In the News @ InverterCentral.com
AGL becomes very first major retailer to launch battery storage


AGL Energy Limited (AGL) today announced it is launching a battery storage device into the Australian market, making it the first energy retailer to do so. The initial offering will be for residential and small business, giving consumers more control over managing their energy consumption.

AGL’s Power Advantage proposition, will include a range of battery storage devices based on lithium-ion technology, making them clean, compact and reliable.

AGL’s Energy Storage Lead, Ed Lynch-Bell says, energy storage is still an emerging technology but is moving very quickly. As such AGL is focused on providing new, innovative and integrated offerings to meet consumers changing energy needs.

"The launch of Power Advantage is another pillar of AGL’s multi-pronged strategy of being a leader in the evolving new energy and disruptive technology space.

"The first device will be capable of storing 6kWh of solar energy and will suit an average family home with 3-4.5kW of solar PV. The battery storage device however could be used in a home without solar PV. The battery will be the size of a large suitcase and will provide consumers with backup for essential home services such as lighting, refrigeration and communications, a welcome peace of mind for potential disruptions of energy supply."

The battery packs, made by a leading international consumer electronics manufacturer and which have been through AGL’s rigorous testing standards, have a long life and are backed by AGL’s extended warranty. A range of attractive finance plans will make energy storage accessible to all.

AGL’s aim is to provide tailored energy solutions for consumers which integrate energy generation and storage. For example, with real time monitoring of a home’s solar power system and the right storage device to suit a consumer’s needs, AGL energy storage devices will enable a consumer to store power and use it when they want.

AGL has plans to develop a suite of products to cater to a range of home and business sizes and types. The 6kwh battery storage device is the first in this range and in the initial phase will be available in limited numbers. Larger battery sizes will be available later this year. People can register their interest for the battery at www.aglsolar.com.au/energystorage 

Seeking to improve returns to shareholders and invest more in technologies such as rooftop solar panels and smart meters, the company—which has a market value of A$11 billion—has put its 50% stake in Australia’s biggest wind farm on the block. This comes weeks after AGL said it would phase out all coal-fired power generation by 2050.

The company said a sale of its stake in the Macarthur wind farm in southeastern Australia, which has the capacity to power 220,000 local homes, could bring in about A$500 million. Analysts suggested AGL also might sell its coal-seam gas assets in Queensland state.

AGL’s strategic plan for the period through June 2017 calls for a cut of A$170 million in operating costs and deep reductions in capital spending. The plans represent a shift in strategy by AGL Chief Executive Andrew Vesey, who took the job in February.

AGL shares jumped as much as 6.5% to a record in Sydney after the company said profit before one-time items in the fiscal year ending next month would hit the top half of a previously stated range of A$575 million to A$635 million. CLSA analyst Baden Moore said the cost cuts were almost triple his expectations and could allow AGL to increase dividends.

Electricity companies such as AGL are suffering from weaker demand in part because home appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines and toasters have become more efficient. In countries such as the U.S., this trend is making it more difficult for companies that produce and distribute electricity to maintain their infrastructure. In Australia, higher maintenance costs have been passed on to the consumer, squeezing household budgets.
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AGL said its new strategic plan doesn’t mean the company is turning its back on feeding electricity into the grid. Australia is second only to Indonesia in exports of thermal coal, the cheapest source of power, and AGL said it owns some of the Australia’s cheapest-to-run coal-fired power plants.
AGL is selling its 50% stake in the Macarthur wind farm, Australia’s largest. ENLARGE
AGL is selling its 50% stake in the Macarthur wind farm, Australia’s largest. Photo: Carla Gottgens/Bloomberg News

Over the longer term, however, AGL said a desire to reduce carbon emissions and the generation of more power away from the grid will challenge the company’s accustomed revenue sources. The cost of generating power from solar panels on the roofs of houses had fallen about 80% in the past five years, said AGL, which predicted this market will roughly triple in size over the next 15 years.

“In the long term, energy markets will be transformed by new decentralized products and services,” including solar cells, battery storage, connected appliances and smart grids, the company said. Earlier this month, Tesla Motors Inc. founder Elon Musk unveiled a new household battery pack that he said can store solar power economically for use when sun isn’t shining.

