Demand Management Plan

Demand flexibility has traditionally been about ‘chopping off the peak.’ Peak demand occurs when, as a community, our electricity usage is at its highest. This usually happens daily from 4pm-9pm when energy-hungry appliances like air-conditioners and pool pumps are switched on at the same time as other everyday appliances. We also see peak demand on the electricity network on days of extreme temperatures.

Demand flexibility is also used to shift load to ‘fill in the troughs’ experienced when a lot of solar energy is exporting into the electricity network. Minimum network demand occurs when the community’s electricity usage is at its lowest and the export of energy from rooftop solar photovoltaic (solar PV) systems is at its highest. This usually happens from 10am–2pm on clear, sunny days during spring and autumn.

Customers generally have one or more flexible resources (for example pool pumps, hot water systems, air-conditioning, electric vehicles and batter energy storage systems) eligible to participate in a demand flexibility program. Demand flexibility programs can help customers to save on energy costs while also addressing network needs. This is part of our broader plans to ensure we offer an affordable, reliable and sustainable energy network.

Please find out more about our demand flexibility programs in our annual Demand Management Plan below.