Households could soon be saving on electricity bills by allowing energy providers to control their air conditioning on hot summer days.
Energy retailer AGL Energy is trialling a scheme in which customers elect to have the temperature in their home controlled by the retailer through cloud-interfaced air-conditioning units.
Slight increases in temperatures in the home could reduce power demand on the hottest days of the year, and even out spikes in electricity use, AGL's general manager of distributed energy services Jason Clark said.
"If peak demand can be reshaped through minor changes to customer behaviour, network companies may be able to delay or avoid major investment that would put upward pressure on energy prices, while maintaining the same levels of supply reliability," he said.
The 68 participants in the four month trial, which ends on March 31, are still be able to override the temperature settings.
A quarter of them initially expressed reservations about handing temperature control to their retailer, but more than 80 per cent have reported little or no discomfort on hot days.
AGL hopes the trial with network provider United Energy at Carrum Downs in Melbourne will help lower energy bills.
Mr Clark said average customer electricity usage increased by more than 60 per cent as temperatures exceeded 35 degrees.
"About 20 per cent of the grid's network capacity is only used for a few peak periods a year but the cost to have this availability are reflected in supply costs on customers bills," he said.
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