AGL wants more exposure to rooftop solar products and to smart meters, which send utilities continuous readings on customers’ electricity use. The company aims to make a million smart connections between now and 2020, and projects revenue from its “new energy” business will rise at a compound annual rate of 45% to A$400 million over the same period.

Write to David Winning at david.winning@wsj.com and Ross Kelly at ross.kelly@wsj.com

Corrections & Amplifications

Australia is second only to Indonesia in exports of thermal coal. A previous version of this article incorrectly said Australia is second only to Indonesia in production of thermal coal. (May 26, 2015)

Inverter Central Fraud Compaint Review InverterCentral.com

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

www.ripoffreport.com | InverterCentral.com (7) Total (3) Rebuttals (1) Refunded (2) No repsonse RipoffReport.com tried to extort $5000 to remove per report. Aug 14 2012 - Springfield, Virginia , NO Rebuttal Submitted - InverterCentral.com Title: InverterCentral InverterCentral.com world wide distribution kept our money and we didn't receive product and they won't process refund or return messages , Internet Body: This was an online order 13Mar2012 (LED computer screen). They contacted us to tell us they only had one in stock, and it was scratched. We told them we didn't want it, and they never sent it. We were instructed to process a refund online. Then this appeared in the tracking history (note it DID NOT ship!!!) We have requested this refund in April, May, July and August, with NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT! Rose ****** ********* Drive Springfield, VA ***** United States Shipped via USPS 1) M190A1-L07 LCD Panel 3/13/2012 9:42:32 PM I have contacted them repeatedly via telephone, email and their customer service forms. "Sarah" actually responded to one email, and told my husband "we now have more in stock...would you like us to send you one?" We told her NO and please process refund....still nothing. They have taken over $300 from us and have not refunded it, and we HAVE NOT received ANY PRODUCT! If they (or you) cannot settle this, we plan to take them to court, so any intervention would be helpful. Especially if this is their usual practice....they need to be stopped. I do have all correspondence and documentation of all my requests, as well as my bank statement which shows their taking my money! Please let me know if you can help. Nov 13 2012 - Honeywood, Other, NO Rebuttal Submitted - InverterCentral.com title: invertercentral.com IS ANYONE OUT THERE, NO ONE RESPONDING, Internet Body: What a good looking site www.invertercentral.com but does it still operate? I ordered goods and checked on the site that my order had been processed, all looked ok. (29 Oct 2012). Was told 9 days delivery, that time has come and gone but no goods and I'm not able to make contact with them. I've tried over six contact points, with no responce from anyone. Good buy money. Dec 16 2009 - Miami, Florida, Rebuttal Submitted - Inverter Central Title: Inverter Central invertercentral.com Do NOT buy from this company. I both a inverter for a Laptop and it does Not work (twice). They Do NOT sent my money back. Internet Body: BE CAREFULLL!!! This company is a fraud!!!They get their product back and DO NOT send your money back. Nov 5 2008 - Toulouse, Other, Rebuttal Submitted - Inverter Central Title: Inverter Central invertercentral.com refuses to refund money on returned non-working LCD panel Perry Maine Body: Author of original report: Inverter Central invertercentral.com fully refund money on returned non-working LCD panel Perry Maine Oct 30, 2008 - Santa Barabara, California, Rebuttal Submitted - InverterCentral.com Title: Invertercentral.com sold me the incorrect part and refused to refund the money or get me a correct part Perry Maine Body: I ordered a part from this company and asked for express shipping so I could do the repair quickly 20 dollars extra they sent a part that was different from the correct part displayed on their website. After 5 days I called to see where the part was and they said they would send it that day after three more days I got the part which as I mentioned was no good to me I sent it back and asked for a refund I put a confirmation on the return and found that they received the part back they refused to refund my money I don't have a part and was charged 139.98 to my credit card. I made a claim with my credit card company and am still battling with these people to get a refund this is 4 months after I needed the part which I did get elsewhere. This company does not deserve to ever have another client. They are crooked. Don, Santa Barbara, California U.S.A. Oct 24 2008 - Richmond, Texas, Rebuttal Submitted - Inverter Central Title: Inverter Central Www.invertercentral.com refuses to refund money on non-working LCD inverter Perry Maine Body: my laptop needs a new LCD Invertor -- my display goes dead after 2 minutes but works fine with an extermal monitor. I ordered a replacement after a live chat that they said based on the above problem it was my LCD invertor that was bad. I received it installed it and sill had the same problem -- dead display after 2 minutes. I got back to chat and got authorized to get a cross shipped replacement. I mail the 1st one back. The 2nd one arrived and my display still dies after 2 minutes. I got back to chat (live help link) and all they said they were not responsible for a mis diagnosed problem. but offered to send a 3rd one when i asked about a refund. They said it was possible to have sent 1 bad invertor but not 2. neither one worked as my display still goes dead after 2 minutes. their policy does say "If we cannot provide a working part in a timely fashion they will give a complete refund including shipping." both invertors they sent do not work as they go dead after 2 minutes. if i ship the part back they will only send another one out. but i wind up paying shipping -- so eventually the shipping will end