Part 4: Simplifying behavioural change & improving fairness

The role of technologies

To make it easier for customers to adjust the energy they consume, technologies exist to help simplify decision-making and make behavioural change easier for customers. For example:

  • Something as simple as putting an air conditioner or pool-pump on a timer or programme can limit energy use to cheaper times;
  • High energy use appliances can contain smart technologies which allows them to be controlled by third parties, similar to the operation of off-peak hot water systems. Energy Queensland has done this with air-conditioners – they are cycled through an economy mode to reduce energy use on behalf of customers at key times see the details here; and
  • More complex technologies like home automation systems and batteries can “learn” household electricity consumption habits and react accordingly.

Export charges

We are presently unable to charge customers for using our network to feed (export) electricity back into the grid. Whilst solar power brings many social and environmental benefits it also puts additional pressure on our network that will ultimately lead to the need for additional investment.

As mentioned in Part 3: Why our tariffs need to change, this is creating a growing fairness issue between our customers with some paying less than it costs us to provide electricity to them, with others paying more to make up for this shortfall.

We know that the electricity grid will continue to change as technologies like batteries and electric vehicles grow in popularity. These changes will continue to bring new opportunities for some customers but growing expenses for other customers.

Whilst we are limited in what we can charge customers for at the present time, we do need to plan for the future. Ideally our tariffs will be adaptable to these coming changes.

Cost reflective prices and fairness

Improving our tariffs to make it clear to customers (or their devices) when the network is experiencing either high demand or excess solar generation will allow customers to react to those signals and:

  • reduce their electricity usage at that time;
  • reduce their level of electricity generation through solar at that time;
  • move some of their electricity use to other times of the day; or
  • continue to use or generate electricity in the exact same manner and pay more to do so.

By charging customers in this manner, it is those customers whose behaviour has created the greatest need for investment to meet the increasing demand that will contribute the most (and will continue to do so).

This will improve fairness between the prices that our different customers pay.

We'd like to gather your thoughts on the features and principles we should consider in selecting potential tariffs to trial through the forum below. If you have any questions about this process or your participation, please read the Frequently Asked Questions. If your question isn't answered there, then please send us a question using the yoursay@essentialenergy.com.au email address under the 'Who's listening' section on the right-hand side of the page.

Once you've completed your participation in the forum below, please move onto Part 5: What are the new tariff options we could trial?

The role of technologies

To make it easier for customers to adjust the energy they consume, technologies exist to help simplify decision-making and make behavioural change easier for customers. For example:

  • Something as simple as putting an air conditioner or pool-pump on a timer or programme can limit energy use to cheaper times;
  • High energy use appliances can contain smart technologies which allows them to be controlled by third parties, similar to the operation of off-peak hot water systems. Energy Queensland has done this with air-conditioners – they are cycled through an economy mode to reduce energy use on behalf of customers at key times see the details here; and
  • More complex technologies like home automation systems and batteries can “learn” household electricity consumption habits and react accordingly.

Export charges

We are presently unable to charge customers for using our network to feed (export) electricity back into the grid. Whilst solar power brings many social and environmental benefits it also puts additional pressure on our network that will ultimately lead to the need for additional investment.

As mentioned in Part 3: Why our tariffs need to change, this is creating a growing fairness issue between our customers with some paying less than it costs us to provide electricity to them, with others paying more to make up for this shortfall.

We know that the electricity grid will continue to change as technologies like batteries and electric vehicles grow in popularity. These changes will continue to bring new opportunities for some customers but growing expenses for other customers.

Whilst we are limited in what we can charge customers for at the present time, we do need to plan for the future. Ideally our tariffs will be adaptable to these coming changes.

Cost reflective prices and fairness

Improving our tariffs to make it clear to customers (or their devices) when the network is experiencing either high demand or excess solar generation will allow customers to react to those signals and:

  • reduce their electricity usage at that time;
  • reduce their level of electricity generation through solar at that time;
  • move some of their electricity use to other times of the day; or
  • continue to use or generate electricity in the exact same manner and pay more to do so.

By charging customers in this manner, it is those customers whose behaviour has created the greatest need for investment to meet the increasing demand that will contribute the most (and will continue to do so).

This will improve fairness between the prices that our different customers pay.

We'd like to gather your thoughts on the features and principles we should consider in selecting potential tariffs to trial through the forum below. If you have any questions about this process or your participation, please read the Frequently Asked Questions. If your question isn't answered there, then please send us a question using the yoursay@essentialenergy.com.au email address under the 'Who's listening' section on the right-hand side of the page.

Once you've completed your participation in the forum below, please move onto Part 5: What are the new tariff options we could trial?

Discussions: All (1) Open (1)

  • What kind of principles or features do you think we need to consider when designing tariffs for the future?

    about 4 years ago
    82 Responses

    You need to be signed in to add your comment.

    For example:

    • SIMPLE - pricing should be easy to understand
    • AFFORDABLE - changes need to consider customers ability to pay
    • FAIR - everyone should pay their fair share
    • ADAPTABLE - accommodate new technologies, energy flows and evolving customer choices
    • EFFICIENT - Suitably cost-reflective and don’t create new issues


    Please review the suggestions that other users have already posted - you can like or dislike these by clicking on the thumbs up or thumbs down icons respectively. 

    If you feel there other principles that no-one else has yet suggested, feel free to add them to the forum. You can add as many suggestions as you like, but they are best added one-by-one, rather than as just one comment as this will allow other users to consider each of your suggestions separately.

    Once you have completed the discussion forum, you can move on to Part 5: What are the new tariff options we could trial?

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Page last updated: 08 Oct 2020, 01:59 PM