AusNet Services is looking to partner with local community members this summer to prevent power outages, and to help schools and community members make money at the same time under its GoodGrid program.
The GoodGrid program will reward residential and business customers in two key areas who register for the program and agree to reduce their power usage for up to four hours at a time when AusNet asks them to do so.
Customers who reduce their power usage will receive a $15 reward payment in return. Five to eight of these events are expected between December 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019.
After the very successful ‘Peak Partners’ trial last year, in which a small number of households reduced their energy use by up to 40 per cent during peak periods, AusNet Services has expanded and improved the program this summer.
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Key changes include the following:
- AusNet Services is being supported by RACV, which is also committed to building a sustainable Victoria and empowering communities to manage their energy needs.
- An expanded group of 1000 participants in the renamed GoodGrid Program
- Participants are able to donate their rewards directly to a participating local school
- The program is running in three key areas: South Morang, Mernda and Doreen (postcodes 3752 and 3754); Garfield, Bunyip, Longwarry and Drouin and nearby regions (3814, 3815, 3816 and 3818); Berwick, Cranbourne, Clyde, Narre Warren (3805, 3806, 3977 and 3978)
All participants who register by Tuesday, January 15 will also go in the draw to win a $1000 voucher to an RACV resort.
AusNet Services executive general manager Alistair Parker said GoodGrid is a win for all.
“Customers get rewards for reducing their power usage on a few hot afternoons,” he said.
“The local community has their risk of power outages reduced, and local schools can earn rewards by promoting the program.
“And for our part, AusNet Services has less need to undertake expensive network upgrades to cater just for these short periods, saving network costs and consumer bills in the long run.”
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RACV general manager Smart Living Carlos Lopoex says RACV is supporting a number of Victorian electricity distributors to help communities to think about their energy use and reduce costs.
“We hope programs like GoodGrid will improve reliability,” he says.
“It’s also a way for households to help make a meaningful impact on reducing peak energy use this summer and ultimately lowering energy costs.”