up costing me more than the part. --I mentioned that I paid with a Credit Card and could dispute it there. their responce was "go ahead" -- but i am right now stuck with a their non-working LCD invertor. I want a refund but if i ship the part back at my expense they will just keep sending me more invertors. Aug 20, 2008 - Bonney Lake, Washington, Rebuttal Submitted - InverterCentral.com Title: InverterCentral.com Scammed me out of $120 Bangor Michigan Body: I purchased an inverter for my Alienware Laptop a couple months back for $110 + an additional $10 extra for faster shipping [from http://www.invertercentral.com]. I received the inverter but when I took it to the shop that was working on my laptop they had told me it was broken. I quicly sent it back to InverterCentral. I called a few days later and they told me that they received it and they would process my exchange. I called back a week later but they didn't pick up. I found that unusual considering they always picked up. I continued calling daily (up to 5 times a day) to find out information on my situation but they continued to ignore me. I e-mailed them and used Live Support daily to try and communicate with their employees hoping that it was a miss-communication issue of some bizarre sort. Whenever I had used "Live Support" I would be helped until I told them my situation and that is where they would ignore me. I got very upset as I don't have a lot of money.. I just wanted a refund and nothing more but to get out of this mess. They REFUSE to help and I would recommend NO ONE USE WWW.INVERTERCENTRAL.COM FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY! Looking forward to getting a response from the company and I will continue calling until I get back whats mine. It has been about 4 months and this is absolutely RIDICULOUS. Jake, Bonney Lake, Washington U.S.A.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Title: InverterCentral.com - InverterCentral are misleading and false advertising Comment 1: - Mar 20th, 2008 InverterCentral.com falsely advertises the following when your laptop screen stops working: Replacing the backlight inverter fixes the following symptoms 17 out of 20 Times: Dim Screen,Flickering Display, Wavy Lines,Blinking LCD Panel, Panel Buzzing,Shades of Pink, The problem I experienced where some of the above,but when I put in the new part it didn't fix my problem. If you look at the fine print buried on their website which they've cleverly hinden this is return policy: THERE IS NO REFUND FOR "deciding the part is no longer needed for any reason" Which means if it doesn't work, which is my case, you are screwed. My advice, buy a new monitor and if it includes the inverter, so much the better. In my case, the replacement screen with inverter included fixed my problem. Comment 2 - 2008-05-20 I also want to alert all with this company InverterCentral.com. I am from Brazil, I made the search for the site with the model and I bought a to invert, they ordered me the wrong device and now they disconnect me of the attendance on line whenever I try to argue. That company type has to be banished of the virtual world. Comment 3 - 2008-07-08 I ordered a panel during the month 02/2008. 10 days later, When I received it, it had 2 big scratches on, so I directly did a RMA on the InverterCentral WEB site and returned the broken panel by 'Coliposte' (Like 'USPS' in FRANCE). 1 week later I verified directly with the hotline that they have well received the panel that I returned to them and also that they were OK to replace it by sending me a new one. But the second panel never came. After having wait for 3 months during I contacted the hotline to many times (and heard to many lies), I decided to cancel the order and ask to be refunded (188 euros) because they can't provide me the panel I bought. Now, I have spent more than 1 month asking them to be refund, contacting them nearly all the days, lots of times by a day ! It's a real fight ! They know me and my problem of being refunded. I try to have an answer of 'Lisa', the supervisor who treat my problem, but she seemed to be in meeting all the time and when she isn't in meeting, answering me is not her priority. I just want to be refunded, I wait for more than 4 months, It's very difficult and even more for people like me who live on the other side of the Atlantic. I feel so tired and stressed by this story. Comment 4 - 2008-08-21 They have also refused to help me or even talk to me. I am out $120 to them and this is absolutely ridiculous. They sent me a broken inverter and refused to refund when they had the inverter in THEIR POSSESSION. Comment 5 - 2010-12-22 I ordered an inverter from this company on 12/17. The web site stated that the part was in stock and would ship th enext day. Now, 5 days later, the order status says they are waiting to receive the part from some other location, with the estimated ship date of 12/27. So, with my laptop dead for 10 days I apparently have to wait for them to ship the part via a slow llama from half way around the world. I guess "in stock" means that it's in stock somewhere, just not necessarily with them. Save yourself the trouble and order from another company. Comment 6 - 2014-06-13 YOU SHOULD SIMPLY WALK AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY, NO SIGN OF hq LOCATION, ETC ETC, NEVER REPLY TO QUESTION, TANKS HIGHLY FOR ABOVE REMARKS, IT HELPED ME TO TO FALL IN THE TRAP. tHERE ARE OTHER MORE SECURE COMPANIES ON THE WEB, EVEN IF MORE EXPENSIVE. Comment 7 - 2015-01-06 Email the company about an invertor got a reply ordered the invertor took longer for it to ship than they said. Got the invertor and its the wrong one the email address that they emailed me from is no longer any good. No reply's to emails from there web site or phone calls. Disputed with PayPal with no reply from vendor made a claim and they offer an 18.00 credit for something I didn't order. PayPal said to mail it back and then refused my claim so they got the part back and my money. DON"T buy from this company

