Powershop app review

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Powershop offers its app to customers with eligible iPhone and Android devices to help track their energy usage, meter reads and costs all in the palm of their hands. But is its app worth the switch? In this Canstar Blue guide, we explore the various features available within the Powershop app.

What is the Powershop app?

The Powershop app lets residential and business customers take care of their electricity accounts from the convenience of their smartphone or tablet. 

By logging into the app, users can pay their power bills, track energy usage, manage account details, view consumption history and receive notifications about special offers. 

Uniquely, the Powershop app allows customers to purchase Powerpacks to cover past, current or future energy usage. Purchasing Powerpacks can help Aussies budget for their utilities and possibly reduce their power bills. 

Having access to a wide range of information and tools in the palm of your hand can be extremely helpful, particularly if you’re out and about and need to top up your account. 

While the Powershop app does allow you to interact with your energy usage history, your home may need a smart meter for the best experience when using the app’s usage tracking tools.

What does the Powershop app do?

Customers can access a variety of functions through the Powershop app, including: 

• Tracking electricity usage, including EV charging
• Purchasing ‘Powerpacks’ at any time
• Managing account details
• Viewing usage history and rates
• Forecasting future usage and costs with estimated meter reads
• Accessing rewards and extra savings options

Do you need a Powershop login to use the app?

Yes, customers who download the Powershop app will need to input their login details, which can otherwise be entered into the portal on Powershop’s website. From here, customers will be able to navigate all of the app’s functions, provided they have a smart meter.

Powershop app for iPhone

You can download the Powershop app free of charge on your iPhone via the App Store. Your Apple operating system must run iOS 12.0 or a later version and be compatible with iPad, iPod Touch or a Mac with Apple M1 chip and macOS.

Powershop app for Android

If you have an Android device, the Powershop app is free and easy to download on Google Play. The app requires an Android operating system of 6.0 or above. 

Does the Powershop app track energy usage?

The Powershop app lets you track electricity usage from your pocket and it can be viewed half-hourly, daily, monthly or yearly. If you have a smart meter installed at your property, you will be able to track energy usage through the Powershop app. To view your electricity usage, simply click on the ‘daily usage’ tab on your Android or Apple smartphone.

Tracking energy usage is displayed in costs per day and your daily charge per kilowatt hour (kWh). It’s important to keep in mind that costs per day are based on estimated averages from the last three days, meaning you shouldn’t take the figures for gospel.

The Powershop app also features an ‘insights’ graph of your electricity usage, an activity tracker that allows you to monitor any spikes and drops in your energy usage, as well as a current usage function. Again, you will need a smart meter to view your current usage information.

If you don’t have a smart meter installed at your property, your usage estimates will be based on any past meter readings you submit into the app.

Powershop app powerpacks

You can pre-purchase packs of electricity using the Powershop app by clicking on the ‘shop’ tab. Depending on your device, the amount of energy you’ve used and bought should be displayed. This allows you to know exactly how much electricity is left in your pack. Some powerpacks offered include: 

• Top Up Pack
• GreenPower Powerpack
• Future Savings pack
• Special loyalty and reward packs.

Powershop Plans

Does the Powershop app monitor electricity usage if I have solar?

Yes, customers with smart meters can track and view their solar output data under the solar insights tab on the Powershop app. 

These insights are measured daily or half hourly and can be a great way of keeping on top of your solar system’s performance. They can also help to make sure you’re getting the most of your solar energy. 

For example, customers typically save more using their solar energy instead of exporting it under a solar feed-in tariff. The Powershop App allows customers to set a time for energy-intensive appliances to start running when your system exports the most solar energy.  

However, to use the solar power you generate, you must first have a net meter installed. 

Do you need a smart meter to use the Powershop app?

Although a smart meter isn’t essential to use the Powershop app, it will make a big difference in tracking your current electricity usage. Without a smart meter, you won’t be able to receive live updates and information about your electricity usage in the app. 

If you are looking to track your household energy usage with live, updated information, then check out our helpful guide on how to get a smart meter.

Is the Powershop app worth downloading?

The Powershop app unlocks a lot of value if you’re a person who likes the idea of having access to your energy account from your pocket. The app has many functions that are otherwise only available via the website’s online portal. If you don’t have a smart meter, however, you will miss out on live energy usage updates.

At the time of this article’s publication, the Powershop app managed to score 2.5 out of five on the App Store and 3.1 out of five on Google Play, which is an average score in comparison to other energy provider apps.

The Powershop app could be a worthy investment (it’s free to download) if you’re looking to buy Powerpacks from your smartphone or receive electricity usage information. Despite its many useful features, the Powershop app may not be worth downloading if you’re happy to navigate your energy account on the website portal.

Are Powershop energy plans right for me?

Powershop’s payment structure can be a bit of a puzzle for some, but rest assured that its energy plans still include loads of value if you know what you’re after. Regardless of whether you’re intrigued by Powershop’s billing model or you want to see what else is out there, using our free comparison tool can make your search for a better energy deal much easier.

Original article by Jared Mullane