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03/10/09Pool change to save on energy costs
Queensland's new swimming pool owners could save on their electricity costs with a new proposal to limit pool pump use during periods of peak electricity demand.
Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson said the government has opened for public debate the option to amend the Queensland Development Code to control the supply of electricity to new pool filtration systems at peak demand times.
"This initiative will help lower electricity demand at peak periods and will ultimately help reduce upward pressure on electricity prices," he said.
"I'm advised the proposal is expected to save the average pool owner $180 a year on what their pool would have otherwise cost to run.
"It is estimated 10,000 residential swimming pools are constructed throughout Queensland every year.
"I'm advised the vast majority are not connected to an off-peak tariff and contribute an estimated 6.3 megawatts to peak load, which equates up to $18 million in additional electricity infrastructure costs annually.
"The proposal will in no way effect a new pool owner's ability to filter their pool and new pool owners will have the option to install a device to allow them to run their filter in peak periods when they are using the pool."
Mr Robertson today released for public and industry consultation the Regulatory Impact Statement detailing the proposed amendment to the Sustainable Buildings of Queensland Development Code.
"The proposal would use ripple control technology, which controls electricity supply to pool pumps at peak demand periods," Mr Robertson said.
"This enables electricity distributors Ergon Energy and Energex to manage electricity supply at these peak times.
"Switching off pool filtration systems during the short peak demand periods will save millions of dollars in expenditure on our electricity network which is ultimately passed onto all householders in the long-term.
"For every 1500 pool owners that connect their pool to an off-peak tariff, one megawatt of peak demand can be deferred, which saves $3 million on capital infrastructure spending.
"The Bligh Government is planning for the future and developing innovative ways to support Queenslanders with their electricity bills by reducing demand on the network.
"Rather than spend millions building infrastructure to meet rising peak electricity demand, we will all benefit if we make off-peak use of swimming pool filtration systems a requirement for all newly constructed residential pools.
"By 2020 we estimate that infrastructure costs of $188 million will be avoided through if this measure goes ahead."
Approximately 11 per cent of the network capacity of electricity distributors is built to meet the peak level of demand, which occurs just one per cent of the time, or three days per year.
Mr Robertson said discussions had been held with swimming pool and spa industry leaders and pool filtration system manufacturers to scope out the proposal.
"The goal is to shift the time of use of electricity not limit the time available for running a pool filtration system", he said.
Pool owners will be supplied with ample time outside of noise restriction times and peak demand periods to safely operate pool filtration systems.
Submissions to the proposed amendment close on 13 November 2009.
The Regulatory Impact Statement for the Mandatory Load Control of Pool Filtration Systems is available on: www.cleanenergy.qld.gov.au/
Media contact: 07 3224 7332
Last Updated 03 November 2009
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