Turn off and earn cash
Survey shows positive response to power saving
AUSTRALIANS are warming to the idea of turning specific household appliances off or down for a half-hour period during a demand peak in return for a payment, polling shows.
Demand management — which will play a key role in avoiding potential blackouts on days of extreme heat this summer — will be trialled in Victoria from December.
Research commissioned by progressive think-tank The Australia Institute found four in five respondents were interested in taking part in demand response schemes.
Of those who said they would consider taking part, 38 per cent said the were “very interested”, while 42 per cent were “somewhat interested”.
The poll of 1421 Australians, found 85 per cent of voters would be interested in turning down the heating 2C for half an hour.
Around 77 per cent of voters said they would be interested in turning the airconditioning off for half an hour.
About 82 per cent of voters said they would be interested in turning off appliances such as televisions and computers for half an hour.
The Federal Government, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and Australian Energy Market Operator, this week announced funding for 10 pilot projects to trial the demand response initiative to manage electricity supply during extreme peaks.
In total, the $35.7 million initiative will deliver 200 megawatts of capacity by 2020, with at least 143MW to be available this summer.
About 64 per cent of voters — and a majority of respondents from the three largest states — thought demand response was the better approach to keeping the net- work stable and 28 per cent favouring new grid infrastructure and power stations.
Australia Institute’s Dan Cass said there was “a real eagerness” from Australians to make money by generating, storing and trading electricity.
“What is needed are smart regulations that would unleash huge benefits to the stability, efficiency of the grid, and lower prices to boot,” Mr Cass said.