The bold trial challenging ‘poles and wires’ thinking
Australia’s electricity system was designed around a centralised model, where generators, networks and retailers stay in their own tightly regulated 'swim lanes.' But with the rise of rooftop solar, batteries and electric vehicles, integrating decentralised energy is proving a major challenge. Ausgrid, the country’s largest electricity distributor, has proposed a bold pilot to turn unused commercial rooftops into solar hubs, link them with community batteries, and share that power with 32,000 households, including renters and apartment dwellers who can’t access solar. The model could potentially lower bills, reduce network costs, reduce the amount of new transmission that’s needed, and make the system fairer. Critics, however, warn that allowing networks to move into generation and storage could stifle competition, raising big questions about who should deliver local power and how to balance innovation with consumer fairness. Marc England, the CEO of Ausgrid, puts the case for embracing opportunities that are currently being missed.
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Heat or eat? The alarming rise of energy hardship in Australia
Energy hardship in Australia is more widespread — and more complex — than many people realise. The latest national survey from Energy Consumers Australia shows that one in five households are either experiencing, or at risk of energy hardship, with many cutting back on heating and cooling even when they aren’t in financial stress. Ashley Bradshaw, executive manager of analysis and advocacy at ECA, discusses what’s driving this growing problem, why it affects far more than just low-income households, and what needs to change to ensure everyone can access the energy they need to live well.
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Why charging your electric vehicle at lunchtime will save on costly grid upgrades
As Australia moves toward an all-electric future, a key question looms: how can we meet the surge in electricity demand that will be needed when we all drive electric vehicles, heat our hot water with electricity, cook with induction stoves and heat and cool our homes with reverse cycle air-conditioners? New modelling from the Australian National University, using the ACT as a case study, suggests the answer lies not in building more infrastructure but shifting when we use power. By charging electric vehicles and heating water during the day, when solar energy is plentiful and network demand is low, we could electrify our homes and transport without overloading the system. Dr Bjorn Sturmberg is a senior energy researcher and lead researcher on the ANU study.
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So you want to install a community battery? Try something simpler first
In the third part of our series, So you want to install a community battery?, Dr Juliette Millbank and Mathew Charles-Jones from Totally Renewable Yackandandah share insights from TRY’s first battery project, a behind-the-meter installation on a former timber mill site, and their second, which is council-owned and focused on community resilience. TRY is a grassroots group that’s been working since 2014 to transition their Victorian town to 100% renewable energy. With their second community battery about to come online, they reflect on why batteries are not the best starting point for many communities, why deep local knowledge, strong partnerships, and early wins with simpler projects are essential before installing a community battery. We hear why the future of community batteries lies not just in technology, but in trust, collaboration, and a clear understanding of what each community is trying to achieve.
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We’ve been trying to fix rising electricity prices the wrong way
New modelling from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis shows we’ve been looking for solutions to rising electricity prices in the wrong places. The real key to slashing household energy bills isn’t more power plants or political debate over gas vs renewables. And it’s not one-off bill rebates either. It’s targeted energy upgrades in our homes. Efficient electric appliances, rooftop solar, home batteries, and thermal upgrades could slash bills by 80 to 90%, with the biggest savings in cities like Sydney. These upgrades not only reduce household energy use and bills but also cut demand on the broader grid, benefiting everyone by lowering peak demand and gas reliance. But what will it take to make these savings a reality? Jay Gordon is an Energy Finance Analyst at IEEFA and author of the new report.
Australia