WA to use solar duck to give free power to state’s households “doing it tough”

The Western Australian government and state-owned energy retailer Synergy have hatched a plan to provide free daytime electricity for hardship customers, much of which will come from excess solar sent to the grid from the state’s rooftops.

Western Australia’s Labor-led Cook government announced the Community Energy program on Monday, which it hopes will help households “doing it tough” save up to $500 per year in energy savings.

The Community Energy program will provide families and households undergoing ongoing financial difficulties with free electricity between 9am and 3pm, a traditionally off-peak period where the state’s huge rooftop solar resource ensures both energy demand and prices stay low.

In Western Australia, as in South Australia and other solar heavy parts of the grid, rapid rooftop solar uptake has created a so-called “solar duck” curve, where grid demand dips to very low levels before ramping up quickly in the late afternoon as the sun goes down. (See below chart from Synergy)

WA is using a number of measures to help address this solar duck, including home battery based virtual power plants and a massive a 219MW, four hour (877MWh) big battery to be built near the coal town of Collie.

Incentivising the use of power during off-peak periods is another possible remedy. In this way, the Community Energy program hopes to help families who need the most cost-of-living support, while well as helping to shift energy consumption patterns to stabilise the grid.

The program will give eligible households 10 units of zero-cost electricity in the off-peak times, or around three quarters of an average household’s daily usage.

When used to its full potential, it is hoped that the program will help participants save between $200 and $500 a year, which is in addition to the state government’s Household Electricity Credit, which saves eligible hardship customers up to $826 a year.

Additionally, the Cook government also announced a $200 credit to be applied to all household power bills, as well as a further $200 to be applied during the November-December billing cycle.

“We are always looking for ways to help Western Australian families who are doing it tough and provide additional support to those who need it most,” said Roger Cook, WA’s premier.

“This new program will save potentially hundreds of dollars for thousands of Western Australians who might be struggling to pay their electricity bills.

“Right around the world we are seeing inflationary pressures, supply chain shortages and higher interest rates. Through our strong economy and responsible budget management WA has been able to provide support to those who need it, and we expect the situation will dissipate over time.”