Households on standby to reduce power usage at peak times

MORE than 10,000 Victorians will be on standby from tomorrow to turn down their power on request in a bid to help safeguard against blackouts this summer.

MORE than 10,000 Victorians will be on standby from today to turn down their power on request in a bid to help safeguard against blackouts this summer.

Customers who have signed up will be eligible for to $900 of credits on their bill to adjust their airconditioners a few degrees or use a gas barbecue instead of the kitchen oven during peak times.

WARNING FOR VICTORIA TO PREPARE FOR SUMMER BLACKOUTS

SOARING TEMPERATURES PUT PRESSURE ON ELECTRICITY GRID

The pilot program — designed to relieve pressure on the grid during heatwaves — is expected to be used several times this summer in Victoria and South Australia.

Energy retailer Powershop will send text messages in anticipation of an event where the Australian Energy Market Operator has predicted shortfalls, with further messages sent when the program begins.

The company said it had been “overwhelmed” by the amount of customers who have signed up to the program.

Households and companies will receive $10 credits just for taking part and be rewarded between $150-$900 if they hit targets of 5 kWh up to 30 kWh during the scheduled events across the year.

Customers on the program can get credits for turning down their airconditioners.

Customers will be also asked to consider such activities like eating fish and chips in the park as a family during evening peak usage, turning off their Wi-Fi for an hour or switching of their pool pump.

Powershop, which has more than 100,000 customer, has ruled out vulnerable and elderly Victorians from taking part in the program to ensure their health and wellbeing during heatwaves.

Paul Lofts, head of customer sales with the company, said households with elderly, disabled or sick people were not considered.

“We have put safeguards into place to make sure those who need access to power at all times are not part of the program,” Mr Lofts said.

“Customers who have signed up have been given tips to reduce their power usages — and its not drastic such as turning off everything in the house, it’s about knowing how much power items use and adjusting the times you use them.”

Victorians and South Australians face a heightened risk of supply disruptions for the

coming summer following the rapid closure of Hazelwood Power Station in March.

Ten demand response projects are expected to deliver 200 megawatts (MW) of capacity by 2020, with 143 MW to be available for this upcoming summer.

Meanwhile, a new report released today by The Australia Institute’s Climate & Energy Program shows that 14 per cent of coal and gas generation failed to provide energy security during the February 2017 heatwave.

“Demand response is good for emissions, good for customers and can help accelerate the inevitable shift to a fully renewable grid,” Ben Oquist, executive director of The Australia Institute, said.

“Energy efficiency and demand response have been too often overlooked in our energy debate.”

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