Why tariffs are worth decoding
Network tariffs are dense, inconsistent between regions, and rarely explained. They're also where most of the savings from solar and storage actually come from. Reading one properly is the difference between a system that pays and one that disappoints.
The line items that matter
Three categories do most of the work: demand charges, capacity charges, and time-of-use energy bands. Everything else is usually noise by comparison.
You don't beat a tariff you haven't read. Start with the bill, not the brochure.
1. Demand charges
Billed on your highest measured demand in a period. A battery that shaves the peak attacks this line item directly — often the highest-value thing storage does.
2. Time-of-use bands
Energy priced by time of day. Shifting load and storing cheap energy turns these bands from a cost into an opportunity.
3. Capacity and fixed charges
Harder to move, but they set the baseline. Right-sizing your connection can reduce them on new projects.