Off The Grid

Source Energy Group
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Welcome to Off The Grid, the Source Energy Group podcast hosted by Jason Cooke and Cam Fitch. This podcast helps Australian homeowners beat the cost of living, eliminate power bills, and break free from the grid with custom solar and battery systems. Each episode delivers honest, no-nonsense conversations on Australian solar rebates, battery storage, and how to choose the right installation without getting burned. With a SAA accredited in-house install team and a genuine 25-year local support commitment, Source Energy Group provides quality systems that cut grid usage to 0 to 5%. No subcontractors. No overselling. Just real advice from people who will still be answering the phone in 2050.

  1. 2d ago

    #024 - Exactly What’s Wrong With The Solar Industry And Why We’re Fixing It

    Book your free energy audit 👉🏻 https://go.sourceenergygroup.com.au/ In this new episode, Jason and Cam sit down with Luke and Tim to break down the real problems inside the solar and battery industry, from bottom‑dollar sales companies to rushed installs, poor support and homeowners left stranded when something goes wrong. ◼️ Why sales‑only companies keep burning good homeowners ◼️ How bottom‑dollar pricing leads to shortcuts and unsafe installs ◼️ The communication gap between sales and installers ◼️ The structure we use to fix the industry from first call to long‑term support Timestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:25 Sales Companies Selling Bottom‑Dollar 00:02:01 How Cheap Deals Create Bigger Issues 00:03:43 The Three Parts Of A Proper Solar Business 00:04:36 Bottom‑Dollar Pricing And Installer Pressure 00:05:23 Cheap Products And No After‑Sales Support 00:06:07 Blame Shifting Between Sales And Installers 00:07:41 Why Shortcuts And Rushed Installs Happen 00:09:00 The “In‑House Installer” Sales Tactic 00:10:35 Site Checks And Building Trust 00:11:01 Removing The Divide Between Sales And Install 00:12:15 Making The Installer’s Day Easier 00:13:37 Teamwork For Smooth Installs 00:14:01 Industry Shifting And Better Advertising 00:15:24 Why We Only Take 10 Percent Upfront 00:16:04 How Big Deposits Trap Homeowners 00:17:43 Taking Two Days When Needed 00:18:16 Looking After Installers So They Look After Clients 00:19:22 Housekeeping And On‑Site Care 00:20:52 The Difference Between Us And Cheap Sales Companies 00:21:29 When Products Don’t Match What Was Sold 00:21:34 The Real Problem: Sales‑Only Companies 00:22:00 Choosing A Proper Solar And Battery Team Follow Source Energy Group: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sourceenergygroup.solar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sourceenergygroup.solar/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sourceenergygroup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/123473935/