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Rose - 8/14/2012 Title: InverterCentral InverterCentral.com world wide distribution kept our money and we didn't receive product and they won't process refund or return messages Body: This was an online order 13Mar2012 (LED computer screen). They contacted us to tell us they only had one in stock, and it was scratched. We told them we didn't want it, and they never sent it. We were instructed to process a refund online. Then this appeared in the tracking history (note it DID NOT ship!!! ) We have requested this refund in April, May, July and August, with NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT! Rose *************** Drive Springfield, VA ***** United States Shipped via USPS 1) M190A1-L07 LCD Panel 3/13/2012 9:42:32 PM I have contacted them repeatedly via telephone, email and their customer service forms. "Sarah" actually responded to one email, and told my husband "we now have more in stock...would you like us to send you one? " We told her NO and please process refund....still nothing. They have taken over $300 from us and have not refunded it, and we HAVE NOT received ANY PRODUCT! If they (or you) cannot settle this, we plan to take them to court, so any intervention would be helpful. Especially if this is their usual practice....they need to be stopped. I do have all correspondence and documentation of all my requests, as well as my bank statement which shows their taking my money! Please let me know if you can help. 12/16/2009 - Valtai Title: Inverter Central invertercentral.com Do NOT buy from this company. I both a inverter for a Laptop and it does Not work (twice). They Do NOT sent my money back Body: BE CAREFULLL!!! This company is a fraud!!! They get their product back and DO NOT send your money back. 8/20/2008 - Jake Title: Complaint / review / scam report InverterCentral.com Scammed me out of $120 Body: I purchased an inverter for my Alienware Laptop a couple months back for $110 an additional $10 extra for faster shipping [from http://www.invertercentral.com]. I received the inverter but when I took it to the shop that was working on my laptop they had told me it was broken. I quicly sent it back to InverterCentral. I called a few days later and they told me that they received it and they would process my exchange. I called back a week later but they didn't pick up. I found that unusual considering they always picked up. I continued calling daily (up to 5 times a day) to find out information on my situation but they continued to ignore me. I e-mailed them and used Live Support daily to try and communicate with their employees hoping that it was a miss-communication issue of some bizarre sort. Whenever I had used "Live Support" I would be helped until I told them my situation and that is where they would ignore me. I got very upset as I don't have a lot of money.. I just wanted a refund and nothing more but to get out of this mess. They REFUSE to help and I would recommend NO ONE USE WWW.INVERTERCENTRAL.COM FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY! Looking forward to getting a response from the company and I will continue calling until I get back whats mine. It has been about 4 months and this is absolutely RIDICULOUS. 3/12/2008 - David Title: Complaint / review / scam report Inverter Central Www.invertercentral.com refuses to refund money on non-working LCD inverte Body: Inverter Central Www.invertercentral.com refuses to refund money on non-working LCD inverte My laptop needs a new LCD Invertor -- my display goes dead after 2 minutes but works fine with an extermal monitor. I ordered a replacement after a live chat that they said based on the above problem it was my LCD invertor that was bad. I received it installed it and sill had the same problem -- dead display after 2 minutes. I got back to chat and got authorized to get a