Peak Demand Saver
We believe that integration of renewable energy – like energy produced from solar PV systems – combined with energy storage, is the next technological breakthrough that could help households and communities better manage their energy use and save on costs.
That’s why we’re leading the Energy Storage Trial at Alkimos Beach in collaboration with development partners Lendlease and LandCorp.
To keep it simple, the Peak Demand Saver plan only has two rates across three time bands
Heating and Cooling
Heating and cooling your home forms a pretty big part of your overall energy use, in fact by simply setting your heating to 19°C instead of 24°C in winter you could save up to $32/month^^, so it’s worth looking at ways to optimise your energy efficiency with the following energy saving tips.
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Don't crank your air-con
It’s more energy efficient to heat or cool your house slowly over time, instead of cranking your air conditioner up or down.
Effort: A bit more effort
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Seal the cold or warm air in
Use a door snake - or even a rolled-up towel - to help stop air escaping from under your doors.
Effort: Easy enough
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Use a pedestal or ceiling fan
Fans are a much more energy-efficient way to stay cool and keep the air moving, compared to air-conditioning.
Effort: Some effort
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Book in a service
Having your heater and air-conditioner serviced could help you to keep it running efficiently. Check with your manufacturer for recommendations.
Effort: A bit more effort
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Add a layer
When the weather is getting chilly, reach for a jumper, hoodie or your favourite wearable blanket before you decide to switch on the heating.
Effort: Easy enough
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Sun in, sun out
In winter, open your blinds or curtains in the middle of the day to let the warm sun in. In summer, use your blinds or curtains to block out the sun’s heat.
Effort: Easy enough
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Get warm and cosy
On cold winter nights, rug up with some warm PJs and your favourite throw rug. At bedtime, try a few extra blankets instead of an electric one.
Effort: Easy enough
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Electric blanket on, room heater off
Once you’re in your warm bed, you probably don’t need to heat the whole room.
Effort: Some effort
Laundry and other
Learn how you could use less energy (and maybe even use less water) in your laundry, bathroom and pool, if you have one.
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Use your clothesline
Clothes dryers can use a lot of energy. Drying your clothes outside on a rack or clothesline could help you to save electricity and enjoy some fresh air in the process!
Effort: Easy enough
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Put the sun to work
If you have solar panels, try to run your washing machine and other appliances during the day when you can. This will help you to make the most of the energy produced by your solar system.
Effort: Some effort
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Keep your lint filter clear
To keep your clothes dryer running efficiently, clean the lint filter after each load.
Effort: Easy enough
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Use a cold water wash
Using the cold water cycle on your washing machine could help to reduce the amount of electricity it uses. Check your clothing labels for recommendations.
Effort: Easy enough
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Look for a good star-rating
Front loaders are generally more energy efficient than top loaders. Check the energy ratings before you decide. The higher the star-rating, the lower the running costs are likely to be.
Effort: Some effort
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Put your pool pump on a timer
If you have a pool, your pump will use a fair bit of energy. See if you can run it on a timer to reduce your energy use. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Effort: Some effort
Working from home
With some simple strategies, you can set up your home office to use less electricity.
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Beware of vampire energy
Appliances and equipment in standby mode can drain energy, so switch them off at the wall when you can.
Effort: Easy enough
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Let the stars decide
The energy star rating is an easy way to quickly see how energy efficient your home office equipment is. The more stars, the less it is likely to cost to run.
Effort: Some effort
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Use power-saver mode
Your PC and laptop probably have an eco-saver power setting. Set this for a shorter time so your screen switches off soon after you stop using it.
Effort: Easy enough
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Plan your work day
Work out what you need to do and what you need for the day so you can switch printers, scanners and other equipment off at the wall when you’re not using them. You could put these devices on a separate power board so you can turn them off when you need your computer on.
Effort: Some effort
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Light your workspace
Let in natural light when you can - or consider using a lamp rather than lighting up the whole room.