  2. Sep 11

    #023 - Ranking Every Solar Battery Brand in 2026

    Book your free energy audit 👉🏻 https://go.sourceenergygroup.com.au/ In this new episode, Jason and Cam sit down with Luke and Tim to rank the major solar battery brands in Australia for 2026, comparing real‑world performance, support, mounting design and long‑term reliability. ◼️ The top battery brands worth considering in 2026 ◼️ Which systems offer the strongest backup and support ◼️ The brands installers rate highly after real on‑site experience ◼️ The products we’d be cautious about and why Timestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:35 Installer Experience And Support 00:00:48 GoodWe Ranked Number One 00:01:07 Why GoodWe Leads The Market 00:01:33 SIG Energy Ranked Second 00:02:00 Early SIG Issues And Improvements 00:02:25 GoodWe vs SIG For Backup 00:03:02 Price And Support Differences 00:03:24 Why Installers Prefer Simplicity 00:03:56 Sunro Ranked Third 00:04:37 Enphase Performance And Price 00:05:12 Enphase Support And Real‑World Issues 00:06:01 Alpha Battery Variants And Reliability 00:06:49 Alpha AC vs DC Coupled Issues 00:07:06 Alpha Ranked Low Tier 00:07:18 Fox Battery Concerns 00:08:07 Mounting Issues And Exposed Cabling 00:08:59 Why Fox Stagnated At 3.2kWh Modules 00:09:26 Fox vs Daya Comparison 00:10:01 Daya Opposing Installer Experiences 00:10:45 Daya Wall‑Mounted Complexity 00:11:22 Why Mounting Capacity Matters 00:11:48 Daya Stackable Systems Reviewed 00:12:38 Daya Backup Capability 00:13:16 Daya Off‑Grid Performance 00:13:57 Mid‑Tier Placement For Daya 00:14:09 Solax Support But Limited Data 00:14:38 Solax Ranked Low Due To Unknowns 00:14:46 Tesla’s Strengths And Weaknesses 00:15:13 Tesla Accreditation And Price 00:15:26 Tesla Backup Capability 00:15:31 Tesla Ranked A/B Tier 00:15:36 Growatt Concerns 00:16:17 Why Growatt Misses The Board 00:16:56 Tech Support Issues And Reliability 00:17:13 Sonnen Early Experience 00:17:43 Sonnen Mounting And Backup 00:18:23 Sonnen Support Limitations 00:18:43 Sonnen Removed From Board 00:19:05 Reviewing The Tier System 00:19:25 What To Look For In A Battery Brand 00:19:32 Fire Suppression Across Brands 00:19:52 Why Mounting And Appearance Matter Follow Source Energy Group: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sourceenergygroup.solar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sourceenergygroup.solar/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sourceenergygroup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/123473935/

  3. Sep 9

    #022 - I Wish Everyone Knew THIS About Their Electricity Bill

    Book your free energy audit 👉🏻 https://go.sourceenergygroup.com.au/ In this new episode, Jason and Cam sit down with Luke and Tim to break down the major battery brands in Australia and how they stack up in 2026, from performance and safety to support and long‑term reliability. ◼️ The brands leading the market in 2026 ◼️ Which batteries offer the strongest cycle life and warranties ◼️ How installation, support and design affect real‑world performance ◼️ The systems homeowners should avoid and why Timestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:24 Breaking Down Your Electricity Bill 00:01:07 Supply Charge Explained 00:02:30 Why You Can’t Remove The Supply Charge 00:03:31 What The Supply Charge Really Covers 00:04:06 Time Of Use vs General Use 00:05:20 How Retailers Pinch More Through Tariffs 00:06:23 Why Bills Feel Confusing On Purpose 00:07:02 General Use vs Time Of Use 00:08:24 Why Export Tariffs Keep Dropping 00:09:47 How Retailers Lift Prices To Pay For “Free” Power 00:10:51 The Fine Print Behind Free Power 00:11:16 Subsidies Making Bills Look Smaller Than They Are 00:12:02 Undersized Systems Caused By Misleading Bills 00:12:49 Why Supply Charge Is Always The Starting Point 00:13:21 Designing Systems Around Real Usage 00:13:56 Why You’ll Always Have Something Left To Pay 00:14:03 Long‑Term Savings vs Rising Bills 00:14:49 Understanding Your Bill Before Designing A System 00:15:03 Helping Homeowners Read Their Bill Properly Follow Source Energy Group: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sourceenergygroup.solar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sourceenergygroup.solar/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sourceenergygroup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/123473935/

  4. Sep 4

    #021 - How We Reduced His Power Bills From $1,500 to $20

    Book your free energy audit 👉🏻 https://go.sourceenergygroup.com.au/ In this new episode, Jason and Luke sit down with Ashley Baxter from Townsville to share how his family cut quarterly power bills from $1,500 down to around $20 with a properly sized solar and battery system. ◼️ Life before solar and battery in a high‑usage household ◼️ How a 49kWh battery changed daily routines and bills ◼️ Why oversizing today protects against future costs ◼️ The importance of tailored design and local support Timestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:00 Power Bills Before Solar And Battery 00:02:15 Tracking Usage And Early Savings 00:03:30 Why A Big Battery Changed Daily Routines 00:04:45 Comparing To The Old 44 Cent Tariff 00:06:00 Loan Repayments Versus Power Bills 00:07:20 Blackouts And Full Home Backup 00:08:40 Oversizing The System For Future Needs 00:10:00 Household Usage With A Growing Family 00:11:30 Exploring Tariffs And Connection Fees 00:13:00 Exporting Power Back To Cover Supply Charge 00:14:20 Why Tailored Design Matters Follow Source Energy Group: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sourceenergygroup.solar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sourceenergygroup.solar/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sourceenergygroup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/123473935/

  5. Sep 2

    #020 - How Long Does Your Solar and Battery Really Last?

