Energy Arbitrage Explained | Batteries, Price Spikes & Jousto EMS
Batteries • Price spikes • Real-world strategy

Energy arbitrage (without the hype)

Energy arbitrage is simple in theory: charge when energy is cheap, then use or export when it’s expensive. The reality is the “$20/kWh” moments are rare — so the best outcome comes from a staged strategy that works every day, and captures spikes when they genuinely matter.

Book a free 30-minute energy design session Free NEM spot price + 12-month history The 3-layer Jousto strategy
Important: Jousto EMS is currently included when you purchase a solar + battery system from Jousto. We’re not offering EMS as a standalone product at this stage.
Aarno — Jousto Energy Arbitrage
Free market visibility

Instant access to NEM spot price + history (free)

Jousto provides free access to live NEM spot pricing and historical views (including the past 12 months and more) so you can see what “arbitrage opportunity” actually looks like — not what a sales pitch claims.

South Australia (2025) snapshot

From our tracking:

Minimum price (SA, 2025) -0.3177 $/kWh
Maximum price (SA, 2025) 1.00 $/kWh

Want to explore your own state and timeframe? Use the free tracker: jousto.com.au/nem-spot-energy-price

Open the free tracker What arbitrage really is

Why we publish this

  • So you can see how often “big spikes” really occur.
  • So you can design batteries around reality, not wishful thinking.
  • So you can separate everyday value (Layer 1 & 2) from rare events (Layer 3).
Jousto stance: no guaranteed returns. We build systems that are useful even when the market is boring.
Explanation

What energy arbitrage actually means

Arbitrage is “time shifting” energy value. It’s not magic — it’s a battery doing what batteries do best: absorbing energy in low-value windows and delivering it in higher-value windows.

Arbitrage without the hype — price spikes are rare
Big spikes exist — but they’re rare. A good design delivers value on normal days too.
Charge low, use high — battery arbitrage concept
The core idea: charge in low-price windows, discharge in high-price windows.
Jousto strategy

The 3-layer approach (practical first, spikes second)

We treat arbitrage as the third layer — because most people win more by getting the fundamentals right first. This keeps systems sane, useful, and resilient.

Layer 1

Use energy better

Shift flexible loads into better windows. Reduce waste. Make solar more useful before you think about trading.

Layer 2

Community value transfer

Use solar + batteries to supply value inside your community day and night (where supported).

Layer 3

AI response + dispatch

When spikes happen because the grid needs support, automation can respond safely — and you can be rewarded for meeting that need.

Use energy better — Layer 1
Layer 1: better self-consumption and smart timing beats exporting at low value.
Value transfer — Layer 2 peer-to-peer energy
Layer 2: share/sell energy value in-network — not just back to big retailers.
AI arbitrage — Layer 3
Layer 3: AI automation can target rare outlier events — the moments that usually blow out bills.

What we’re really doing at Layer 3

  • Preparing before known high-risk windows (pre-charge).
  • Reducing exposure during spikes (self-supply first).
  • Optional export/dispatch when it’s sensible and supported.
Reality check: Layer 3 is powerful, but only after Layer 1 and 2 are doing their job.
Where the value goes

VPP vs LocalVolts-style access

Virtual power plants can dispatch batteries — but they generally do it for the benefit of the VPP operator. If you have market-linked access through platforms like LocalVolts, your system can respond to market needs while keeping the value closer to you.

VPP vs LocalVolts value flow
Same idea (dispatch), different destination for value.

Our position

  • Dispatch should meet a real grid need.
  • Customers should understand what’s happening.
  • Value should flow back to the participant — not just the aggregator.

Availability depends on retailer, tariff, metering and platform rules.

Why spikes happen

Spikes exist because demand must be met

The reason prices spike is simple: the grid needs extra supply (or less demand) right now. Batteries are valuable because they can respond quickly — not because spikes are common.

Grid needs support — battery response
When the grid needs help, fast response matters. Batteries can deliver it.

What a good battery design does

  • Creates everyday value (self-consumption, peak avoidance).
  • Preserves headroom for rare high-value events.
  • Operates safely and predictably — no “thrashing” the battery.
How to get it

Jousto EMS is included with solar + battery (for now)

At present, Jousto EMS (including automation features that support arbitrage where applicable) is offered as part of a solar + battery system purchased from Jousto. We’re not supplying EMS as a standalone product at this stage.

Jousto solar and battery bundle includes Jousto EMS
Solar + battery + Jousto EMS included — designed as one system.

Why we package it this way

  • Automation depends on compatible inverters/batteries.
  • Metering and tariff settings matter.
  • Safety rules and control logic must be designed into the full system.
Next step: book a design session and we’ll map your best Layer 1–3 pathway.
Free design session

Book a free 30-minute energy design session

We’ll review your usage, roof, tariff, export rules, and your appetite for market-linked optimisation — then design a system that delivers value on normal days and responds intelligently when the grid genuinely needs support.

What to bring

  • A recent bill or interval data (if you have it).
  • Any solar/battery details (if existing).
  • Whether you’re on flat, TOU, wholesale, or VPP arrangements.
  • Your priorities: bill reduction, backup, export, or market response.
Prefer a phone call? Call or SMS 0489 261 333.

You can also explore the free NEM spot tracker here: NEM spot energy price.

Want arbitrage that works in the real world?

Start with practical fundamentals, add community value transfer, then use AI response to target rare spikes — without hype.

Book the free design session Free NEM spot tracker Call 0489 261 333