FAQ

Why isn't my NEM12 file working?

The processor is expecting a file in a NEM12-compliant format. The instructions we provide to help you get a file from your electricity provider are best effort; the file you have is likely not detailed enough. We do have plans to consider support for other formats, like your inverter history.

What is a NEM12 file?

The NEM12 format is the Australian energy industry standard for interval smart-meter data. Defined by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), this CSV-based file structure records electricity usage or solar generation, typically in 30-minute blocks. It is commonly used by retailers, distributors and consumers for billing and energy analysis.

How is my usage profile calculated from my NEM12 file?

We read your meter's half-hourly readings and use the most recent 12 months. For each hour of the day we average your usage across those months, keeping each day of the week separate — so weekday and weekend patterns are preserved and the profile reflects how you actually use power, not a generic shape. If your file includes solar, we build an export shape the same way. We also keep up to 18 months of your real readings so each plan can be priced against what you actually used, day by day (the "what you'd have actually paid" backtest), instead of just an average. Files with 5, 15 or 30-minute readings are all supported, and your data stays in your browser.

How do you work out what a plan would cost me?

You tell us how much power you use and roughly when — by shaping a typical day, picking a usage preset, or importing your smart-meter file. Every plan is then priced against that usage using its real rates and time windows: peak, off-peak and free periods, tiered blocks, seasonal rates, daily supply charges, controlled load, demand charges, solar feed-in, discounts and card surcharges. The whole calculation happens in your browser, so your usage never leaves your device.

Why don't you show a percentage against the reference price?

The government's reference price (the Default Market Offer, or the Victorian Default Offer) compares plans against a model household's usage, not yours. Two plans that look identical against that benchmark can differ by hundreds of dollars a year once your actual usage pattern is priced — especially if you have solar, an EV, or a plan with free or very cheap windows. We deliberately price your real usage instead of quoting a percentage that may not apply to you.

Do I need to give you any personal details?

No. There's no sign-up, account, name, email, address or phone number needed to search or compare. Your usage profile, meter data and preferences are stored in your own browser and are never sent to our servers.