QFF and industry members CANEGROWERS and Cotton Australia are inviting farmers to participate in a trial to give farmers the chance to test off-peak and demand-based electricity tariffs, or to stay on their existing tariffs and have a free smart meter installed to better understand their energy use profile and tariff options. The trial is part of the Regional Business Support Package announced in response to the Queensland Productivity Commission’s inquiry into power pricing.
Ergon Energy is now recruiting up to 200 farmers to participate in three separate trials and aims to achieve a diverse and representative selection in each trial group
Applications to join the Agricultural Tariff Trial close on Tuesday 2nd May and are open to any farmers located in the Ergon Energy area.
There are 3 trials to choose from:
- Tariff 33: Load Control – Trial 1
- TARIFF 24: Seasonal Time of Use – Trial 2
- Digital Meter Trial – Trial 3
TARIFF 33: Load Control – Trial 1
Tariff 33 is an economy tariff used by many households for hot water systems, pool pumps and other equipment that does not need continuous power.
The trial involves the use of a controlled load tariff to supply key farm loads, including irrigation pumps and ancillary farm equipment to understand the implications for farms in switching from tariffs with power available 24/7 to a control load tariff with limited hours of supply.
Participants will receive a free digital electricity meter, access to off-peak tariff rates for the duration of the trial and detailed tariff analysis to help transition to the most suitable tariff option in the future.
TARIFF 24: Seasonal Time of Use – Trial 2
Tariff 24 is a new seasonal time of use demand tariff.
The aim of this trial is to better understand how this new tariff works for agricultural customers in comparison with their current tariffs. It is expected some customers will make immediate savings on this demand tariff but in the event they don’t, they will pay no more than what they would have on their current tariff.
The Tariff 24 trial could save you money if you:
- Use more of your electricity outside the peak times of summer weekdays between 10AM and 8PM OR
- Can move your main power consumption to outside this summer peak period
- have high consumption (kWh) across the year, but low demand (kW).
After the trial, participants can choose to receive detailed tariff analysis to help them transition to the most suitable tariff option.
This trial comes with a ‘safety net,’ or no-worse-off test, which considers the drought relief that the customer is eligible for, on their current and previous tariff. Essentially it means that if you are worse off on tariff 24 compared to what you would have paid on your previous tariff, you will be reimbursed at the end of the 12 month trial.
Digital Meter Trial – Trial 3
This trial group is a good option for anyone on an expiring Agricultural Tariff (T62, T65, T66). Participants will remain on their current tariffs and receive a free digital electricity meter (normally worth up to $600) that records energy consumption and demand in 30 minute intervals.
Participants will receive consumption reports and detailed tariff analysis to help them transition to the most suitable tariff option in the future.
Their usage data will also help Ergon improve its understanding of the load profiles of agricultural customers under current arrangements and also allow for comparisons with the other two trial groups.
For more information…
Details on the trials, including the tariff rates and an application form are at Ergon’s website