DON'T SETTLE FOR "DUMB" SOLAR – TRANSFORM IT INTO A SMART MONEY-SAVING POWERHOUSE

Absolutely. In fact, a significant number of our clients are homeowners who replace or retrofit their older solar systems. We can often use your existing panels and simply replace the old inverter with a new hybrid inverter (which immediately makes you battery-ready).

If your panels are 10+ years old or undersized, we might suggest adding or updating panels for maximum benefit, but we'll tailor the solution to your situation. The goal is to boost your savings with minimal hassle.

And don't worry – we handle the changeover process, including safely removing old equipment and ensuring you don't lose your feed-in tariff eligibility (unless you're upgrading from a very old legacy FiT – we'll advise case by case).

You can absolutely start with just the hybrid inverter (and the Jousto Hub) and add a battery later – that's the beauty of going hybrid. Your system will be fully prepared to "plug and play" a battery whenever you're ready.

In the meantime, even without a battery, the Jousto Hub can still smart-switch your appliances to use more solar in real time (increasing your self-consumption).

That said, adding at least a small battery now will unlock the full range of benefits (nighttime use, backup power, tariff arbitrage). Many customers take advantage of our bundle deals (which effectively give a discount on the battery when purchased with the inverter).

Remember, installing a battery at the same time as the inverter can save on labour costs overall. But if now's not the right time, rest assured your system is future-proofed for an easy battery addition later.

Great question. Most inverters or batteries come with basic monitoring apps and maybe some limited controls, but they operate in a silo. The Jousto Energy Hub is like a maestro that brings all the parts together.

It not only monitors solar/battery data, but also actively controls a wide array of devices in your home in response to that data and external signals (like electricity prices, weather forecasts, etc.).

For example, your inverter's app might show you how full the battery is, but it won't automatically turn on your electric water heater when there's surplus solar – Jousto will. It's also highly customisable – built on open Home Assistant tech – meaning it can integrate with over 1,000 products and services.

The Hub is essentially the brain, making real-time decisions to maximise your savings and comfort. Without it, you'd have to manually program a patchwork of timers and settings across different apps (and constantly update them). Jousto simplifies all that into one coordinated system.

As the saying goes, traditional solar gives you data, but Jousto gives you action.

Yes, the Jousto Hub is a small hardware device (plugged into your router) that runs the Home Assistant platform with our special Jousto smart energy profile on it. It's about the size of a TV streaming box. We ship it pre-configured and our technician will set it up during installation.

It does use the internet – for things like pulling electricity price data, weather info, and enabling you to control/monitor remotely via an app. However, all core automation can run locally if needed, so even if your internet drops, your Hub can continue executing schedules (your home stays smart).

An internet connection is recommended for best functionality and for us to provide remote support. Don't worry, the data usage is minimal (it's not streaming video or anything). And yes, it's secure – built on a trusted platform with encryption.

Think of it as a dedicated smart home controller focused on energy, sitting quietly on your network making clever choices for you.

We take care to ensure your transition is smooth. In South Australia, if you're on an older 44¢ feed-in tariff (from the early 2010s era), adding capacity or altering the system may affect that scheme – we'll advise you on the best course (some folks wait until that scheme expires in 2028, others find it's worth upgrading sooner for the new benefits).

For standard feed-in arrangements, a new inverter just needs to be re-registered with your retailer – we handle all paperwork, and you'll continue to get whatever feed-in rate your plan offers (likely much lower than it used to be, which is why we emphasize using your solar rather than exporting).

As for warranties: if we're replacing your old inverter, the new hybrid inverter comes with its own manufacturer warranty (often 5 to 10 years, extendable – e.g. Fronius offers up to 10-year warranties). Batteries also have 10-year performance warranties.

All work we do is by Clean Energy Council accredited installers, so your new system will be approved and under warranty. We also include a workmanship warranty on our installation. So you're covered on all fronts. No nasty surprises – just improved performance.

Very little. Solar PV systems in general are low-maintenance – no moving parts in the panels or inverter. Adding a battery and Hub doesn't change that much.

We recommend an annual check-up/clean for your panels to keep them efficient (dust and grime can reduce output). The hybrid inverter might send alerts if any issue arises, but typically they run without intervention.

The Jousto Hub is solid-state and doesn't require maintenance; occasionally software updates (which we can do remotely for you as part of support) to add features or security patches, much like updating an app. Batteries are also maintenance-free – just keep an eye on their performance via the app.

We design everything to be as hassle-free as possible. Of course, our team is always on standby if you have questions or need help optimising settings as your life changes (say, you get an EV or change electricity plans – we can help adjust the automation).

But overall, think of it like upgrading to a smart car – it mostly takes care of itself and just keeps on saving you money every day.