Be energy aware between 4 and 9pm
Power Down was created to increase energy awareness and to provide tips on how to reduce energy use in the home.
Let’s all power down.
Power Down 4-9pm is Western Power’s annual summer campaign, held to raise awareness about using electricity wisely at home time. It is one of a number of innovative approaches Western Power is implementing to raise awareness about the inefficiencies of peak electricity use.
The Power Down campaign highlights a number of simple ways households can reduce their energy use at the hometime period, including avoiding using major appliances between 4pm and 9pm and setting air conditioners to 24 degrees.
In WA, air conditioners are the biggest contributor to peaks in the electricity system during summer. In fact, WA records the highest rate of air conditioning use in Australia. The increase in use has been rapid, rising 45% in just nine years.
Air conditioner use in Perth amounts to almost a quarter of power consumed on the hottest days in January, February and March.
More than 90 per cent of Perth homes are air-conditioned and heating and cooling accounts for about 26 per cent (or approximately $91 per bill) of the average family’s household electricity bill, second only to water heating at 32 per cent.
The Power Down campaign targets the times of highest use in the system which usually occur during hot days in February and March.
Peak electricity use from air conditioners usually occurs when air conditioners are set at the end of the day to a low temperature to cool a hot house quickly. It is much more energy efficient to set air conditioners to start automatically at 24 degrees an hour before returning home. There are also some other simple things like closing curtains and installing insulation, which can help keep cooling costs down.
Residents can save 10% on cooling costs with every single degree higher an air conditioner is set.
If we all Power Down 4-9pm, we will also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce spending on the electricity network.
More information
- Read our blog: Why should I Power Down 4-9pm?