Effort: Easy enough
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Screen for efficiency
Screen size matters. The bigger your screen, generally the more electricity it is likely to need, so choose the right size for your needs.
Effort: Easy enough
Things you need to know
When switching to the Peak Demand Saver plan you’ll be asked to opt-in to a non-regulated tariff (we call this a non-standard contract). To help you make an informed decision based on your circumstances, we’ve outlined the difference between this and a regulated tariff (standard contract). You should make your own assessment of the terms and conditions.
See how a non-standard and standard contract compare (PDF 46 KB)
Read Peak Demand Saver plan Terms & conditions (PDF 276 KB)
*Compared to the standard A1 tariff .
^ Compared to the standard Synergy Home Plan (A1) tariff . Savings represented are approximate and are calculated by applying the Peak Demand Saver Trial rates to average historic consumption, usage pattern and generation based on the available data since trial launch (April 2016) to February 2020 and comparing this to the charges that would have been incurred at the standard A1 (Home Plan) rates for the same period. All amounts are estimated savings and are provided for general information purposes only. While every care has been taken to make the information in the letter accurate, Synergy takes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information. This measure received funding from ARENA as part of ARENA’s Emerging Renewables Program.
^^Estimated savings based on the standard A1 tariff and cost data sourced from cityswitch.net.au. The potential savings calculation assumes for every 1°C adjustment of the temperature of air-conditioning closer to the outside temperature, the energy required for heating and cooling is cut by 5–10%. The potential savings will vary depending on individual circumstances including the star rating of the system, the size of the space being heated and how well insulated the space is.
Results of the trial so far
The trial at Alkimos Beach has been running for over a year and the results continue to be promising for the future of WA’s energy. So far, as a community, Alkimos Beach Peak Demand Saver customers have saved a total of $53,020 off their collective energy bills since the trial started in April 2016.
How much have households been saving per month?^
Households of four
Have been saving $47.49 a month on average.
Two-member homes
Have saved an average $32.61 a month.
How does the average Peak Demand Saver household perform?
Compare average savings for the Synergy A1 Tariff vs the Peak Demand Saver
Note: The above graph is based on the annual average electricity consumption and export for properties participating in the Peak Demand Saver Trial at Alkimos Beach.
A day in the life of a Peak Demand Saver home
Welcome to a day in the life of the ‘Smith’ Family home. They live in Alkimos Beach and started on the Peak Demand Saver Trial almost a year ago. This family of 4 has already seen a drop in their electricity bills since joining, reaping the benefits of their solar PV system as the solar credits they generate during the day covers much of their peak power usage in the evenings.
Note: The above graph is based on average consumption and generation for properties participating in Synergy’sPeak Demand Saver Trial.
A day in the life of the Smith family household as at 14th May 2018 |
Age | Daily routine |
| Karen Smith | 39 | After arriving home from work, Karen puts on a load of washing. |
| Allen Smith | 39 | After arriving home from work, Allen prepares dinner for the family. |
| Luke Smith | 15 | After arriving home, Luke does homework on the family computer before playing his gaming console. |
| Jessica Smith | 11 | Jessica watches TV while getting ready for school, then watches her favourite shows after school. |
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Note: the above 'day in the life of' table is a fictional example for illustrative purposes only. |
Peak Demand Saver comparison example |
A1 | PDS |
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| Total daily power usage | 16/4 kwh | 16.4 kwh |
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| Total daily cost | $4.34 | $6.38 |
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| Total daily power generated* | 10.5 kwh | 10.5 kwh |
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| Solar credits used | N/A | 10kwh ($4.78) |
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| Excess daily solar credits | N/A | ($0.036) |
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| Daily REBS | $0.75 | N/A |
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| Daily supply charge | $0.95 | $0.47 |
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| Virtual storage fees | N/A | $0.35 |
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| Total Daily Bill | $4.54 | $2.38 |
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*Average daily generation across course of the year