$700-a-year increase running an airconditioner & snap price rises of as much as 15,000 %

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

Theres another "device" out there, not sure what its called but it allows remote control of your AC compressor-IE refrig AC has 2 parts, the internal blower unit and the external compressor(which uses the bulk of the power load).
At predetermined peak loads, the power company can remotely switch off x number of compressors in each street for a predetermined amount of time only (like 10-15 mins) this has the effect of shedding load across a suburb while the internal AC blower still operates. For the life of me I cant see where this saves power as when the compressor is reactivated, it will have to work that bit harder to cool the inside air back to where it was before the shutdown. There was a trial of this system in SA at one stage but not sure where it is now.
There was talk a few years ago of houses having to notify the power company of how many ac units are in their premises.
It will get to a stage when new system installs will need to be approved with a device of this nature, big brother will definitely have a hand over your power use.

I call BS on this... Do tell how they'd remotely control one appliance on a circuit?
Or even if say, a 2hp air con is on it's own dedicated circuit?
Does Powercor bluetooth your compressor from headquarters and trip the circuit breaker or what?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Charliewool

I call BS on this... Do tell how they'd remotely control one appliance on a circuit?
Or even if say, a 2hp air con is on it's own dedicated circuit?
Does Powercor bluetooth your compressor from headquarters and trip the circuit breaker or what?

A relay I guess, trigger it with the smart meter.

Do they do 240V/415V relays?

I doubt they'd do that sort of stuff though, if I had A/C and they turned it off I'd be on their door steps holding signs and yelling

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

A relay I guess, trigger it with the smart meter.

Do they do 240V/415V relays?

I doubt they'd do that sort of stuff though, if I had A/C and they turned it off I'd be on their door steps holding signs and yelling

Google being me mate!.. informed me that Energex in Qld has trialled this idea (with the consent of agreeing customers)
It involves a "box" mounted next to the aircon (or pool pump) that is in the control of the power company that can remotely cycle the compressor, or pump on & off...
So, "at this stage"... Big brother hasn't got control of what's wired to our household board without us knowing.

[zilo]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

A relay I guess, trigger it with the smart meter.

Do they do 240V/415V relays?

I doubt they'd do that sort of stuff though, if I had A/C and they turned it off I'd be on their door steps holding signs and yelling

they have the smartmeter software ability to turn hot water systems on and off by suburb to balance loads across the network in Melbourne.


I know they do because I have an ombudsman case to have that featuret removed from my premises.

Basically they boost my solar hot water system on weekends, in the middle of the day...BUT...I said what if the sun is shining??

DUHHH...was the response.

It would be a simple extension of that system nonetheless.

[poppa smurf]

Originally Posted by zilo

they have the smartmeter software ability to turn hot water systems on and off by suburb to balance loads across the network in Melbourne.


I know they do because I have an ombudsman case to have that featuret removed from my premises.

Basically they boost my solar hot water system on weekends, in the middle of the day...BUT...I said what if the sun is shining??

DUHHH...was the response.

It would be a simple extension of that system nonetheless.

this would be a way of doing it but in todays modern world I truly think that would drive many to go "off grid".

folks work hard and earn decent money now, much to the chagrin of the upper echelons, the unwashed now want parity with the blue bloods, damn their hides.

solar/generators are cheap now, would be an easy thing to tell the powers that be to "stick your lines where the sun don't shine".

mess with my air-con and I'm gone, I'm one step away (batteries) from being self sufficient, only my power credit holding me to the moguls.

I do remember a few "trials" that never went anywhere and I don't think they ever will, folks are just too damn savvy now,

oh! for the good old Whitlam days when people were more docile, compliant and simply did as they were blooming well told.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Charliewool

I call BS on this... Do tell how they'd remotely control one appliance on a circuit?
Or even if say, a 2hp air con is on it's own dedicated circuit?
Does Powercor bluetooth your compressor from headquarters and trip the circuit breaker or what?

Don't underestimated danzvtil comment, I too have read somewhere of new technology & it is a reality, what I have read is customers will be able to sign up to this offer from the energy retailers for special tariff conditions & of course some wiring alterations will be performed to your premises if needed
New appliances will have built in new technology to facilitate communication with the network grid, hence via smart meters.