    Book your free energy audit 👉🏻 https://go.sourceenergygroup.com.au/ In this new episode, Jason and Cam explain why a 10‑year battery warranty doesn’t tell the full story and what really determines how long your system lasts. ◼️ What a 6000 cycle warranty actually means ◼️ How daily usage changes battery lifespan ◼️ Why installation location impacts performance Timestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:09 Why Usage Patterns Change Lifespan 00:02:19 Oversizing Batteries To Extend Life 00:02:44 6000 Cycles Equals 16 Years 00:03:22 Factoring In Degradation 00:05:10 Why Location And Installation Matter 00:06:33 Heat And Sunlight Impact Performance 00:07:17 Installer Responsibility For Placement 00:08:02 Protecting Batteries With Covers 00:09:01 Why Warranties Assume Worst Case 00:09:28 Extra Protection Extends Lifespan 00:09:49 Poor Installation Shortens Battery Life 00:10:18 Impact Of Older Solar Systems 00:11:19 Full Charge And Discharge Best Practice 00:11:43 Correct System Sizing With Panels 00:12:21 Oversized And Undersized Battery Issues 00:14:27 Incentives Distorting Battery Design 00:14:44 Why Design And Support Matter 00:15:22 Asking The Right Questions 00:15:26 Some Batteries Offer 10,000 Cycles 00:15:42 Why Payback Period Isn’t Everything 00:15:59 Reality Of Longer Lifespans 00:16:36 Planning For ROI Beyond Warranty 00:17:16 Final Thoughts And Battery Rankings Follow Source Energy Group: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sourceenergygroup.solar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sourceenergygroup.solar/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sourceenergygroup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/123473935/

  6. Aug 25

    #019 - How He Reduced His Power Bills From $600 to $50

    Book your free energy audit 👉🏻 https://go.sourceenergygroup.com.au/ In this new episode, Jason and Cam sit down with Bob to break down how adding a 16.6kWh battery to his existing 8.6kW solar system cut his grid use to almost nothing and dropped his quarterly bill from $600 to around $50. You'll hear: ◼️ Why his old solar setup wasn’t enough ◼️ How the 16.6kWh battery changed his grid usage ◼️ Real consumption data from his SEMS portal ◼️ How he uses heating and appliances to maximise savings ◼️ Why correct system design beats cookie‑cutter quotes Timestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:27 Installing the 16.6kWh Battery 00:03:40 Reviewing His SEMS Portal Data 00:04:51 Battery Levels During Cold Months 00:05:41 Designing the System Around Real Usage 00:06:48 Why 16–24kWh Batteries Fit Similar Homes 00:07:03 How Feedback Reduced His Bill to $80 00:08:26 His Thoughts on Joe and Customer Support 00:09:52 Why Source Energy Started the Business 00:11:03 Generator Setup and Backup Options 00:12:24 Reconfiguring for On-grid Generator Charging 00:15:58 Why System Design Must Be Personalised 00:21:21 Payback Period vs Rising Power Prices 00:23:36 Taking Action Today vs Waiting 00:31:33 Low-usage Household Benefits Follow Source Energy Group: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sourceenergygroup.solar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sourceenergygroup.solar/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sourceenergygroup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/123473935/

