Home energy optimisation

A key aspect of Energy Masters is trialling how households can optimise their energy use. All households receive a Clipsal Cortex home energy management system, which is:

• enabling household appliances to automatically take advantage of lower prices – depending on their retailer, this could be in response to the wholesale price of energy, or during three different time periods (peak, shoulder and off peak)
• actively optimising their connected appliances to maximise the use of their solar, and battery if they have one
• giving each household options to enable their electricity retailer to optimise the operation of their appliances to take advantage of energy market opportunities that may save them more money.

In addition to the potential savings for individual households, being flexible with their energy use may contribute to a reduction in long-term costs for all customers. This is because it enables us to use the existing grid smarter, rather than building new generation or distribution infrastructure (e.g. pole and wires) to support growing use of electricity.

Energy Masters households retain control to opt-out of appliance optimisation throughout the trial.

Flexible network connections

As part of the research activities, Energy Masters households will help SA Power Networks trial flexible import limits via flexible network connections. During the trial, SA Power Networks will occasionally send remote signals to the home energy management systems of Energy Masters households, to optimise the energy use of opted-in devices in ways that support the network.

Learn more about flexible network connections and flexible imports.

Research participation

Energy Masters households participate in research that is expected to demonstrate a simple, reliable and cost-effective way for all South Australians to become masters of their energy use.

At a minimum, Energy Masters households are:

• consenting to their household electricity meter data being shared with and analysed by the researchers
• required to complete at least three research surveys which will require them to share information such as (but not limited to) the age and gender of people in their household, how their house is constructed and how they use it, how and why they use energy, their experience with new home energy management technologies and what their motivations and barriers are about energy and related topics
• agreeing to participate in the trial of SA Power Networks’ flexible imports, which includes sending network signals (through flexible network connections) to their new HEMS to enable flexible energy use of opted-in devices to support the network.

These minimum research requirements are reflected in the Energy Masters Terms and Conditions (PDF, 253.8 KB) and the Research Participant Information Sheet (PDF, 536.3 KB) and are a condition of continued participation in Energy Masters.

In addition to these minimum requirements, households will be invited to participate in additional research activities like interviews. These activities are optional.

Eligibility criteria

Households must comply with the Energy Masters eligibility criteria.

Terms and conditions

Participating households accept the Energy Masters Terms and Conditions (PDF, 253.8 KB).

No guarantee of savings

Whilst there is an expectation of lower energy bills through Energy Masters, there is no guarantee.

Notwithstanding, participating households who install new appliances receive subsidies that in most cases are expected to cover between 50 and 90 percent of the cost of eligible appliances, including installation. Higher subsidy places are also set aside for Priority households.