cross shipped replacement. I mail the 1st one back. The 2nd one arrived and my display still dies after 2 minutes. I got back to chat (live help link) and all they said they were not responsible for a mis diagnosed problem. but offered to send a 3rd one when i asked about a refund. They said it was possible to have sent 1 bad invertor but not 2. neither one worked as my display still goes dead after 2 minutes. their policy does say "If we cannot provide a working part in a timely fashion they will give a complete refund including shipping." both invertors they sent do not work as they go dead after 2 minutes. if i ship the part back they will only send another one out. but i wind up paying shipping -- so eventually the shipping will end up costing me more than the part. --I mentioned that I paid with a Credit Card and could dispute it there. their responce was "go ahead" -- but i am right now stuck with a their non-working LCD invertor. I want a refund but if i ship the part back at my expense they will just keep sending me more invertors. ANONYMOUS COMPLAINT - 8/7/2008 Inverter Central invertercentral.com Refuses to refund money on returned non-working LCD panel Body: I ordered a panel during the month 02/2008. 10 days later, When I received it, it had 2 big scratches on, so I directly did a RMA on the InverterCentral WEB site and returned the broken panel by "Coliposte" (Like "USPS" in FRANCE). 1 week later I verified directly with the hotline that they have well received the panel that I returned to them and also that they were OK to replace it by sending me a new one.But the second panel never came. After having wait for 3 months during I contacted the hotline to many times (and heard to many lies), I decided to cancel the order and ask to be refunded (188) because they can't provide me the panel I bought. Now, I have spent more than 1 month asking them to be refund, contacting them nearly all the days, lots of times by a day! It's a real fight! They know me and my problem of being refunded. I try to have an answer of "Lisa", the supervisor who treat my problem, but she seemed to be in meeting all the time and when she isn't in meeting, answering me is not her priority. I just want to be refunded, I wait for more than 4 months, It's very difficult and even more for people like me who live on the other side of the Atlantic. I feel so tired and stressed by this story... Nathanael Toulouse France

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

NamePros.com Jakey, Aug 21, 2008 Title: I just posted my story at ripoffreport.com and hopefully it will be processed soon for you all to read. http://www.invertercentral.com scammed me out of $120 and refuses to help me. [I have called over 30 times and sent numerous emails as well as let "Live Support" know about my issue] I highly doubt this is a miss-comunnication issue considering this is going on month 4. 6 months later and still no word from them. PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THEM FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY! Body: Bump. Don't want anyone else to get screwed over! Try to check them out at Scam Search. It's really hard to trust especially these days when scammers are very desperate. Technibble.com 16k_zx81 Aug 26, 2013 Title: invertercentral.com - eat my shorts Body: InverterCentral.com ordered an inverter 60 days ago via credit card. 30 days later checked email - nothing from them. no inverter. put through another order 30 days later no order, no email emailed invertercentral.com. twice. "where's my order"? No reply Rang them. Got their message service. Left a message with all details asking for a heads-up about what is going on. That was almost a week ago. Nothing. Just putting this out there for anyone who's considering dealing with them. Needless to say I will not be buying anything from invertercentral.com in future.