  7. Aug 19

    #018 - Answering Every Single Solar Question You Have In 24 Minutes

    Book your free energy audit 👉🏻 https://go.sourceenergygroup.com.au/ In this episode, Jason, Cam and Delphi rapid‑fire through the most common solar questions homeowners ask, breaking down panel sizing, battery choices and why proper design matters for every household. This episode covers: ◼️ Understanding real household usage ◼️ Sizing panels and batteries correctly ◼️ Charging speeds and inverter limits ◼️ How long batteries actually last ◼️ Choosing the right battery for your home Timestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:54 Is 10kWh Enough? 00:01:34 Panels Needed for 10kWh Battery 00:02:48 Price Comparisons 00:03:29 Charging a 10kWh Battery from the Grid 00:04:25 How Long a Powerwall Runs a Home 00:05:25 Panels vs Batteries 00:06:37 Do You Really Need a Battery? 00:08:15 Best Battery for Home Solar 00:09:18 Disadvantages of Solar Batteries 00:10:23 Cost of a 13.5kWh Battery 00:12:30 Panels Needed for 13.5kWh Battery 00:14:54 How Long a 13.5kWh Battery Lasts 00:17:41 Real Household Usage Example 00:18:31 Cost of a 13kW Solar System with Battery 00:19:58 Runtime of a 13.5kWh Battery 00:21:26 Lithium-ion vs LiFePO4 00:22:42 Why Proper Design Matters 00:23:42 Industry Improvements 00:24:11 Final Site Inspection Process 00:24:36 Closing Remarks Follow Source Energy Group: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sourceenergygroup.solar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sourceenergygroup.solar/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sourceenergygroup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/123473935/

  8. Aug 14

    #017 - Watch Us Live Fix This Electricity Bill In 26 Minutes

    Book your free energy audit 👉🏻 https://go.sourceenergygroup.com.au/ In this new episode, Jason and Cam sit down with a real household power bill and break it down line by line, showing exactly where the money goes and how a properly designed solar‑and‑battery setup changes the numbers. This episode covers: ◼️ Breaking down a real household bill ◼️ Understanding daily supply charges ◼️ Reading actual usage and kWh patterns ◼️ Comparing solar-only and solar‑plus‑battery setups ◼️ Exploring future electrification impacts Timestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:23 - Breaking Down a Real Electricity Bill 00:00:44 - Understanding the Components of Your Bill 00:01:15 - Daily Supply Charges Explained 00:02:10 - Importance of the Supply Charge 00:03:02 - Calculating the Supply Charge 00:04:06 - Designing a Solar System for Your Home 00:05:10 - Import and Export from the Grid 00:06:00 - Daily Average Usage 00:07:05 - Daytime vs. Nighttime Usage 00:08:01 - General Usage Charges 00:09:03 - Matching Bill Data with Usage 00:10:08 - Consumption Graph and Production Target 00:11:13 - Designing the Solar System 00:12:01 - Panel Placement and Roof Capacity 00:13:08 - Solar Production vs. Consumption 00:14:03 - Adding Battery Storage 00:15:07 - Battery Modules and Supply Charge 00:16:00 - Future-Proofing with Battery Storage 00:17:05 - Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Benefits 00:18:05 - Return on Investment 00:19:30 - Infrastructure and Compliance Checks 00:20:24 - Future Electrification Considerations 00:21:07 - Impact of Future Additions on Bill 00:22:23 - Adjusting for Future Usage 00:23:31 - Comparing Current and Future Bills 00:24:12 - Impact of Rate Increases Follow Source Energy Group: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sourceenergygroup.solar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sourceenergygroup.solar/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sourceenergygroup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/123473935/

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About

Welcome to Off The Grid, the Source Energy Group podcast hosted by Jason Cooke and Cam Fitch. This podcast helps Australian homeowners beat the cost of living, eliminate power bills, and break free from the grid with custom solar and battery systems. Each episode delivers honest, no-nonsense conversations on Australian solar rebates, battery storage, and how to choose the right installation without getting burned. With a SAA accredited in-house install team and a genuine 25-year local support commitment, Source Energy Group provides quality systems that cut grid usage to 0 to 5%. No subcontractors. No overselling. Just real advice from people who will still be answering the phone in 2050.

Information

  • Creator
    Source Energy Group
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Source Energy Group
  • Show Website
    Off The Grid