This summer you could get paid for turning off your air-conditioners under a new trial scheme floated by federal government to prevent blackouts.
In a bid to prevent blackouts amidst worsening energy crisis, the federal government has launched a new trial program where households and businesses across three states in Australia will be paid to turn off their air conditioning.
Under a $36 million program launched on Wednesday by Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg, thousands of households in NSW, Victoria and South Australia will be invited to voluntarily cut their energy use in return for incentives such as rebates on power bills, The Australian reports.
"It is a win-win for the public and the energy companies," Frydenberg said.
7News reports the companies will send an sms to consumers during peak demands to alert them about the offer which will see them paying anywhere around $25 per event to households and businesses across these three states for turning off the air-conditioning and cool rooms.
This trial is one of the preventive measures being introduced to prevent blackouts this summer.
These trial projects include installation of a smart thermostat to control air conditioning, heating and ventilation in businesses and homes, and householders reducing energy use for one to four hours in exchange for a weekend of free electricity.
Mr Frydenberg told The Australian that the “demand response” initiative would work by “providing a financial incentive to energy users to conserve their energy use during times of peak demand”.
“The energy saved can then be directed to help stabilise the grid when and where it is needed,” he said.
This model has operated successfully in other countries including the US, New Zealand and Taiwan.
