Published: 12 Jan 2012
The far North’s power network is handling summer demand for power well, with the region reaching a peak load of 261 Megawatts yesterday according to Ergon Energy.
Acting Manager Regional Services Graham Lynes said far Northerners hit the peak figure at 4.33pm.
Tuesday had seen a peak of 264 Megawatts, with this summer’s previous peak in far North Queensland nearly 259 Megawatts on December 28.
Mr Lynes said that while the region’s peak demand for power had not increased to the extent of some southern areas with their associated heatwave conditions, hot and humid conditions ahead could challenge this season’s peak numbers.
“Our network is coping well and there have been no interruptions necessary due to demand,” Mr Lynes said.
“The highest peak on our network was in fact in the summer of 2010 when demand reached a whopping 373 Megawatts.
“So we can certainly cope with recent increases,” he said
Mr Lynes said investment in the network in recent years has been designed to cope with rising demand – an investment that was paying dividends for customers during summer peaks.
However customers have been reminded to consider the financial and environmental impact of their energy use.
“We understand that people will use air conditioners for their comfort in these conditions, but they can reduce the cost by following some simple steps,” Mr Lynes said.
Ergon Energy’s top six ways to save on air conditioner costs include:
1. Set your air conditioner to 25°C. It’s the most comfortable and energy-efficient temperature setting for summer. For each degree you drop, you’ll add to your electricity costs.
2. Close windows and doors in areas you want to cool. And remember to close blinds and curtains too. It keeps the heat out of your home and makes your air conditioner more efficient.
3. Use a fan and open up your home to create cross-breezes instead of switching on your air conditioner. Fans are always friendlier on your hip pocket than switching on your air conditioner. Ceiling fans cost about 2 cents an hour to run compared with air-conditioners which, depending on the size, can cost between 13 and 49 cents an hour to run.
4. Turn off your air conditioner when you’re out. Leaving it on wastes energy and costs you more.
5. Clean the filter pads on your air conditioner regularly. This helps to ensure it runs efficiently. An efficient air-conditioner will cost you less to run.
6. Install ceiling insulation with a minimum rating that suits your location to keep the heat out of your home. This well help to ensure your aircon can work more efficiently.
Mr Lynes said refrigeration was the other big user of power in the across regional Queensland and he encouraged customers to ensure their fridge seals were in good condition, the fridge was only opened when necessary and a second fridge was turned off if possible.
He said pool users could reduce the cost of filtration by taking advantage of Ergon Energy’s incentives to switch to an off-peak tariff or an energy efficient pool pump.Contact: Mark Timmerman
Phone: (07) 4727 5731