Unique summer pushes power usage up

A hot and sticky summer may be making a noticeable difference to your power bill.

Waikato residents used 4.5 per cent more power in January 2018 than they did in January 2017.

The increase spiked towards the end of the month when the peak daily temperatures edged towards 30 degrees Celsius and humidity levels were high.

WEL Networks commercial general manager Richard Barnard suspects high use of airconditioning to be the cause.

‘‘It’s been a unique summer,’’ he said.

‘‘Traditionally, we know what power people will consume over summer; this is the first time another pattern has come through so strongly.

‘‘We’ve definitely seen a greater demand.’’

While cold winter temperatures regularly coincide with an increase in energy consumption, it’s highly unusual for summer temperatures to do the same, he said.

However, Barnard said there has been a trend in recent times throughout New Zealand of declining residential consumption.

‘‘This has been driven by more energy efficient appliances – TVs, refrigerators, water heaters – as well as increased usage of LED lighting,’’ he said.

‘‘Double glazing and improved insulation have also helped to minimise requirement to heat homes as we have done previously.’’

WEL also introduced Time of Use pricing in 2016 for new connections, but from April, 1, 2018, it was transitioning existing connections with ‘‘smart’’ electricity metering onto Time of Use.

These smart meters – installed in the WEL Networks area – are capable of recording how much power is used at different times during the day.

However, WEL Networks revenue manager Michelle Allfrey said whether individual customers will see the change depended on the individual retailer.

Most retailers have opted to continue to charge at one rate as opposed to passing through Time of Use Pricing, she said.

‘‘Peak electricity usage is a bit like peak traffic on a motorway. People tend to want to use the motorway the most at the same time – travelling to and from work.

‘‘Power lines are a similar situation. The more power people use at the same time, the bigger the power lines and equipment need to be able to handle this.

‘‘Bigger power lines cost more money and ultimately it is the power customers that have to pay for these. So it is in everyone’s interest to try to reduce peak power usage,’’ she said.

‘‘As a trust-owned business, we like to see customers use power efficiently.’’

Hamilton Aircons director Liam Graham said he’s seen a substantial increase in the number of people wanting to install air conditioning units in their homes.

‘‘It’s a lot busier than it was last year. It’s been the humidity that people have been having an issue with,’’ he said. ‘‘I don’t blame them.’’

Graham installs from 6-10 units per week and has found that more people are wanting units installed in their bedrooms.

However, education is still required on how to properly use them, he said.

‘‘Some people don’t really know the correct settings in terms of efficiency. If you’re going to crank the heat pump at 16 degrees in the middle of summer trying to get the room temperature down, it’s not going to happen.

‘‘But if you set it to 20-21 degrees, the room has a chance to get to that temperature.’’

Graham recommends residents set their units between 20-22 degrees for cooling and 23-24 degrees for heating.

‘‘If you run it inefficiently, it’s not going to look after your power bill. If you run it efficiently, it will,’’ he said.

Hamilton Aircons currently has a waiting list of around two weeks, and Graham advises those wanting to install heat pumps for the colder months to get in quick.