Households to ease burden on national grid during peak usage

Victorian households will save on their electricity bills this summer by changing the way they use their airconditioner. Here’s how.

Turning down airconditioners just four degrees save households cash through demand management schemes.

Thousands of Victorian households will save on their electricity bills this summer by altering their airconditioner by just a few degrees for a couple of hours.

The demand management strategy — aimed at avoiding summer price spikes and blackouts — will again be called on to ease the burden on the national energy grid over the coming months.

And a groundbreaking scheme will also see water released from the Hume Dam, in Victoria’s northeast, during peak usage times to increase the levels of hydro electricity within the grid.

POWER OUTAGES IN SUMMER A RISK TO VICTORIANS

HOUSEHOLDS ON STANDBY TO REDUCE POWER USAGE

About 7000 Powershop customers have taken part in three trials in the past 12 months to curb their power use, saving just under a combined $200,000 by reducing their energy use for just a couple of hours.

The trials saved an average of 3.4 MWh — enough to power more than 2000 homes during the same time span.

Meridian Energy Australia, which sources it electricity through its newly acquired hydro generators, will also roll out a trial at releasing from Hume Dam at times when solar power is waning and grid demand surging.

Meridian chief executive Ed McManus said by releasing more water at times of the day with peak electricity demand it will make better use of the Hume Dam to generate electricity when it is most needed.

The company has worked with the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to ensure there will be no impact to downstream irrigators and water users.

Water will be released Hume Dam during peak energy usage times this summer to feed more hydro electricity into the grid.

“More electricity supply at peak times has the potential to lower wholesale prices,” Mr McManus said.

Most electricity companies have now adopted voluntary demand management schemes which reward households and businesses for using less power at peak times.

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.

Electricity distributor AusNet Services is also recruiting up to 1000 volunteer households in parts for a similar scheme, rewarding customers $15 each time they reduce their normal energy use for up to four hours during hot afternoon ‘peak events’ in December to March.

Vulnerable and elderly Victorians are unable to take part in the program to ensure their health and wellbeing during heatwaves.

The Australian Energy Market Operator has warned there is a “heightened risk” of power failures if Victoria swelters through multiple days above 40 degrees, revealing there is a one-in-three chance of power failures in Victoria during extreme conditions if action is not taken.

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