Tens of thousands sign up for rewards for reducing energy use
Amid concerns of blackout risks this summer, an unprecedented number of Victorian households are being urged to curb power use when the electricity grid is stressed in return for financial rewards.
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Unprecedented numbers of Victorian households are being encouraged to conserve power when the electricity grid is stressed amid concerns about blackout risks this summer.
Tens of thousands of customers have signed up to voluntary reward programs to reduce energy use during extreme peak demand, typically for two to four hours on the hottest days of the year.
Some are expected to be credited as much as $200 in total for cutting back on power during “peak events” this summer.
Energy consumption is usually reduced at the key time by either turning off or adjusting airconditioner temperature, and shifting use of appliances such as washing machines, ovens, dishwashers and pool pumps.
Retailers and poles and wires companies stress the schemes are unsuitable for heat-vulnerable people and those with critical health conditions.
Victorian enrolments for EnergyAustralia’s Power Response program have more than doubled to 15,000 households this year. Customers can get up to $20 bill credit for hitting reduction targets during an event.
“It’s a win-win for customers. It helps them save on their power bills, while helping to take the pressure down on our electricity grid when we need it the most,” EnergyAustralia chief customer officer Mark Collette said.
As Victoria scorched on Wednesday, EnergyAustralia alerted customers to an event from 5pm-8pm, its first of this summer.
AGL, Simply Energy, Powershop, United Energy, AusNet Services, CitiPower, Powercor and Jemena are among those also running voluntary “demand response” programs to ease strain on the grid.
Simply Energy revealed 15,000 customers had registered for its new Reduce and Reward program that will give efficiency tips, and $10 bill credit to those who cut consumption by 10 per cent during a peak demand event.
It said the program “helps the energy grid remain stable in times of high demand, by balancing supply and therefore reducing the likelihood of power outages”.
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AGL’s Peak Energy Rewards trial was recently extended to Victoria and attracted almost 11,000 sign-ups in less than a week. Participants will be credited up to $60 in total.
EnergyAustralia has a separate Energy Savings Rewards program with distributor Jemena that could credit customers in some northwestern suburbs up to $100 over summer.
Under United Energy’s Summer Saver scheme, up to 2900 households in certain areas receive an average $15-$45 per event if they curtail consumption compared with normal use.