Aussies wake up to energy efficiency

Tuesday, 16 August 2011 17:48

Energy distributors need to catch up with Australians who are rapidly taking climate change on board and voluntarily practicing energy efficiency, said Total Environment Centre (TEC) today, after the release of figures by Ausgrid, the company that builds and manages the electricity network for most of New South Wales.

“While people across Australia have seen big increases in their bills, and are wide awake to the reality of climate change, and they are saving energy – electricity distributors who are responsible for a big part of the price rises need to get out there and help more people to adjust with energy efficiency.”

Demand for electricity has plateaued across the Ausgrid network for the first time since the 1950s. It is expected that the Australian Energy Market Operator will announce a fall in demand for electricity of about 5 to 6 per cent in the next decade.

“We could do even better.  Residential customers have cut their electricity use by 2 per cent each year for the past four years. This  historic behavioural change  shows Australians have grasped the need for discipline faster than the National Energy Market,” Mr Angel said.

“Unfortunately many power companies are still using the excuse of rising demand to justify massive increases in unnecessary infrastructure. The more infrastructure they build, the more money is diverted from demand management, energy efficiency and renewable electricity generation, all of which would save money for consumers as well as the environment.”

“The Federal Government needs to stop these network companies from gaming the system and support consumers and the environment through increased demand management and energy efficiency.”