Smart Energy Efficiency Identifier Pilot Project update
Results of 2nd vote: Democratic Budget 2024-25
August 2, 2024
To speed up decarbonisation and electrification of Australian homes, new techniques are needed to cost-effectively identify easy-fix opportunities and energy efficiency upgrades over a large cohort of homes. These opportunities can save households a considerable amount of money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That is why CoPower is working with Earthworker Smart Energy Cooperative’s partner Analytical Engines on the Smart Energy Efficiency Identifier Pilot Project.
This project takes anonymised customer smart meter data – CoPower uses this data for billing – and identifies saving opportunities. The pilot project is taking place in Victoria as all households have smart meters that track real time energy use. This pilot project has been progressing and here is an example of what the information this can provide to CoPower customer members:
| Annual Electricity Cost and Resilience Index | |||||||||
| Example distribution network | Initial Annual Electricity Cost | No load hours | No load days | Electricity cost after Solar (6KW) | No load hours | No load days | Electricity cost after Solar + Battery (10KWH) | No load hours | No load days |
| Anytime single rate tariff | $1,718 | 0 | 0 | $732 | 2,865 | 0 | $437 | 7,337 | 230 |
| Time of Use tariff | $1,662 | 0 | 0 | $764 | 2,865 | 0 | $422 | 7,206 | 216 |
| Single rate, seasonal demand tariff | $1,779 | 0 | 0 | $910 | 2,865 | 0 | $488 | 7,228 | 222 |
- Your cheapest tariff electricity cost for 2024-2025 would be on the Time of Use tariff.
- We found that you are using more electricity in Summer and Winter than other time of the year. This may be due to running reverse cycle air-conditioners for cooling and heating. Insulating and draught-proofing your house may reduce these costs. And reverse-cycle air-conditioners may run efficiently with regular maintenance such as cleaning the filters.
- We also found that you could potentially save around $1000/year with 6KW of solar. This would require suitable roof space. With an inverter capable of supplying power during an outage, you could potentially supply some loads during an outage for around 1/3 of the year.
- A battery would further reduce your energy cost. The energy cost savings from a battery at your house would mean a long payback period. However, with a battery/inverter capable of islanding, for a large part of the year you may have the ability to supply your home even when the grid is down.
If you are interested to get this analysis for your home, there is an opportunity for 10 customer members to sign-up and receive it. Click here to complete the sign-up form.
