Consumers have limited discretion in their energy use.
The AEMC is calling for comment on AEMC 2011, Power of choice - giving consumers options in the way they use electricity, Issues paper, 15 July 2011, Sydney by 26 August 2011. Extracts of the discussion paper are provided below.
On 29 March 2011, the Ministerial Council on Energy (MCE) directed the AEMC to undertake a review of DSP [demand side participation] in the National Electricity Market (NEM). ...
Cost effective DSP has the potential to improve the efficiency of the electricity market, for example through more efficient utilisation of transmission and distribution networks and providing added competitive discipline on retailers. This should result in lower costs to consumers for an equal level of reliability of supply. Wider benefits may include improved environmental quality (i.e. lower greenhouse gas emissions) and other benefits consistent with the broader policy objectives of government. ....
5. What are considered the drivers behind why consumers may choose to
change their electricity consumption patterns? Please provide examples
or evidence where appropriate.
6. Chapter 4 lists some plausible DSP options that are currently used or
could be used by consumers. Are there any other plausible DSP options
currently used by consumers that have not been identified? Please
provide description of measures and examples, where available.
7. Are there any DSP options that are currently available to consumers, but
are not commonly used? If so, what are they, and why are they not
commonly used (i.e. what are the barriers to their uptake)? Please
provide examples and evidence if available.
8. Are there other DSP options that are not currently available to
consumers, but could be available if currently available technologies,
processes or information were employed (or employed more effectively)
in the electricity (or a related) market?
9. What are considered the relevant market conditions to facilitate and
promote consumer take up of cost effective DSP?
10 Are there any specific market conditions which may need to be in place
to enable third parties to facilitate consumer decision making and
capture the value of flexible demand? Please provide examples and
evidence as appropriate.
11. What market conditions (technologies, processes, tariff structures,
information etc) are needed, that are not currently employed in the
electricity market, to make other DSP options available to consumers?
12. Do you consider retail tariffs currently reflect the costs to a retailer of
supplying consumers with electricity?
13. Are any changes needed to retail price regulation to facilitate and
promote take up of DSP?
14. Do the charges to retailers for use of transmission networks reflect the
value of that use?
15. Do the charges to retailers for use of distribution networks reflect the
value of that use?
16. Do all consumer groups, including vulnerable consumers benefit from
having cost reflective prices in place? If not, are any special provisions
required to protect certain classes of consumers?
17. To what extent do consumers understand the how they can reduce their
electricity bill? What information do consumers need in order to increase
their understanding of how they can reduce and manage their electricity
consumption and hence bills?
18. What issues are associated with provision of existing information in the
market? Are there arrangements that could improve delivery of such
information? If so, how and by whom?
19. Could better information be provided to consumers regarding the actual
consumption of individual appliances and pieces of equipment? If so,
what information could be provided and in what form?
20. Are retailer and distributor business models supportive of DSP? 21. What incentives are likely to encourage research and development of other parties to promote efficient DSP? 22. Are there any regulatory, cultural or organisational barriers that affect take up of DSP opportunities? 23. What form of commercial contracts/clauses are required for facilitating and promoting efficient DSP?
24. Are there specific issues associated with investment in infrastructure
needed for consumers to take up DSP opportunities?
25. Do you consider that the issue of split or misaligned incentives has
prevented efficient investment in DSP from taking place?
26. What are potential measures for addressing any issues associated with
split or misaligned incentives?
27. Are there specific issues concerning ease of access to capital for
consumers and other parties?
28. What are the significant energy market challenges in optimising the
value of technology and system capability to facilitate an efficient level
of DSP?
29. Do current technology, metering and control devices support DSP? If not,
why not, and what are considered some of the issues?
30. How can issues relating to weak and/or split incentives be addressed to
ensure that the benefits of smart grid technologies are aligned and felt
across the electricity supply chain, including by consumers?
31. How can pricing signals/tariff arrangements be made complementary
with smart grid technologies to facilitate efficient DSP in the NEM?
32. In maximising the value of technologies, such as smart grids for DSP,
what are the issues relating to consumer protection and privacy?
More in Source: Issues Paper [PDF, 1360KB] available at Announcements:Issues paper on consumer choices and efficient electricity consumption 15 July 2011
"Electricity prices - why our power bills are going up and whether anything can be done about it? " - Transcript Powerplay SBS Insight
www.ramin.com.au/eco-sydney/consumer-choice-in-energy-use.shtml © Ramin Communications 2011. Last modified 29 Nov 2013.
