AusNet Services to reward customers for cutting energy use

Households in parts of Victoria will be paid to reduce power use by going shopping, visiting friends or changing airconditioner settings on summer’s hottest days to avoid blackouts.

Victorians will be paid to reduce power use by going shopping, visiting friends or changing airconditioner settings on summer’s hottest days to avoid blackouts.

Electricity distributor AusNet Services is recruiting up to 1000 volunteer households in parts of Melbourne’s north and southeast and west Gippsland for a “demand management” scheme to ease stress on the grid at peak times.

GoodGrid program participants will be rewarded $15 each time they reduce their normal energy use for up to four hours during hot afternoon ‘peak events’ in December to March.

ENERGY COSTS HURTING HOUSEHOLDS

CONTINGENCY SUMMER ENERGY PLANS

POWER BILLS TO RISE IN 2019

There are expected to be five to eight events, earning customers up to $120.

Demand management programs are designed to ease pressure on the electricity grid during peak times. Picture: Steve Tanner

AusNet Services spokesman Hugo Armstrong said using airconditioners at higher temperature settings; leaving the house to go to the shops, movies or visit friends; and running appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines in off-peak times were ways to easily reduce power use.

The program follows a trial last year involving dozens of households who reduced energy use by up to 40 per cent in peak periods.

Those taking part can choose to donate their rewards to local schools. Households with vulnerable residents facing potential health risks from reduced power consumption on hot days are ineligible.

Victorians will be paid to reduce their power use on hot days.

The program will run in South Morang, Mernda, Doreen, Garfield, Bunyip, Longwarry, Drouin, Berwick, Cranbourne, Clyde and Narre Warren.

AusNet Services executive general manager Alistair Parker said it rewarded customers for reducing use on a few hot afternoons and lowered the risk of power outages in local communities.

“And for our part, AusNet Services has less need to undertake expensive network upgrades to cater just for these short periods, saving network costs and consumer bills in the long run,” Mr Parker said.

Click here for details.

[e-mail]

@KarenCollierHS