The New Zealand power companies understand better that anyone how critical it is to be smart when it comes to energy usage. As we increase the smart use of energy in our homes this has a direct impact on the rest of the nation.
Power companies are doing some exciting things to help us be smart with the energy we use.
How Green is our Energy?
Energy Charges
Standard Usr 24hr rate* $0.186
Controlled rate* $0.1774
Inclusive rate* $0.1774
Daily charges $1.97
*Prices per kW.
Lower User rate
Retailer Incentives
Free night-time energy (Contact)
Smart Meters
Use of NNAs
Solar
Batteries
EVs
See also
Battery Storage (page 128)
Smart Home Partnerships
As homes in New Zealand install more smart monitoring and control technology, there are some real possibilities for synergistic partnerships. When a smart home has a suitable control hub that can bring together the smart energy control within the home and provide the live energy report on the homes performance, this could allow some control to be shared with the power providers for peak network load control.
Ripple Control
New Zealand power companies already have Ripple Control technology in place for emergency control of electric hot water cylinder heaters.
This is a very reactive approach and doesn’t take into account the overall ability of the individual homes to manage their energy use.
Controlled Rates
Some power companies offer controlled energy rates when a smart meter is installed that measures electrical power for equipment that can be turned off as needed. Devices connected to these Controlled meters are typically hot water cylinders, pumps and under floor heating. The amount of allowed operating time for these devices is dependent on where you live in the country and the Controlled option you are on.
The Future of Peak Energy Control
The future could be very different. What if, instead of sending the signal to switch off a whole communities hot water heaters at the same time, the power company could send a request for the smart homes to all reduce their loads by a certain amount using the best means possible according to the home and its unique set of installed appliances. For many homes this would actually mean a greater energy use reduction than just turning off the water heating.
In a case like this the possible emergency energy savings with a Smart Home control hub.
Electric Water Heater (2,000W)
Heat Pump
Under Floor Heating
EV Charging
Solar Batteries 3,000W+
EV Power Donation 3,000W+
