Every VPP reward boils down to one of a few payment models. They behave very differently in good months and bad, so understanding the model matters more than the headline number. Here’s how each one works.
1. Fixed bill credits
You get a sign-up bonus plus a set credit — monthly or annual — for keeping your battery enrolled and available. The big-name retailer plans often work this way.
- Pros: predictable, simple, no monitoring required.
- Cons: capped upside; you won’t benefit from extreme price spikes.
- Suits: people who want a set-and-forget bonus and hate admin.
2. Per-event payments
You’re paid a rate (commonly around $1/kWh) for the energy your battery exports during "VPP events", usually a handful of times a month, often with an annual cap (e.g. 200–400 kWh).
- Pros: a clear rate, decent upside on event days, your battery is mostly yours the rest of the time.
- Cons: caps limit total earnings; you don’t control event timing.
- Suits: people who want more than a flat credit but still value predictability.
3. Wholesale / spot exposure
You’re paid the live wholesale electricity price when you export. In a price spike that can be several dollars per kWh; in a calm period it can be a few cents — or negative. These plans usually charge a monthly membership fee and automate trading for you.
- Pros: the highest ceiling, especially in volatile states; full transparency.
- Cons: variable, carries a fee, and rewards households that can shift usage.
- Suits: engaged owners in volatile markets (e.g. SA, NSW) comfortable with variance.
Peer-to-peer: a fourth flavour
A few platforms let you set your own buy and sell prices on a marketplace in five-minute intervals — effectively wholesale exposure with manual control. Highest engagement, highest flexibility.
Which pays more?
There’s no universal winner. Over a year:
- In a volatile market with frequent spikes, wholesale plans tend to lead — if you can export at the right moments.
- In a calm market, a fixed credit or capped event plan often beats wholesale once you subtract the membership fee.
- If you can’t actively manage exports, automated fixed or event plans usually deliver more reliably than wholesale.
Remember the reward sits on top of an energy plan you may have to switch to — so weigh the everyday rates too. Compare those independently at Energy Made Easy, then confirm the VPP terms on the operator’s page.