Editor’s view: Remote aircon control a stopgap solution at best, an act of desperation at worst

Remotely turning off the airconditioners of paying customers to keep the lights on for the rest of us seems like a stopgap solution at best, an act of desperation at worst, writes the editor.

More than 8000 Queensland households had their airconditioner’s cooling function shut down remotely on December 8.

Our exclusive story about energy providers’ ability to remotely turn off some functions of your airconditioner poses some interesting questions about the future of energy in Australia.

More than 8000 Queensland households had their airconditioners’ cooling function shut down remotely on December 8, as the power grid struggled to cope with increased demand caused by soaring temperatures.

It was the fifth Big Brother-style intervention of the year – not that the account holders from either Energex or Ergon – should have been surprised.

They had all signed up to the PeakSmart “demand response” scheme, where, in a trade-off for a rebate on the airconditioner it could be turned off remotely to take pressure off the grid if needed.

We’re sure it sounded like a great deal when a $2000 airconditioner costs $1600 thanks to the PeakSmart rebate scheme, but the appeal might wane when you are not allowed to use it on the hottest of days.

Energy Minister David Janetzki said curtailing power was far better than having to cut it off altogether.

“Energex and Ergon Energy carefully manage electricity demand peaks for those who have opted into PeakSmart, to smooth the load and help prevent widespread outages,” Mr Janetzki said.

More than 155,000 households now have PeakSmart appliances – a number growing by about 15,000 a year. The area with by far the highest enrolments is Pimpama, where 3670 devices are connected.

And they should be congratulated for doing their bit to keep the lights on for the rest of us. But the fact that the scheme exists at all is a perfect illustration of the precarious nature of our power grid.

Consumers expect the lights to go on when they flick the switch.

They expect to be able to charge their devices when needed, and they expect to be able to use the airconditioning on a hot day.

But it is becoming increasingly obvious that those expectations are misplaced.

Australia of course has a goal for the future of energy – Net Zero emissions by 2050 – but no clear pathway to get there.

LNP Energy Minister David Janetzki says curtailing the strength of airconditioning in people’s homes is better than it being cut off completely. Picture: Liam Kidston

While many state governments and federal Labor have gone all-in on renewables – in particular huge wind and solar farms – the lack of large-scale battery storage means when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow there is a shortfall.

Early this month The Courier-Mail’s Keep The Lights On series showed how the gas industry was ready and willing to fill that gap, at least until the reliability of renewables increased, but needed the green light to increase production and open up new sources.

The Coalition of course has bet the farm on nuclear power filling that gap, despite an ongoing debate on costs as well as concerns about the time needed to establish a nuclear industry from scratch.

While many – including federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen – are keen to poke holes in the Coalition’s nuclear plan, it is at least a plan.

How the Labor government explains its road map to Net Zero – or doesn’t – will go a long way towards deciding who wins the next federal election.

Because remotely turning off the airconditioners of paying customers to keep the lights on for the rest of us seems like a stopgap solution at best, an act of desperation at worst.

Originally published as Editor’s view: Remote aircon control a stopgap solution at best, an act of desperation at worst