The energy war is heating up, and the solar-plus-storage revolution is on the way. Solar-based generation has long been available in the market, however energy utilities have managed to keep companies and consumers on the grid.

Solar’s biggest downfall? There was no way to cater to electricity use at nighttime, and customers had to rely on the larger electricity grid. While solar-plus-storage solutions have taken years of research and hard work, the shock it will cause traditional utility companies will be drastic.

Electricity companies have long been resting on their laurels. In 2007 and 2008, the industry faced increasing political and consumer pressure in relation to energy efficiency and climate change and companies were forced to begin making changes. However, they didn’t necessarily modernise their business plan, with hardly any systems entering the digital age.

Instead of looking at new opportunities, they did everything they could to protect their businesses, leaving a massive gap for developments in home automation, distributed energy, battery storage, and renewable energy.

Telcos are becoming world leaders in renewable energy installation. In some developing companies, telcos have already become energy suppliers, particularly for remote and rural towns which are unable to rely on the grid for electricity.

in Australia, electricity prices are some of the highest in the developed world. Consumers are increasingly sick and tired of paying top price to boil their kettles.

Solar Plus Storage for Australian Telcos

Telstra will be rolling out solar-plus-storage solutions to millions of customers throughout the country. It will be offering complete connectivity packages for the whole home, including phones, internet, and now solar. The hope is that solar panels will soon be more affordable in Australia.

This entry into the energy market is a massive change to the telco industry. We can expect other large telcos to do the same as we see an increase in solar-plus-storage adoption throughout Australia.

Orion Energy, Ergon Energy, AGL, and other traditional utility companies are unlikely to go down without a fight. However, a long history in the industry isn’t necessarily an advantage.

When we look at the relationships between consumers and energy companies, customer service has traditionally been weak. The one-sided power dynamic has given utility companies almost total control over prices. As we get ready for the solar revolution, and Telcos begin to compete with utility companies, these electricity retailers may begin to regret relying on this power imbalance.

Telcos, on the other hand, have had to rely on a high level of customer service. This will give them a massive advantage as they move into the power industry.

One thing’s for sure, if utility companies are going to remain relevant in this changing market, they’ll need to be innovative, improve customer service, and come up with a number of positive developments. If they choose to guard the status-quo, instead of embracing the future, they’ll need to be prepared to give up their position to the telco industry.

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