Demand Management can take several forms, including:
- Agreement with energy users to interrupt or reduce some loads during peak periods
- Using generators or cogenerators* on customers' premises
- Installing more efficient equipment, such as lights that have a lower power demand
- Switching electricity use to outside peak periods, such as off-peak water heating
- Changing some electrical loads to other fuels, such as natural gas.
* Cogeneration is the simultaneous generation of heat and power where there is a need for both. It is more efficient than generating the electricity and heat separately.
When the peak loads are near the capacity of a part of the network, Ausgrid examines options that include reducing demand and increasing capacity. The goal is to find the lowest cost and most reliable long term solution.
By choosing the best solution, we all benefit:
- Customers who all share in lower electricity charges
- Ausgrid because it can minimise or delay expensive extra investment.
Ausgrid regularly consults with the community about future network enhancement. Whenever we identify a potential opportunity to use demand management, public consultation is an important part of identifying options for investigation.