Victorian Midday Power Saver: free power from 11am to 2pm
Last updated: 17 October 2026. Next update: when the ESC publishes the 2027–28 prices, due by 1 June 2027. Checked by Fedya, licensed electrician at Helcro Electrical. The Victorian Midday Power Saver is an electricity offer that charges $0 for the power your home uses from 11am to 2pm every day, up to 24 kWh […]
Best solar battery in Australia: 5 brands compared for your home
An installer compares five home battery brands we install, SiGENERGY, Tesla, Sonnen, Sungrow and Enphase, and says which suits which home.
Solar Soak: How to Run Your Heat Pump Hot Water on Solar
Solar soaking means using the power your solar panels make in the middle of the day to heat your hot water, instead of sending it back to the grid for a small feed-in credit. Midday is when your home makes the most electricity, and often when it uses the least. A heat pump is one […]
Heat Pump vs Electric Hot Water: Is It Worth Switching?
If your home has an electric storage hot water system, it is probably one of the biggest users of electricity in the house. A heat pump does the same job with far less electricity. This guide explains how the two systems work, what changes when you switch, and which Victorian programs can help with the […]
Heat Pump vs Gas Hot Water in Melbourne: The 2026 Numbers, With Sources
Most people reach this question with a plumber in the laundry and a like-for-like gas quote in hand. If that’s you, the answer you need is in the next 60 seconds. The working sits underneath it. Replacing an electric tank rather than gas? Read heat pump vs electric hot water instead. We show the source […]
What Helcro Electrical Looks At When We Do a Home Energy Assessment
When someone calls Helcro Electrical for a home energy assessment, they often expect us to arrive, look at the hot water system, and hand over a quote for a heat pump. That’s not quite how we operate. A proper energy assessment looks at the whole picture, because the most effective upgrades for one household might […]
Energy star rating guide: what 1 star costs at Victorian prices
Energy star ratings explained: what the stars and kWh on the label mean, what one star is worth at Victorian prices, and where the big savings are.
Rinnai multi-split system: MON6H19B1TA specs, cost and a real job
The Rinnai MON6H19B1TA multi-split explained: Rinnai’s specs, what four indoor heads really get, a four-head system we installed in Cheltenham, and what a 19 kW Rinnai multi-split costs installed.
Induction vs gas cooktops: which is better, and how to switch
Induction vs gas cooktops compared: efficiency, cookware, the circuit and switchboard you may need, and Victoria’s VEU induction rebate.
Electric updates: wiring an old house
Updated October 2026: prices in this post are current as of October 2026. Quite often we are asked to work on the wiring of an old house in one of the Melbourne suburbs. Many of these homes still have old ceramic fuses, which is why we carry several types of old-style fuses and their mounting […]