powered grid electricity we use.
I ran the bill amounts carefully, removing Amber referral credits and government rebates, compared the same six months year on year. The result surprised even me.
But here’s the thing people don’t talk about enough. The battery didn’t just save money. It changed what I could actually do at home. Running the dishwasher and washing machine for big loads of clothes washing at night. Not stressing about rainy weeks. Using air conditioning for cooling a lot more without any bill worries. That freedom is hard to put a number on.
I also answer the questions I keep getting asked. Does the battery ever run flat overnight? What happens in a blackout? Do you need to join a virtual power plant to make it worthwhile? The answers aren’t always what you’d expect.
There’s also a reliability check. Six months of real-world use. What’s held up, what I’d do differently, and what I’m looking at adding next to get even more out of the setup.
This is just the warm summer half of the year. Come back in six months for autumn and winter.
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