Q: What is PowerShift?PowerShift is a three part time-of-use pricing product that lets you take advantage of variable electricity rates, depending on your time of usage. Put simply, the more electricity you can shift to the off peak period, the greater your potential to save.
PowerShift is a key component of Synergy’s commitment to trial new energy management products, as part of the Perth Solar City project, and assists Synergy in working with customers to encourage the more efficient use of electricity and, in particular, to help reduce peak demand.
Using power in the cheaper time periods not only means savings on your electricity bill, but also helps to ensure a more consistent and reliable energy supply.
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Q: How does PowerShift work?Unlike the flat rate Home Plan (A1) tariff, where the price is the same regardless of when you use electricity, PowerShift has three different time of use rates depending on the time of day that you use it.
You have the opportunity to make significant savings by using your electricity during the off-peak times, while a higher rate is charged during the super peak period. The peak period is charged at the same rate as the A1 tariff.
All rates are shown in the table and graphic below:
| Period |
Time |
Rate |
| Super peak |
Weekdays - 2pm to 8pm |
36.62c/kWh |
|
Peak
|
Weekdays - 7am to 2pm and 8pm to 10pm
Weekends - 7am to 10pm
|
20.83c/kWh
|
| Off-peak |
All days - 10pm to 7am
|
10.78c/kWh
|
|
Supply charge
|
n/a
|
38.23c/day
|
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Q: How can PowerShift help you save?The amount you save with PowerShift depends on your ability to shift as much of your electricity usage as possible, to the cheaper PowerShift periods.
PowerShift rewards you for shifting your energy consumption out of our network’s ‘super peak’ period (the time when most people are using electricity and causing strain on the network), into off-peak periods (between 10pm – 7 am).
You can use these and other appliances during off-peak periods to save money and may need to have a timer fitted by a licensed electrician for these appliances:
- Electric water heaters
- Reticulation bore pumps
- Swimming pool pumps
- Washing machines
- Clothes dryers
- Dishwashers
To help shift your usage and benefit from the cheaper rates, here’s what you can do:
- Manually switch your appliances on or off at the right times
- Use timers already fitted to certain appliances, such as dishwashers, washing machines and swimming pool pumps
- Look for models with built-in timers when buying new appliances.
- Install simple plug-in timers
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Q: Is PowerShift right for you?- If you currently use electricity during the cheaper time bands, or are able to modify your behaviour to do so, then PowerShift may be just the thing for you. To find out more, try our PowerShift calculator.
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Q: What information you will need to switch to PowerShift?- First you need to find out if your meter is compatible. Next, you need to determine whether the product meets the needs of your household.
Once this has been identified we can arrange to switch you to PowerShift over the phone and arrange the reprogramming of your meter. If you require, and consent to, a meter replacement the charge for this will appear on your next account.
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Q: How you make the switch?- If you have a compatible meter (including smart meters), simply call us on 1800 729 265 and we will make the switch for you over the phone. There will be no charge for switching to PowerShift if you have a compatible meter.
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Q: What if you don’t have a compatible meter?If you don’t have a compatible meter, you’ll need to have one installed. The charges for installing a compatible meter are:
| Type |
Single phase |
Three phase |
| Existing home |
$176.15 |
$276 |
If you live outside of the Perth Solar City region and would like to swicth to Powershift, a $66 reprogramming fee will apply if you have a compatible meter.
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Q: Are you locked in for a period of time?- There are no contracts and you can switch back to the flat rate Synergy Home Plan (A1) tariff at any time just by calling Synergy. Synergy will waive the reprogramming fee to revert back to the Home Plan (A1) tariff if you want to switch back.
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Q: Will PowerShift save you money?- The amount you save with PowerShift depends on your ability to shift as much of your energy use to the off-peak period as possible and limit your usage during the super peak period. Visit our PowerShift calculator to see how this will work for you.
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